29 Accused in This Diocese
- BA.org Assignment Record 04.21.13
- Jesuits Central and Southern Province List 12.07.18
- Tampa Tribune 05.10.02
- St Petersburg Times 05.10.02
- Tampa Tribune 05.11.02
- Jesuits Central and Southern List 12.07.18
- Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors 10.13.20
- America Magazine 10.16.20
- Diocese of Rockville Centre List 03.18.21
- Miami Herald 05.14.02
- Sun Sentinel 05.15.02
- Chicago Sun Times 05.16.02
- Sun Sentinel 05.17.02
- Miami Herald 05.17.02
- Miami Herald 05.24.02
- St Petersburg Times 05.24.02
- Tampa Tribune 05.24.02
- Sun Sentinel 05.29.02
- Miami Herald 05.29.02
- Sun-Sentinel 02.04.03
- Miami Herald 12.15.03
- Sun Sentinel 09.23.04
- Diocese of Rockville Centre List 03.18.21
- Chicago Sun-Times 06.18.22
- St Petersburg Times 02.06.04
- BA.org Assignment Record
- Jesuits Central and Southern Province List 12.07.18
- Court Docs on 1967 Conviction 06.16.67
- United Press International 06.07.85
- United Press International 11.06.85
- Court Docs on 1985 Criminal charges 11.07.85
- Associated Press 04.17.02
- Advocate 04.19.02
- Dallas Morning News 05.04.02
- Dallas Morning News 08.08.02
- Times-Picayune 02.16.09
- Archdiocese of Mobile List 12.06.18
- Jesuits Central and Southern Province List 12.07.18
- KATC 01.13.19
- Diocese of Alexandria List 02.06.19
- Avoyelles Today 02.10.19
- Statement by Diocese of Venice 05.09.02
- St Petersburg Times 05.15.02
- Dallas Morning News 06.12.02
- St Petersburg Times 03.22.03
- Herald Tribune 05.15.03
- St Petersburg Times 05.17.03
- Tampa Tribune 06.21.03
- Tampa Tribune 11.18.03
- Letter by Bishop Lynch 12.11.03
- St Petersburg Times 12.12.03
- St Petersburg Times 12.23.03
- St Petersburg Times 04.16.04
- Tampa Tribune 04.16.04
- St Petersburg Times 02.05.07
- Injury Board 09.05.08
- Tampa Bay Times 02.04.15
- Tampa Tribune 02.11.97
- Sarasota Herald-Tribune 02.12.97
- Sarasota Herald-Tribune 02.22.97
- Sarasota Herald-Tribune 03.07.97
- Sarasota Herald-Tribune 03.27.97
- Sarasota Herald-Tribune 09.05.97
- St Petersburg Times 11.08.97
- Sarasota Herald-Tribune 12.09.97
- Tampa Tribune 04.22.02
- News Press 10.26.03
- Legionaries of Christ List 03.22.21
Br. Jorge Acosta
Joined seminary at age 17. Left religious life in 1983. Age 46 in 2005 when named as abuser "Br. Jorges Acosta" by two men in a civil suit against the Salesians and Mary Help of Christians School in Tampa. Admitted in a 02/07 deposition to sexual relations with three students in 1983 when he was teacher and cleric at school. He told the principal about two of the incidents but was never reported to law enforcement. A second suit was filed in 4/07. One settlement announced in 7/08. Amount confidential. No criminal charges due to the statute of limitations. Included in 3/20 on the Salesians list of credibly accused.
Fr. Richard J. Allen
In 2002 a man told the diocese that Allen abused him for two years, when he was ages 12-13. Allen resigned from his position and his privileges were suspended in 4/02. The diocese denied any prior knowledge. No criminal charges were filed. In 5/02 the diocese acknowledged that Allen's file did not raise any red flags during its review of the files of 240 active priests. Died 8/22/07, age 64. Per his obituary, Allen was a licensed mental health therapist.
