Diocese of Youngstown OH

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Terry McKiernan February 26, 2021

39 Accused in This Diocese

Fr. Marian Babjak

Ordained: 1995
Status: Accused

Died: 10/3/2022
Diocese: Diocese of Youngstown OH

From Slovakia, where he was ordained. Spent early priesthood there and in Austria. Parish priest, religion and German teacher in parish schools. Arrived in the Youngstown diocese in 2006, assisting at St. Rose in Girard while studying at Youngstown State University. In 2016 he returned to Youngstown, where he was in residence at St. Charles Boromeo in Boardman, then assigned to St. Paul in North Canton in 2017. Pastor of Christ Our Savior in Struthers when placed on leave in 11/2021 due to an allegation of inappropriate physical contact with a minor. Agreed to resign from his position at the parish 7/6/2022. On 7/17/2022 the Diocese announced that its Review Board had determined that while there was inappropriate contact with a minor by Babjak, it "did not not rise to the level of sexual abuse." The Board recommended Babjak be returned to active ministry after a period of evaluation. Babjak died by suicide on 10/3/2022, just before the Diocese was to announce that there was a second allegation against him, of inappropriate contact with a minor in Slovakia.

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Fr. Joseph R. Bennett

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Ordained: 1953
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Youngstown OH

First named publicly as accused on the diocese's list 10/29/2018. Assignments included parishes in Boardman, Youngstown, Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Struthers, Canton, Warren, Niles, Kingsville, and Geneva. Allegations were noted to have been made after Bennett's death.

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Fr. Denis G. Bouchard

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Order: FSSP
Ordained: 2000
Status: Reinstated

Diocese: Diocese of Youngstown OH

Pastor of Queen of the Holy Rosary in Vienna. Member of the traditionalist Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter. Placed on leave in 11/2018 after a man reported to the Diocese 9/2026 that Bouchard sexually abused him as a boy, ages 9-11. A previous allegation was revealed soon after the first became known, by a person unwilling to cooperate with investigators. Bouchard filed a libel suit against his accuser, his accuser's mother and the Diocese in 9/2019. The Diocese announced on 7/1/2024 that Bouchard's order found no sufficient evidence in the case and that he would be reinstated.

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Fr. Emmanuel Briffa

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Order: SJ
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Youngstown OH

Entered the Jesuits in 1948. From the Vice Province of Malta. Named publicly as accused by the Midwest Province on its list 12/17/2018. Noted to have a single allegation against him of abuse, occurring in Canton OH in 1957 while visiting friends. Briffa was dismissed from the order in 12/1963. Deceased. Allegation reported after his death.

Assignments:

Jesuits Midwest Province Assignment Record 12.21.18

Sources:

Jesuits Midwest Province List 12.17.18

Fr. Robert M. Burns

Ordained: 1975
Status: Convicted

Diocese: Diocese of Youngstown OH

Worked in the Diocese of Youngstown 1975-1981, where he sexually abused minors. Sent for treatment. Transferred to the Archdiocese of Boston. Youngstown told Boston not to allow Burns to be around children. Continued to abuse. Removed from active ministry in 1991. Pleaded guilty in 3/1996 in NH to molesting two youths. Served three years of an eight-year sentence. Admitted to abusing 42 boys and young men. Sued several times. Boston settled claims totaling more than $2.6M 1992-2002. Laicized in 1999. Convicted again in 2005. Given an 11-year sentence. Released from prison and living in Boston in 2015, per a 7/2017 news article. Included on the Youngstown diocese's list 10/29/2018.

Fr. Daniel P. Cipar

Order: MSC
Ordained: 1961
Status: Accused

Died: 02/2/2018
Diocese: Diocese of Youngstown OH

Named publicly as credibly accused by the Youngstown diocese when added to its list in 3/2020. Arrived in the diocese in 1993, incardinated in 2002. (Was ordained for the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart.) Pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes in East Palestine 1993 until his 2010 retirement. Member of the diocese's Priests' Personnel Board, Priests' Council and Priests' Retirement Board. Died 2/2/2018. Added to the Diocese of Rockford's list 10/21/2020. Included on the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart U.S. Province list of credibly accused. Included in the 5/23/2023 IL Attorney General's Report.

