Diocese of Orlando FL - BishopAccountability.org

19 Accused in This Diocese

Fr. Arthur Bendixen

Ordained: 1976
Status: Settled

Chancellor of the Diocese of Orlando 1984-1991. Seminary rector 1991-1993. Seen nude in bed with a nude boy by a priest in 1978. A former priest and a church activist claim they asked for investigations in 1986 and 1992, but no action. Sued in 1994. Accused of abuse of several boys. Several settlements in 1995. From 2009 Bendixen was vice president for programs and partnerships for the AIDS Foundation of Chicago. He retired in 2016. Included on the Orlando diocese's 10/6/2021 list of credibly accused; noted to be deceased but is said in 6/2024 to be alive and continuing housing work in Chicago in retirement.

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Fr. James M. Coyle

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Ordained: 1983
Status: Accused

Died: 06/11/2007
Diocese: Diocese of Orlando FL

Accused in 1996 of sexual molestations over five years in the 1980s at St. Peter's in DeLand, and of plying boys with marijuana and alcohol. Suspended and sent for treatment. News not released to the public by the Diocese until 2/1997. Bishop Dorsey promised in 1997 that Coyle would never be returned to diocesan duties. Died 6/11/2007. Included on the diocese's 10/6/2021 list of credibly accused.

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Fr. Cyril J. Donnelly

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Order: SMA
Ordained: 1933
Status: Accused

Died: 01/8/1994
Diocese: Diocese of Orlando FL

Born in England, ordained in Belgium. Member of the Society for African Missions. Spent early priesthood in West Africa. British Colonial Service military chaplain during WWII, resumed work in West Africa afterward. Arrived in Port Orange, FL in 1964, assigned to Church of the Epiphany. Assigned 1969 until his death in 1994 to Our Lady of Lourdes in Melborne, FL. Named publicly as credibly accused by the Orlando diocese on its list 10/6/2021. List spells name 'Donnelley.' The Official Catholic Directory shows 'Donnelly.' Died 1/8/1994. Name spelled in the Necrology section of the 1995 Directory 'Donnoly.'

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Fr. Richard A. Emerson

Ordained: 1978
Status: Sued

Diocese: Diocese of Orlando FL

Litigation alleges the Gary IN Diocese knew of Emerson's abusive history when he was allowed to begin work in Orlando in 1986. In 1992 he was ordered to return to Gary after allegations in Orlando. In 2004 a man from Orlando filed a civil suit. A second civil suit filed in 2/2008 in FL alleged a long-term 'relationship' with Emerson, beginning when the plaintiff was age 9. A suit filed in IN in 12/2008 claims abuse after Emerson returned to Gary. Laicized in 2006. New FL suits filed in 5/2010 and 7/2010. Emerson filed bankruptcy in 2/2011. Included on the Gary diocese's list released 8/27/2018. Included on the Orlando diocese's list of credibly accused 10/6/2021.

Fr. Emilio Garcia

Ordained: 1957
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Orlando FL

From Spain. Accused of molesting a girl at age 14, and raping her when she was 16, at St. Patrick's in Largo in the 1960s. His victim began having flashbacks in 2000. When she confronted Garcia, he admitted the abuse. He was removed from his post and returned to Spain. Deceased, per the FL Attorney General's report released 11/6/2020.

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Fr. Robert J. Hoeffner

Ordained: 1973
Status: Accused

Died: 01/28/2024
Diocese: Diocese of Orlando FL

In a 2024 police report, a young man said that Hoeffner had inappropriately touched him as a boy on three occasions, when Hoeffner was assigned to St. Joseph's Parish and School in Palm Bay. He said the priest would have boys come to his home to do yard work. Hoeffner was killed 1/28/2024 by the man's former classmate. After the murder, police found a folder in Hoeffner's office with 46 handwritten notes of stories about child sexual abuse. The night before he was murdered, his assailant texted Hoeffner that he was coming over, and the assailant wrote "You have woken up all of Egypt...Ancient ones know what you have done." The assailant's family speculated that he had been abused by Hoeffner.

