33 Accused in This Diocese
- BA.org Assignment Record
- Assignment record from Des Moines Register 06.23.02
- Diocese of Sioux City List 02.22.19
- Des Moines Register 03.08.02
- Des Moines Register 06.23.02
- Des Moines Register 10.07.03
- Sioux City Journal 08.17.04
- Sioux City Journal 03.31.05
- Des Moines Register 06.28.05
- Des Moines Register 07.02.05
- Des Moines Register 12.08.05
- Sioux City Journal 01.14.06
- WQAD 01.15.06
- Des Moines Register 01.15.06
- Storm Lake Pilot Tribune 01.17.06
- Sioux City Journal 03.31.06
- Des Moines Register 06.24.06
- Des Moines Register 09.05.06
- Sioux City Journal 01.16.07
- Houston Press 10.19.07
- Des Moines Register 09.27.18
- Pilot-Tribune 01.07.19
- Diocese of Sioux CIiy List 02.22.19
- Associated Press 06.25.21
- Sioux City Diocese book excerpt 2004
- The Algona Uppder Des Moines 03.16.61
- Kossuth County Advance 07.23.73
- USCCB 01.06.04
- KTIV 03.30.16
- KTIV 06.03.16
- Diocese of Sioux City IA 06.06.16
- Sioux City Journal 07.03.16
- Sioux City Journal 09.14.16
- Quad-City Times 09.15.16
- Pilot-Tribune 01.07.19
- Diocese of Sioux City List 02.22.19
Fr. E. Everett Apt
Retired in 1979. Died in 1985. Accused in a lawsuit in 8/2004 of abusing an altar boy in the early 1960s at an Alvord parish. The suit alleged that the Diocese knew Apt had sexual contact with children as early as 1950, but concealed his actions and transferred him whenever facts might become public. Settled in 3/2005 for an undisclosed amount. Included on the Diocese's list in 2/2019, which notes three allegations of abuse of boys, occurring during the 1950s-1970s. Its updated list on 9/24/2019 shows four allegations.
Fr. Alver William Behrens
Monsignor. Named publicly as accused by the diocese on its list 2/22/2019. It notes five allegations received of abuse in the 1960s of boys and girls. Retired in 1993. Died in 2002. Updated list 9/24/2019 shows seven allegations.
Fr. Richard Wayne Birdsall
Named publicly as accused by the diocese on its list 2/22/2019. It notes one accusation, of abuse of a girl, occurring in the 1970s. Retired in 1991. Died in 1997.
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Fr. Paul Joseph Bruening
Ordained for the Sioux City diocese. Worked outside the diocese in Belleville, IL beginning in 1962; incardinated into the Diocese of Belleville in 1970. Named publicly as accused by the Sioux City diocese on its 2/22/2019 list. It notes one allegation against Bruening, of abuse of a girl, occurring in 1957. (The list erroneously shows a death year of 2002. Bruening died in a car accident in 1978; a 10-year-old altar boy was in the car with him, and suffered serious injuries.) Included in 9/2022 on the Belleville diocese's list. (This list erroneously shows an ordination year of 1965.)
Fr. John Francis Cain
Named publicly as accused by the diocese on its 2/22/2019 list. It notes one allegation received, of abuse of a girl, occurring in 1973. Retired in 1994. Died 1/3/2015.
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Fr. Jerome Paul Coyle
Per news in 11/2018, Coyle admitted in 1986 to Bishop Soens to having had sexual contact or attraction to about 50 boys in IA over 20-plus years. The Diocese removed him from ministry and sent him to the Servants of the Paraclete in Jemez Springs NM for treatment. He stayed in NM for 30 years. The Sioux City Diocese did not notify police or the public. (Bishop Soens was himself later credibly accused of the sexual abuse of students as a priest and school principal.) Coyle was moved by the Sioux City Diocese in 6/2018 to a Fort Dodge IA care facility, next to a Catholic School. The Diocese admitted in 10/2018 to hiding Coyle's identity for decades. Included on the Diocese's list 2/22/2019. Died in early 2024.
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Fr. John William Cullen
Named publicly as accused by the diocese on its 2/22/2019 list. It notes one allegation received, of abuse of a girl, occurring in 1955. Retired in 1985. Died 12/21/1992.
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Fr. Brian J. Danner
Removed from ministry in 11/2018 due to an allegation a year prior that he rubbed a fourth-grade girl's leg during confession at St. Mary's in Humboldt. The Diocese reported the incident to the county attorney in 12/2017. The Diocese's review board determined that the incident was inappropriate but was not sexual abuse.