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Fr. Thomas J. Crum

Ordained: 1975
Status: Settled

Diocese: Diocese of Youngstown OH

Removed in 6/2009 after newly reported allegations of sexual misconduct with a teenage student more than 30 years prior. When confronted, Crum admitted the allegations were true and was sent to a treatment facility. Assigned to Cardinal Mooney High School as well as to St. James in Warren and St. John the Baptist during the relevant time period. Three additional allegations were received within one month. Laicization announced 07/19/2010. Included on the diocese's list 10/29/2018. Accused in a lawsuit of sexually abusing a boy, age 12, in 1981 while assigned to St. Christine's in Youngstown. The abuse allegedly occurred during a trip to Colorado and included Crum plying the boy with alcohol. The suit settled in 2020 in the low five figures.

Fr. John P. Cunningham

Ordained: 1954
Status: Accused

Died: 02/23/1989
Diocese: Diocese of Youngstown OH

Pastor of St. Philip and St. James in Canal Fulton 1969-1983. Died in 1989. First named publicly as accused on the diocese's list 10/29/2018. Allegations were made after Cunningham's death.

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Fr. Gerald X. Curran

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Ordained: 1948
Status: Accused

Died: 11/5/2008
Diocese: Diocese of Youngstown OH

Died in 2008. First named publicly as accused on the diocese's list 10/29/2018. Allegations noted to have been reported after his death.

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Fr. Guy Bernard Dupont

Order: OP
Ordained: 1968
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Youngstown OH

First named publicly as accused on the Youngstown diocese's list 10/29/2018. On the Dominicans' St. Joseph Province list in late 2018. Removed from public ministry in 2018 due to credible allegation of abuse occurring in 1982 or 1983.

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Fr. Anthony Michael Esposito

Ordained: 1956
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Youngstown OH

First named publicly as accused on the diocese's list 10/29/2018. Assignments included St. Aloysius in East Liverpool, St. Rose in Girard, the YU Newman Club, Newman Apostolate, and the Columbiana Deanery of Priests.

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Fr. Richard C. Evrit

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Ordained: 1973
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Youngstown OH

First named publicly as accused on the Youngstown diocese's list 10/29/2018. Allegations date to the early 1970s. (The Catholic Directories consistently spell his name 'Evrit'; it is spelled 'Evritt' on the diocese's list.) Assigned to St Paul in Salem, Holy Family in Poland, St Paul in Canton, St Patrick in Kent, St Pius X in Warren. Absent on Sick Leave 1985-1987, then assigned 1987-1989 to St Charles in Morganton NC in the Charlotte diocese, after which Youngstown again lists him as on leave. Reportedly died in 2019. On the Charlotte diocese's list 12/29/2019.

Assignments:

Diocese of Charlotte Assignment Record 12.29.19

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Fr. Joseph A. Feicht

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Ordained: 1939
Status: Accused

Died: 01/4/1965
Diocese: Diocese of Youngstown OH

Named publicly as credibly accused by the Youngstown diocese on its list updated 3/5/2020. Allegations made after his death. Died in 1965.

Sources:

Diocese of Youngstown List updated 03.05.20

Fr. James M. Fondriest

Ordained: 1972
Status: Accused

Died: 07/17/2021
Diocese: Diocese of Youngstown OH

First named publicly as accused on the diocese's list 10/29/2018. Leave of Absence in 1994 from St. Joseph's in Mantua, where he was pastor. Went on to marry. Died in Estero, FL 7/17/2021.

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Deacon Ernest Formichelli

Status: Accused

Died: 04/11/2020
Diocese: Diocese of Youngstown OH

First named publicly as accused on the diocese's list 10/29/2018. Ordained for the permanent deaconate in 2008. Between 1971 and 2013 taught at St. Christine School and Cardinal Mooney High School. Teaching license revoked by the state in 2013 after two people alleged abuse. Died 4/11/2020.

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Fr. Joseph Galganski

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Ordained: 1942
Status: Accused

Died: 07/22/1992
Diocese: Diocese of Youngstown OH

Monsignor. First named publicly as accused on the diocese's list 10/29/2018. Retired in 1980. Died 7/22/1992. Allegations noted to have been reported after his death.

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Fr. Henry M. Gallagher

Ordained: 1941
Status: Accused

Died: 03/23/1991
Diocese: Diocese of Youngstown OH

Ordained in Boston for the Diocese of Kansas City. Assigned to a parish for three years. Moved to the Youngstown diocese in 1944. Worked in parishes for several years, then was "awaiting appointment." Assigned as chaplain to a hospice, then to a hospital. Sick leave 1958-1959, then assigned to a parish until 1964. Absent on sick leave 1964-1965. Retired in 1965. Died in 1991 in Charlestown, MA. First named publicly as accused on the diocese's list 10/29/2018. Allegations noted to have been reported after his death.

