Archdiocese of Seattle WA - BishopAccountability.org

70 Accused in This Diocese

Deacon Dennis Albrechtson

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Status: Accused

Deacon at St. Anthony's in Renton in 1989. Name included on the archdiocese's 1/15/2016 list of clergy and religious with established, admitted or credible allegations against them of sexual abuse of a minor.

Assignments:

Archdiocese of Seattle List 01.15.16

Sources:

Fr. G. Barry Ashwell

Ordained: 1969
Status: Settled

Died: 03/27/2020
Diocese: Archdiocese of Seattle WA

Accused in lawsuits of sexually abusing boys at St. Augustine's in Oak Harbor, where he was assigned 1978-2000. Ashwell was a state-licensed foster father and some of the the boys alleging abuse were living him as foster children. The Archdiocese settled with one in 1996. Allowed to stay in ministry. Accused in a 2001 lawsuit of sexually abusing an altar boy in the 1970s at St. Joseph's in Vancouver. Placed on leave. Three other men filed suit in 7/2005. Laicized in 2005. New suit filed 8/30/2010. By 2010 there were five known accusers. Included on the Archdiocese's list of credibly accused 1/15/2016. Settlement in 2022 related to sexual abuse occurring in about 1976 at St. Vincent de Paul in Federal Way. Ashwell died 3/27/2020.

Fr. Englebert M. Axer

Order: SJ
Ordained: 1939
Status: Settled

Died: 09/27/1989
Diocese: Archdiocese of Seattle WA

In 11/2006, Seattle University announced that it had received a report that Axer sexually abused a minor in 1956. Professor at Seattle University 1956-1987. Worked in Japan 1950-1955. Died 9/27/1989. At some point, the University removed his name from an endowed chair in the philosophy department because of the abuse. There was least one settlement as of 11/2007. Name included on the Seattle archdiocese's list 1/15/2016. On the Jesuits West Province list 12/7/2018.

Assignments:

Sources:

Fr. Edmund J. Boyle

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Ordained: 1944
Status: Convicted

Died: 02/12/1995
Diocese: Archdiocese of Seattle WA

Convicted in 1987 of lewdness with a child in Reno, NV. Sued in 2003. Accused of abuse in the 1960s in Portland. In 2005 three siblings (two girls and a boy) settled claims against the Seattle archdiocese for $1.1M. Other claims were still pending. Accused of molesting at least 9 boys and girls in OR, WA, and NV. Died 2/12/1995. One claim settled in Seattle in 10/2007 for $270K. Four others settled in 2009. Included on the archdiocese's list 1/15/2016 of clergy and religious for whom allegations of sexual abuse of a minor have been admitted, established or determined to be credible. Worked at St. James Cathedral 1955-1964, and Mt. St. Vincent in Seattle 1979-1984. On the Reno diocese's list of credibly accused 4/5/2019 and the Las Vegas diocese's list 4/12/2019.

Assignments:

Archdiocese of Seattle List 01.15.16

Sources:

Fr. Edward C. Boyle

Ordained: 1950
Status: Sued

Died: 12/1/1987
Diocese: Archdiocese of Seattle WA

Died in 12/1987. Accused in a 2005 lawsuit of sexually abusing a boy for over ten years, beginning in 1956. Name included on the Seattle archdiocese's list released 1/15/2016 of clergy and religious for whom allegations of sexual abuse of a minor have been admitted, established or determined to be credible. Worked in the archdiocese 1940-1987, in Kenmore, Longview, Everett, Arlington, Sedro-Woolley, Bremerton, Renton, Seattle, and Bellevue. Accused in a lawsuit filed in 7/2024 of sexually abusing a boy in the 1980s at St. John Catholic School. The plaintiff also claimed he was abused by two of his coaches at the school, John Schade and Terry McGrath. Another lawsuit was filed 9/9/2024 alleging abuse by Boyle of a boy 1983 through 1984 at St. John's.

Assignments:

Archdiocese of Seattle List 01.15.16

Sources:

Brother O’Donahue

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Order: CFC
Status: Sued