Fr. Russell Gerald Appleby
Also known as Gerald Russell Appleby. In 1994 a young man accused Appleby of molestation over a 2-year period. Suit filed in 1996; later dropped. Appleby left St. Petersburg in 1979; diocese said no knowledge of complaints until 1994. Order paid the accuser $4,800 for therapy in 1995. Removed by Order in 1990 or 1991; laicized in 1995. Arrested in TX on FL abuse charges in 3/03. Pled guilty in 2004; sentenced to 12 years prison and 20 years sex offender probation. Died in prison in 2005. On Corpus Christi diocese's list 1/31/19. It notes removal from ministry in the diocese 1983.
Fr. Norman G. Balthazar
Initially charged in 1991 in Tampa with soliciting a lewd act from a male undercover police officer. Charges dismissed by court. Sent for therapy and returned to ministry. Diocese paid $75K in 2010 to a man claiming abuse by Balthazar at Christ the King in Tampa in the early 1980s when he was 17. Settlement not revealed until 1/11. Per Tampa police, in 2002 a man accused Balthazar and another priest of sexually assaulting him in 1971 at age 9. State did not press charges.
Fr. Matthew Berko
Priest of the Ukrainian Catholic Diocese of St. Josaphat of Parma. Working in Toronto, Canada when he abused a 14-year-old girl. Pled guilty in 1985 to molestation charge and served a year of probation in Connecticut. The girl and her family sued and won judgment (never paid). Berko turned up as pastor of a Ukrainian Catholic church in St. Petersburg FL. Removed in 4/02 when Ukrainian Bishop was informed of his past. Died in 5/08.
Fr. Polienato Bernabe
Visiting priest from the Lingayen-Dugapan archdiocese in the Philippines. Worked in St. Petersburg diocese 1975-89. Accused of repeatedly raping a girl there 1978-86, starting when she was age 8. Listed as Army chaplain in Ogdensburg NY diocese 1989-91. Listed in Palm Beach FL diocese as parish priest 1992-94. Fled country after allegations became known in 2002. Warrant out for his arrest. In 1/03 the Diocese of St. Petersburg reached a $33,500 out-of-court settlement with the woman. Announcement 4/06 that Bernabe died in 2004.
Br. William Michael Burke
Made Profession as a Salesian brother in 1983 Ordained for the order in 1993. Worked in NJ, FL and NY. A 2002 civil suit alleged abuse in 1986-87. Reported in 1989. Working in a New York religious center until suspension in 2002. Order was dismissed from suit in 11/02. At least one other alleged victim after came forward. Possibly living in Virginia as of 7/05. Included on the Salesians list of credibly accused in 3/20.
Br. John Casula
Made his profession as a Salesian brother in 1941. Worked in WV, NB Canada, FL and NY. Accused in a 3/16 lawsuit of sexual abuse of boy, ages 12-14, at Mary Help of Christians boarding school for disadvantaged children in Tampa FL, 1976-78. Per the suit, another student accused Cosula in 1977, but the Salesians did not call police. Between 2002-16, about 10 other former students alleged abuse by priests and brothers at the school, which closed in 2006. Included on the order's list of credibly accused in 3/20.
Fr. Innocente Clementi
Accused of sexually abusing at least two boys at Mary Help of Christians school, East Lake, FL (boarding school for troubled boys). Claim vs Eastern U.S. Province of Salesians said to be quietly settled. Also worked in NJ and NY. Died in 1999. Included on the Salesians List of credibly accused in 3/20.
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Br. Peter Day
Professed vows as a Salesian brother in 1961. Named publicly as accused by the Salesian order on its list in 3/20. Worked at Mary Help of Christians in Tampa. Withdrew in 1965 from the Salesians.
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Fr. Louis Hamm
Named publicly as accused by the FL Attorney General in its report released 11/6/20, name misspelled "Lewis." Rev. Louis Hamm was from Germany. He worked as a physician and Holy Name Province Franciscan friar in China beginning in 1934, and was ordained there in 1949. He arrived in the U.S. in 1951 and worked for the Province in NC, GA, NJ, RI. The 1986 volume of the Official Catholic Directory shows Hamm as at the Franciscan Home for Retired Priests in St. Petersburg, FL. Died 1/8/88 in Butler, NJ, age 86. Included on the Province's list in 10/21 of those against whom there are substantiated allegations.