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Sr. Kathleen Francis Honc

Order: OSF
Status: Accused

Died: 09/9/2016
Diocese: Diocese of Orlando FL

Accused in 2007 of molesting a girl sometime between 1962-1971 at Melbourne Central Catholic High School, where Honc was a teacher. Honc left the area in 1971. Her Order deemed the allegations credible and she was removed from her assignment in Seminole, FL. She died 9/9/2016. Per her obituary, Hoc "fully retired in 2007 and was warmly welcomed home to the St. Elizabeth Motherhouse in Allegany, NY." Included on the Orlando diocese's 10/6/2021 list of credibly accused.

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Fr. James Ingram

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Ordained: 1985
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Orlando FL

Named publicly as credibly accused by the Diocese of Orlando on its list 10/6/2021. The Official Catholic shows Ingram as in the Orlando diocese through 1987, after which he is not indexed until he reappears in the 1990 Directory as "on duty outside," without indicating where. By 1999 he is shown as assigned in the Diocese of Santa Rosa, CA, and seems to be absent from the Directory thereafter.

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Diocese of Orlando List 10.06.21

Fr. Stephen McNicholas

Ordained: 1953
Status: Accused

Died: 06/5/2011
Diocese: Diocese of Orlando FL

Named publicly as credibly accused by the Diocese of Orlando on its list 10/6/2021. From Ireland. Ordained for the Instituto della Carita (I.C.) Assigned to a Peoria IL parish in 1961. Transferred to FL in 1966. Left his order by 1974. Died 6/5/2011.

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Fr. Eamon O’Dowd

Ordained: 1959
Status: Settled

Died: 11/29/2009
Diocese: Diocese of Orlando FL

Ordained in Ireland for the Diocese of Grand Island, NE. Later transferred to the Diocese of Orlando, FL. Investigated in 1977 for fondling two 12-year-old girls; no charges filed after he apologized and said he meant no harm. Arrested in 1983 for fondling another girl, age 12. Those charges dropped after he agreed to psychiatric treatment. Reportedly had an affair with the girl's mother. A civil suit settled in 1986 for $250K and files sealed. Still an active priest until he "retired" without privileges in 1995 after news of the 1983 incident became public. Died 11/29/2009 in Dublin, Ireland. Included on the Orlando diocese's 10/6/2021 list of credibly accused.

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Fr. Thomas James Pagni, III

Ordained: 1977
Status: Convicted

Diocese: Diocese of Orlando FL

Accused in a 1995 lawsuit of sexually abusing two young boys, who were brothers, when he was their counselor in the late 1980s-early 1990s. The diocese put Pagni through school for a mental health counseling career in 1986 in exchange for leaving the priesthood. The lawsuit says the Diocese lied to the state about Pagni's background. The Diocese agreed it helped him change careers but denies deceiving the state. Also sexually abused girls. Arrested in 2/1995 and again in 6/1995, facing charges of molesting the two brothers and another boy. Two more suits were filed in 1996. Pleaded no contest in the case of the third boy in 1/1996. Sentenced to 10 years in prison. Released in 7/2000. On sex offender registry. Per the FL Attorney General's report 11/6/2020, Pagni is deceased. Included on the Orlando diocese's 10/6/2021 list of credibly accused .

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Fr. Lawrence Redmond

Ordained: 1964
Status: Settled

Died: 02/17/2006
Diocese: Diocese of Orlando FL

Parish pastor, vicar general. In 8/1995 the diocese settled with at least six men who claimed abuse by Redmond when they were boys. After allegations became public in 12/1994, Redmond was placed on leave and later retired. In 8/1995, another man's suit was dismissed due to the statute of limitations. Other victims were expected to file. Died in 2/2006. New suit filed in 10/2011. Included on the Orlando diocese's 10/6/2021 list of credibly accused.

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Fr. Fred Ruse

Ordained: 1976
Status: Reinstated

Diocese: Diocese of Orlando FL

Accused in a lawsuit filed 4/27/2020 of sexually abusing a boy, about ages 14 and 15, in 2001 and 2002. Ruse's alleged victim claims the abuse occurred in a classroom and in the chaplain's office at Demilly Correctional Institution in Polk City, FL. Ruse was pastor at the time of the alleged abuse of St. Matthews in Winter Haven. Per the lawsuit, Ruse "suddenly retired" in 2018. He denied the allegations. Ruse's lawyer said the priest was suspended in 2/2020 and reinstated in 4/2020 after he was "cleared of any wrongdoing."