Assignments:

BishopAccountability.org Assignment Record

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Fr. John P. Gallagher

Ordained: 1944
Status: Accused

Died: 01/13/1974
Diocese: Diocese of Youngstown OH

First named publicly as accused on the diocese's list 10/29/2018. Allegation noted to have been reported after his death. Died 1/3/1974.

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Fr. Paul L. Gubser

Ordained: 1967
Status: Accused

Died: 02/25/2006
Diocese: Diocese of Youngstown OH

First named publicly as accused on the diocese's list 10/29/2018. Assignments included parishes in Youngstown, Warren, Ravenna, Conneaut, Struthers, McDonald, Canton, Summitville, Salineville, Dungannon and Rootstown. Retired in 7/2002. Died 2/25/2006.

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Fr. John E. Hammer

Ordained: 1979
Status: Sued

Diocese: Diocese of Youngstown OH

"Father Jack." Removed in 2002 after admitting to abuse of an altar boy 1980-1983. Sent to St. Luke's Institute for treatment in 1985 then worked as a hospital chaplain in the Baltimore archdiocese. Faculties removed in Baltimore in 1990; Bishop Malone persuaded the Saginaw MI diocese to take him, and he worked there parishes there for the next 12 years, including as pastor. Lawsuit filed in 9/2002 by three plaintiffs from the Youngstown diocese and one from the Saginaw diocese, claiming church authorities knew of wrongdoing by Hammer as early as 1978. Name included on the Baltimore archdiocese's list of accused in 9/2002. Laicized in 2006. On the Saginaw diocese's list 4/25/2018. On the Youngstown diocese's list 10/29/2018. Included in the 4/5/2023 MD Attorney General's Report.

Fr. James R. Hennessey

Donate Photo

Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Youngstown OH

First named publicly as accused on the diocese's list 10/29/2018. Assignments included St. Nicholas in Struthers, Immaculate Conception in Wellsville, Mother of Sorrows in Ashtabula and St. Therese in Brewster. Allegations noted to have been received after Hennessey's death.

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Fr. Robert E. Hill

Ordained: 1957
Status: Convicted

Diocese: Diocese of Youngstown OH

Arrested and convicted in 1991 on charges of compelling prostitution by paying to perform sex acts on a 17-year-old boy. Served two years in prison. Suspended by the diocese and sent for treatment. Found in 2002 living at a retirement home for priests, in the same building as a pre-school. On the diocese's list 10/29/2018. Noted to be deceased.

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Fr. William H. Hohman

Ordained: 1938
Status: Accused

Died: 03/19/1988
Diocese: Diocese of Youngstown OH

Ordained for the Marianists. Taught high school in Cincinnati and Cleveland OH, and at Trinity College in Sioux City IA. Arrived in the Diocese of Youngstown in 1943. Assigned to parishes in Niles, Alliance, East Liverpool and Aurora. Chaplain at Mercy Hospital in Canton. Retired in 1980. Died in 1988. Named publicly as credibly accused by the Youngstown diocese when added to its list in 3/2020.

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Fr. Thomas F. Kelly

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Ordained: 1947
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Youngstown OH

First named publicly as accused on the Diocese of Youngstown's list 10/29/2018. Noted to be deceased. Assignments included St. Columba Cathedral, and parishes in Garrettsville, Ashtabula, Youngstown, Liverpool and Campbell.

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Fr. John F. Lyons

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Ordained: 1946
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Youngstown OH

Ordained in Ireland. First named publicly as accused on the diocese's list 10/29/18. Allegations noted to have been received after Lyons' death.

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Fr. Donald P. Marrokal

Order: CR
Ordained: 1958
Status: Accused

Died: 02/24/2007
Diocese: Diocese of Youngstown OH

First named publicly as accused on the Youngstown diocese's list 10/29/2018. Died in 2007.

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Fr. Thomas Bertrand McCarthy

Order: OP
Ordained: 1960
Status: Accused

Died: 03/23/1986
Diocese: Diocese of Youngstown OH

First named publicly as accused on the diocese's updated list 11/9/2018. Noted to be deceased. the On Dominicans' St. Joseph Province list in late 2018. It notes McCarthy died in 1986, and allegation established in 2018. Added to the Columbus diocese's list 12/3/2019.

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Fr. Donald J. Oser

Ordained: 1953
Status: Accused

Died: 10/23/2012
Diocese: Diocese of Youngstown OH

First named publicly as accused on the diocese's list 10/29/2018. Assignments included parishes in Geneva, Austintown, Struthers, Boardman, Hubbard, Alliance, Youngstown, Columbiana, Warren, Canton and North Canton. Died 10/23/2012.