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Fr. Linus Joseph Eisenbacher
Named publicly as accused by the diocese on its 2/22/2019 list. It notes one allegations received, of abuse of a girl, occurring in the 1970s. Retired in 1985. Died in 1991.
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Fr. Clarence Edward Farrelly
Monsignor. Named publicly as accused by the diocese on its 2/22/2019 list. It notes two allegations received, of abuse of girls, occurring in the 1960s. Retired in 1979. Died in 1987. Its list updated 9/24/2019 shows three allegations.
Fr. Louis Henry Greving
Named publicly as accused by the diocese on its 2/22/2019 list. It notes one allegation received, of abuse of a girl, occurring 1965-1971. Died in 2002.
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Fr. Gerald Hartz
Former superintendent of Sioux City Catholic schools. Charged in 9/1995 with indecent contact with a girl, age 13. Took leave. Charges dropped in 12/1995 when the girl would not testify and Hartz agreed to resign from assignment. In 9/1996 a woman filed suit alleging that in 12/1994 Hartz grabbed her, kissed her neck and touched her while in his church. Case later dismissed from federal court. "On special assignment" per the 2002 Catholic Directory. Living in Bakersfield, CA in 12/2008 per the diocese's website. Included on the Diocese of Fresno's list of credibly accused in 8/2021. Noted to have retired in 2003, and faculties revoked in 2019. Died 3/6/2022, at age 88.
Fr. Victor Everett Kollasch
Named publicly as accused by the diocese on its 2/22/2019 list. It notes one allegation, of abuse of a girl, occurring in the 1970s. Died in 1981.
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Fr. Dale F. Koster
Accused in a 10/2019 lawsuit of sexually and physically abusing a boy, age 9 or 10, in 1968 and continuing through at least 1970 at Our Lady of Mt. Camel parish school and rectory. Retired 1996. Died 5/31/2019. The suit was settled for an undisclosed amount in 2/2022.
Fr. John F. Kurzak
One man filed a civil suit in 3/2008 vs Kurzak, John Perdue and the Diocese, alleging abuse by Kurzak and a seminary student (John Perdue) in the early 1980s when the man was a minor in Fort Dodge. The suit alleges the Diocese knew of other victims in 1985 yet allowed Kurzak to become a military chaplain. Ruling in favor of defendants, citing a two-year Statute of Limitations. Appeal filed by plaintiff 7/13/2011. Kurzak was an active chaplain in 3/2008. A second suit filed 3/28/2008 alleged abuse of one person in 1982. Unclear if this plaintiff, also a seminary student, was under 18 at the time. Trials were set for Fall 2009. Not included on Diocese's list of credibly accused. Retired, per diocesan website, in 2/2020.
Fr. Bruce Anthony Lefebvre
Named publicly as accused by the diocese on its 2/22/2019 list. It notes two allegations against Lefebvre of the sexual abuse of boys, occurring in the 1980s. Leave of absence in 2002. Died in 2005.
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Fr. Jan Lisowski
From Poland. Arrived in the U.S. and Sioux City in 1962. Incardinated into the diocese in 1973. Retired in 1980 to Angola, NY, returning to Sioux City in 1996. Named publicly as accused by the diocese on its 2/22/2019 list. It notes one allegation of the sexual abuse of a boy, occurring in the 1960s. Retired in 1980. Died in 2001.
Fr. George B. McFadden
Accused of sexually abusing more than 25 girls and boys. Denied the allegations. Admitted to "harmful acts." Forced into treatment and retirement 1991-1992; continued to function as a priest at the cathedral. Faculties not removed until 2002. Lawsuits began to be filed in 2003; a 29th lawsuit was filed in 6/2006 by two brothers. Many cases were settled or dismissed. By 2008, 39 people made claims. Three new plaintiffs as of 9/2006. In 12/2005 the Vatican refused to laicize McFadden because of his age. Residing in Ft. Wayne, IN. Included on the diocese's 2/22/2019 list of credibly accused.
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Fr. Bernard Joseph Montag
Named publicly as accused by the diocese on its 2/22/2019 list. Two allegations noted of abuse of girls 1959-1961. Retired in 1980. Died in 2001.
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Fr. Thomas Joseph Munn
Named publicly as accused by the diocese on its 2/22/2019 list. One allegation noted, of abuse of a boy 1954-1955. Retired in 1999. Died in 2002.