Fr. Ramon Hernandez
From Cuba, moved to the US in 1980. Removed himself from ministry in 2/06 after a man accused him of abuse in 1999 when the man was 16 and Hernandez was assigned to St. Rita's in Dade City. Hernandez denied all the allegations. Police investigated but did not file charges. Diocese conducted an investigation and submitted matter to Review Board. Diocese announced it would return him to active ministry as of 8/30/06. Not on diocesan website as of 7/19/08.
Fr. Thomas J. Hidding
Hidding was removed from his assignment at a Miami parish in 5/02 after a credible allegation that he molested a student at Jesuit High School in Tampa sometime during 1980-82. Transferred to Jesuit College Prep in Dallas, TX where he worked 1982-83. This was while he was a Jesuit brother, prior to ordination. Also had assignments in New Orleans. Died 10/12/05. On the Jesuits Central and Southern Province list 12/7/18.
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Fr. James C. Lara
Pastor of Church of the Nativity in Brandon 1969-99. Per 4/02 news, Lara was accused in a 11/87 lawsuit of touching and making sexual advances toward the daughter of the parish music directors, who had been fired five months earlier. The abuse allegedly began when the girl was 14 and continued for 5 years. The parents also accused Lara of slandering them and of hitting and pushing the wife just before the church fired them. The suit was "amicably resolved" in 1990, per court records. Lara continued at the parish and retired in 1999.
Fr. William A. Lau
Pastor of Blessed Trinity in 5/96 when accused of a sexual incident involving an older teenage boy years earlier. Resigned from the parish and was sent to St. Luke's in MD for treatment. Bishop Lynch waited five months before telling the parish why Lau left. Per the diocese in 4/02, Lau "was removed from the ministry and sought employment elsewhere."
Br. Stephen Letourneaux
Professed vows as a Salesian brother in 1965. Worked at Mary Help of Christians School in Tampa. Left the order in 1973. Included in 3/20 on the Salesians' list of credibly accused.
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Fr. Ronald John Luka
In two 2002 civil suits Luka is accused of abusing three male students in the late 1970s at St. Helen's Catholic school in Lauderdale Lakes. Luka left the school in 1978 after one mother went to the parish pastor. Luka's order, the Claretians, claimed they received their first allegation against him in 1999, of abuse occurring in NY state around 1979. Sent St. Luke's in MD for treatment. Permanently removed from ministry. Living in 2002 at Wounded Brothers Project in MO. Judge ruled in 2/03 that the latest suit against Luka could go forward. At least one claim settled in 9/04 for $150K. Included in 3/18 on the Rockville Centre diocese's list of accused. Reportedly died around 2011.
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Fr. Nicholas McLoughlin
Priest of the Diocese of Venice, formerly St. Petersburg diocese territory. Suspended from ministry in 11/18 after the Diocese of St. Petersburg notified Venice of an allegation of inappropriate contact with a minor. Incident alleged to have occurred in the 1970s when McLoughlin was pastor of Corpus Christi in Temple Terrace. (His brother, Fr. Ed McLoughlin was accused of abuse of teen boys in the 1980s and 1990s. Fr. Nick McLoughlin was accused in lawsuits of covering up for for Fr. Ed.)
Br. Thomas J. Mulryan
Made perpetual profession of vows in 1955. Accused in 1994 of abuse of three boys at Notre Dame International School in Rome, Italy, in the early 1960s, when he was a religious brother. He left the order in the 1970s. He had worked for Catholic schools in MA and NY prior to becoming a teacher at Jesuit High School in Tampa in 1988. Became principal in 1992. Placed on leave in 12/94 when allegations became known. He denied all allegations. Mulryan retired in 6/95. Included on the Fall River diocese's list in 1/21 of credibly accused. Died in 2009.
Fr. Terence O’Donnell
Sued in 2003 and 2004. Accused by three people of abusing them at a boarding school in Tampa, Mary Help of Christians, in the early 1990s. When parents complained, he was reassigned to Salesian Boys and Girls Club in Boston, and the Salesian Provincial House in New Rochelle. Placed on leave in 2003 after suit filed. Had been investigated in 1993 by Florida's Dept of Health and Rehabilitation Services for allegations. No charges filed. Included in 3/20 on the Salesians list of credibly accused.