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Fr. John R. Parillo

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Ordained: 1970
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Youngstown OH

First named publicly as accused on the diocese's list 10/29/2018. Allegations noted to have been reported after Parillo's death.

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Fr. Robert E. Reidy

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Ordained: 1962
Status: Sued

Diocese: Diocese of Youngstown OH

Monsignor. After two brothers came forward in 2002, Reidy admitted abusing them as children in the 1960s. They claimed Reidy had taken advantage of them while their father was dying. After their father died, Reidy would take them on extended trips and sexually abuse them. Reidy was "removed from the ministry" and "retired" as of 4/2002 and sent for counseling. Civil suit filed in 2002. Trial was set for 3/2004. Included on the diocese's list 10/29/2018.

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Fr. John E. Ryan

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Ordained: 1953
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Youngstown OH

First named publicly as accused on the Youngstown diocese's list 10/29/2018. Noted to be deceased. Assignments included parishes in Boardman, Poland, Massillon, Canal Fulton, Warren and Youngstown.

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Fr. Robert A. Sabatino

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Ordained: 1956
Status: Accused

Died: 07/17/2017
Diocese: Diocese of Youngstown OH

Monsignor. First named publicly as accused on the diocese's list 10/29/2018. Died 7/17/2017.

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Fr. Louis Santucci

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Ordained: 1974
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Youngstown OH

First named publicly as accused on the diocese's list 10/29/2018. Assignments included St. Patrick's in Hubbard, Ursuline High School, Cardinal Mooney High School, St. Joseph's in Maximo, Regina Coeli in Alliance, and Immaculate Conception in Ravenna.

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Fr. John W. Schmidt

Ordained: 1956
Status: Accused

Died: 02/10/2003
Diocese: Diocese of Youngstown OH

First named publicly as accused on the diocese's list 10/29/2018. Among assignments were parishes in Massillon, Ashtabula, Youngstown, Canton, Lisbon and Sebring. Died 2/10/2003.

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Fr. William B. Smaltz

Ordained: 1956
Status: Indicted

Diocese: Diocese of Youngstown OH

First named publicly as accused on the diocese's list 10/29/2018. Noted to have been assigned to St. Mary's in Massillon, St. Edward's in Youngstown, Our Lady of Lourdes in E. Palestine and St. Mary's in Conneaut. Left the priesthood after 18 years, married and raised a family. In 5/2020 the diocese announced that Smaltz's name would be removed from its list because the allegations were "no longer deemed to be credible and substantiated." Smaltz and his wife filed a defamation suit in 10/2020 against the diocese.

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Fr. Michael A. Swierz

Ordained: 1985
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Youngstown OH

Placed on leave in 6/2024 after "concerns" of Swierz's behavior while assigned to St. Rose in Girard in the late 1980s-early1990s. In 9/2024 the Diocese announced that its Review Board found a "disturbing pattern of behavior, including serious boundary violations with minors, manipulation and abuse of power." He was deemed unsuitable for ministry. In 1/2025 the Vatican affirmed the Diocese's findings. In 3/2025 the Diocese announced that Swierz "has retired from ministry and does not have faculties to serve in ministry."

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Fr. Jose Vazquez

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Ordained: 1989
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Youngstown OH

First named publicly on the Youngstown diocese's list updated 11/9/2018. Noted to have worked St. Aloysius in East Liverpool, St. Joseph's in Canton and St. Charles in Boardman.

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Fr. John F. Warner

Ordained: 1970
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Youngstown OH

Bishop Murray removed Warner from his assignment as pastor of Saints Philip and James Parish in Canal Fulton in 10/2011 after allegations of sexual misconduct with a minor more than 30 years previously. Warner was assigned to Saint Edward Parish in Youngstown at the time in question. The diocesan review board found the allegation credible. Warner denied the allegations. In 2013, the Diocese said he was living in another state under supervision. Included on the diocese's list 10/29/2018.

Assignments:

BA.org Assignment Record

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Fr. Francis Zapitelli

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Ordained: 1962
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Youngstown OH

Ordained for the Diocese of Youngstown. Incardinated into the Diocese of Phoenix in 4/1983. Removed from public ministry in 11/2018 after an allegation that Zapitelli engaged in "sexual misconduct" with a minor in the mid-1970s as a Youngstown priest. Included on Youngstown diocese's list 10/29/2018. Included on the Phoenix diocese's list 10/29/2019.

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