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Fr. Peter Brendan Murphy
Accused publicly 3/30/2016 of raping and sexually abusing a 12-year-old altar boy 1959-1960 at Blessed Sacrament in Sioux City. Murphy's accuser contacted the Diocese in 1996 and said he got a "dismissive reply." The Diocese settled with him in 2016. Assignments also included parishes in Danbury, Emmetsburg, Fort Dodge, Bode, Whittemor, Spencer, St. Joseph's and Cherokee. On leave of absence 1960-1962, in a Denison parish around 1963-1964, then leave of absence again until his death in 11/8/1980 in Jemez Springs NM. Did fill-in work in parishes during his "leave." After the first man went public, by 9/2016 five more people alleged sexual abuse by Murphy. Included on the Diocese's list 2/22/2019, which shows 11 allegations of the abuse of boys, occurring 1956-1964.
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Fr. John Patrick Perdue
Left the priesthood in 1986, one year after ordination. Accused, along with Rev. John Kurzak, in a civil suit filed in 3/2008, of molesting a boy in Fort Dodge in the early 1980s. Perdue was a seminary student at the time of the alleged abuse. Ruling in favor of defendants, citing a two-year statute of limitations. Appeal filed by the plaintiff 7/13/2011. A second suit filed 3/28/2008 alleged abuse in 1982 of a seminary student. Included on the diocese's 2/22/2019 list, which notes one allegation received, of abuse of a boy 1982-1983.
Fr. Ronald Joseph Reicks
Named publicly as accused by the Diocese on its 2/22/2019 list. It notes two allegations of abuse of girls, occurring 1973-1984. Left the priesthood in 1996 and married. Died 6/3/2024.
Fr. Ralph William Reinhart
Named publicly as accused by the diocese on its 2/22/2019 list. It notes six allegations received of the sexual abuse of boys in the 1950s. Retired in 1997. Died in 2001. The diocese's list updated 2/24/2019 shows just four allegations.
Fr. Nicholas J. Ruba
Accused in a 10/2010 civil suit of abuse 1968-1976 of a girl, ages 14-21, while he was assigned to St. Michael's in Sioux City and she was working at the rectory. She complained to the Diocese in 2006. He denied the allegations, and she apparently dropped the matter. Ruba retired in 1996. He died at age 89, 6/20/2015, at a nursing home in Remsen, IA. Included on the Diocese's 2/22/2019 list of credibly accused, which notes two allegations received, of abuse of a female and a male, 1970-1971.
Fr. Laurence Frances Schoeppner
Named publicly as accused by the diocese on its 2/22/2019 list. One allegation noted, of abuse of a girl 1948-1949. Schoeppner retired and died 1965.
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Fr. Donald Joseph Slaven
Named publicly as accused by the diocese on its 2/22/2019 list, which notes the sexual abuse of boys in the 1990s. Retired in 2009. Died in 2014. The diocese's list updated 9/24/2019 shows three allegations.
Fr. Verne Stapenhorst
Named publicly as credibly accused by the Sioux City diocese on its list 2/22/2019. Accused of abuse in 1976 of a male minor. Retired in 2004. Faculties removed in 2011. Living in 2019 outside of IA. Included on the Las Vegas diocese's list 4/12/2019; worked at some point in Overton and Mesquite NV.
Fr. Fergus (Francis) Stevenson
Named publicly as accused by the Sioux City diocese on its 2/22/2019 list. Assigned 1975-1985 to St. Boniface parish. One allegation noted, of abuse of a boy in 1976. Died in 1991, per the Sioux City diocese's list updated 9/24/2019. Included as of 1/2024 on the Franciscans' Our Lady of Guadalupe Province list of credibly accused. (Member of the Sacred Heart Province.)
Fr. Elmer D. Thom
Named publicly as credibly accused by the diocese on its list updated 9/24/2019. It notes one allegation of abuse of a boy, occurring 1956-1961. Thom retired in 1992 and died 7/22/2006.
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Fr. Joseph Edward Tolan
Monsignor. Named publicly as credibly accused by the diocese on its 2/22/2019 list. One allegation noted, of abuse of a girl 1980-1982. Retired and died in 1989. The diocese's list updated 9/24/2019 shows three allegations of minors, both male and female.
Fr. Donald William Wingert
"William" or "D. William." Named publicly as credibly accused by the diocese on its 2/22/2019 list. One allegation noted, of the sexual abuse of a boy 1980-1982. Retired in 1993. Died 7/1/2017. The diocese's list updated 9/24/2019 shows two allegations of the abuse of boys.
Fr. John Charles Yetmar
Also known as J. Charles Yetmar. Named publicly as accused by the diocese on its 2/22/2019 list. Two allegations noted, of the sexual abuse of boys 1968-1974. Retired in 2002. Faculties removed in 2004. The diocese's updated list 9/24/2019 shows three allegations of the abuse of boys, same time-period.