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Fr. Oscar Salazar

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Ordained: 1996
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Orlando FL

Accused of groping a 17-year-old boy in 1996 at Our Lady of the Lakes Church in Deltona. Not charged because the boy and family declined to do so. Removed from his assignment and sent to St. Luke Institute for treatment. The Diocese made no public announcement until 2/1997. The Bishop said Salazar would never be assigned in the diocese and would not be recommended for assignment in another diocese. Included on the Orlando diocese's 10/6/2021 list of credibly accused.

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Fr. Patrick J. Sheedy

Ordained: 1965
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Orlando FL

On 5/12/2010 the attorney for a minor plaintiff announced he would soon file suit against Sheedy. Sheedy emphatically denied the allegations in a public news conference. On 5/13/2010 the plaintiff's attorney said he had agreed to delay filing suit at the request of the Diocese, which reportedly called the allegations "totally false."

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Fr. Thomas D. Sykes

Order: SA
Ordained: 1964
Status: Settled

Diocese: Diocese of Orlando FL

Also known as Damascene Sykes. Sykes is believed to be the "Fr. Thomas S." cited in a 12/31/1987 San Jose Mercury News article. Thomas S. was removed from the Orlando diocese in 1976 after the parents of a 16-year-old boy complained that he had molested their son. Father S. was transferred to a Richmond, VA parish. Thomas Sykes was laicized and married. He testified in the Rev. Authenrieth matter. Settlement in the early 1990s. Sykes died in 2002. The Diocese announced in a 2/2007 that a new credible allegation of abuse occurring in the 1970s had recently been received. Civil suit filed 7/20/2011. Added to the Richmond diocese's list 2/27/2019. Included on the Orlando diocese's list 10/6/2021 of credibly accused.

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Fr. Joseph Anh Dung Tran

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Ordained: 1983
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Orlando FL

Named publicly as credibly accused by the Orlando diocese on its list 10/6/2021. Shown on the list as Joseph Tran Anh Dung. Listed in the 1988 Official Catholic Directory as Joseph Tran. Per an Orlando Sentinel news article in 1986, Tran was to leave the diocese for Switzerland.

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Fr. Vernon Uhran

Ordained: 1969
Status: Settled

Diocese: Diocese of Orlando FL

Accused in two lawsuits settled in 7/2005 of abusing at least two boys in the early 1970s. Both plaintiffs claimed that the diocese knew of abuse by 1969 and did nothing except transfer Uhran. Removed from duties in 1992 after an allegation of abuse. Two suits filed in 9/2005 and three more in 12/2005. Two suits settled as of 7/2006 for $250K. He pleaded the 5th amendment 90 times in an 8/2008 deposition. Also worked in Alaska and the Dominican Republic. New case filed in Florida in 5/2010. Multiple victims. Included on the diocese's 10/6/2021 list of credibly accused.

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Fr. Peter Uniowski

Ordained: 1975
Status: Accused

Died: 08/10/2021
Diocese: Diocese of Orlando FL

Suspended from his parish assignment in 2003 after the Diocese received an allegation of inappropriate sexual behavior involving a 12-year-old girl. Police were notified. No criminal charges filed. Permanently removed from his parish assignment in 7/2003. The Bishop said that while there was not enough evidence regarding the child's accusation, there was clear evidence of inappropriate conduct with regard to sexual affairs with adult women. Died 8/10/2021. Included on the Diocese's 10/6/2021 list of credibly accused.

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Our Database of Publicly Accused does not state or imply that individuals facing allegations are guilty of a crime or liable for civil claims. The reports contained in the database are merely allegations. The U.S. legal system presumes that a person accused of or charged with a crime is innocent until proven guilty. Similarly, individuals who may be defendants in civil actions are presumed not to be liable for such claims unless a plaintiff proves otherwise. Admissions of guilt or liability are not typically a part of civil or private settlements. For more information, see our posting policy.