Fr. Hubert John Reason
In 8/02 the diocese announced that "several individuals" had come forward with credible accusations that they had been abused by Reason as minors. Per a 12/02 news article, two brothers had come forward to allege abuse by Reason and Fr. Gerry Appleby, and by an Episcopal priest and an Episcopal seminarian. The men said that, in effect, the four traded them around. They said that Reason would also give them and other altar boys money and alcohol and take them to Tampa for professional wrestling. Reason left the diocese in 1978 and died in 1984, at age 60. Accused in 2005 of child sexual abuse at an Altamonte Spring parish in the early-to-mid-1960s. Three claims settled for $1.5M in 7/05. Included on the Orlando diocese's 10/6/21 list of credibly accused.
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Fr. Michael Rhodes
Per news in 2004, Rhodes was accused of sexually abusing two boys in the ate 1970s, when he was a seminary student. One of the alleged victims came forward in late 2003 and the second was located by church investigators. Rhodes left the ministry in 1993. In 2004 was possibly living in Florida and working as a clinical hypnotherapist.
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Fr. Norman J. Rogge
Pled guilty in FL in 1967 to one count of contributing to delinquency of minor. Sentenced to three years probation and psychiatric counseling. Charged in FL in 1985 with one count of sexual battery or lewd and lascivious act on boy under 14 in 1984. Sentenced to one year in jail. Also worked in TX, CA, KS, AL, LA. Living in LA in 2002. Complaint in 2004 of 1962 abuse. Died 2/04/09. On Mobile archdiocese's list 12/6/18. On Alexandria diocese's list 2/6/19. On Jesuits Central and Southern Province's list 12/7/19.
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Br. Benet G. Salis
Named publicly as credibly accused of child sexual abuse in 8/18 by the St. Vincent Archabbey Benedictines in Latrobe PA. The archabbey received an allegation in 1993 that Salis abused a child 1964-1965 at St. Leo's Abbey in Florida. Salis died 7/26/91.
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Fr. Jan Sanders
Reportedly in 2004 Sanders was visiting the diocese in the 1980s when he allegedly abused a minor. Name included in the FL Attorney General's report 11/6/20.
Fr. Robert L. Schaeufele
Placed on leave 4/02 after allegations surfaced. The diocese knew in 1994 that Schaeufele was bringing boys to his rectory. Several civil suits 2003-04. In 2004 the diocese agreed to pay $1.1M to 12 men abused by him as boys. Others refused to settle. Found not guilty in 5/03 of some charges, but convicted in 6/03 on other charges of abuse in the 1980s. Received two 30-year concurrent sentences. Also sentenced in Pasco County 7/03. At least 22 accusers are known. Abused in parishes that were later part of the Venice diocese. Scheduled for release from prison in 2/15, after serving only 12 years.
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Fr. Joseph Schneider
Status: Accused
Diocese: Diocese of St. Petersburg FL
Named publicly as accused in the FL Attorney General's report released 11/6/20. Deceased. (No other information, including diocese Schneider was affiliated with; placing him in St. Petersburg for now.)
Fr. Jeremiah M. Spillane
Chaplain at a Catholic high school in Sarasota (Diocese of Venice) when charged in early 1997 with internet solicitation of a 13-year-old boy, who was actually an undercover policeman. Pleaded no contest to charges. Sentenced to two years house arrest and two years probation. Admitted abuse in prior assignments in Mexico. Also worked in Spain and Rome, Italy. Dispensed from religious vows in 1998.
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Fr. Ignatius Tuoc
Arrived in the St. Petersburg diocese in 4/76 from Vietnam. Temporarily removed in 2003 from his assignment after a female parishioner accused him of abuse in the early 1990s, when she was a minor. Asked to step down from assignment after investigation by the Diocesan Review Board, pending a more in-depth investigation. Returned to ministry because allegations could not be proved. Active priest per diocesan website accessed in 7/08 and again in 8/20.