Archdiocese of Indianapolis Names Priests Accused of Sex Abuse
By Holly V. Hays and Crystal Hill
The Archdiocese of Indianapolis on Thursday released the names of more than 20 priests associated with the archdiocese who have at least one "credible" claim of sex abuse of a child or adolescent against them, including two priests who the church said each had more than a dozen victims. The list includes 19 priests for the archdiocese and four who were members of religious orders who served in the archdiocese, dating back to 1940. The diocese also released the names of priests accused of improper relationships with “vulnerable” adults and others who were deceased before their allegations were reported and the allegations were not substantiated. Collectively, the diocese identified 103 victims. “I pray the release of this list of credibly accused clergy will help all survivors of sexual abuse find the strength to come forward and will set them on the path to healing,” Archbishop Charles C. Thompson said in a written statement. “I apologize to all victims for the abuse that was done to them and for the failure of the Church to keep them from harm. I pledge to do everything within my power to protect our youth.”
The number of victims listed for each priest ranges from one to 23. Of the 19 accused of abuse of a child or adolescent, only nine are alive, according to the diocese. All of the allegations have been reported to the Department of Child Services and law enforcement, the diocese said. Advocates for church abuse victims speak out Victims advocates welcomed the decision by the diocese to release the names but also said such investigations should begin with authorities and not the church. Tim Lennon, board president for the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, said every list like this provides survivors recognition from the church and reminds others they aren’t alone. “The vast majority of victims, especially of child sex abuse, never come forward,” Lennon said. “So when the archdiocese provides an opportunity for these victims to tell their family and reach out and get help, it’s a good thing.” Thompson announced his intentions to compile and release the list on Aug. 30, weeks after a sweeping Pennsylvania grand jury report identified 300 “predator priests” and more than 1,000 victims across the state. Several Indiana dioceses announced plans to release the names of priests accused of sexually abusing minors following the report, including a list of 20 in the Fort Wayne-South Bend diocese and 10 in the Diocese of Gary. None of the priests on either list served in Indianapolis in a ministerial capacity, according to those dioceses. Lennon said although it’s progress to see these lists, the names should have been made public long ago. And the work can’t stop here. “They need to take action on the harm that’s been done,” he said. “The church needs to be responsible for restorative justice.” Robert Hoatson, a former priest and the president of Road to Recovery, a New Jersey-based group that assists victims of sex abuse, said the most reliable information would come from a state investigation, not a church trying to protect its own interests. “Unfortunately, the church only does it kicking and screaming, when it’s confronted with the possibility of indictments, investigations, et cetera,” he said. “It’s hard to trust the church. It’s hard to trust the church to do the right thing.” After the Fort Wayne-South Bend diocese released its list Sept. 18, SNAP leadership called for probes nationwide similar to what occurred in Pennsylvania. Attorney General Curtis Hill’s office told IndyStar such investigations must begin locally. “While the alleged conduct, according to the Pennsylvania grand jury report is beyond reprehensible, in Indiana, any investigation of criminal sex abuse must begin at the local level with specific allegations against a person or organization,” the office said last month in a written statement. Indianapolis Archdiocese identifies 'credible' allegations The Indianapolis list was created based on recommendations made by the Archdiocesan Review Board, which is tasked with investigating and reviewing each of the allegations. A "credible" allegation is considered “more likely to be true than not,” according to the archdiocese. The board comprises five laypersons and one clergy member, according to the diocese. Current and past members of the board have held positions in law enforcement, the prosecutor’s office, child protective services, education, childhood development, psychology, social work and law. Some of the men included in the Indianapolis list have recently come under scrutin
Father Patrick Doyle, who was suspended last month after allegations were reported, resigned as pastor of the Nativity Parish on Oct. 8. He had served in numerous ministerial capacities at parishes across the area, according to the archdiocese. He was an administrator at Bishop Chatard High School at the time of the alleged incident in 1987. Father John Maung was removed from public ministry in August after allegations against him surfaced. Maung, who retired in 2009 but continued to assist at various parishes, has denied the claims, according to the archdiocese. Prior to his retirement, Maung served at St. Lawrence in Indianapolis; St. Gabriel in Connersville and St. Joseph in Shelbyville. He also resided at Holy Spirit Parish in Indianapolis. In a written statement, the archdiocese said officials will update the list if new credible claims surface. Clergy accused of misconduct The Archdiocese of Indianapolis on Thursday released the names of nearly 30 priests accused of misconduct. Specifically where each priest served and when was not immediately available. The 19 priests for the archdiocese accused of sexually abusing minors: William Leroy Blackwell Number of victims: 8 Alleged time of abuse: 1958; 1964-68 Current state: Deceased Edward Theodore Bockhold Number of victims: 2 Alleged time of abuse: 1949, 1961 Current state: Deceased Conrad Louis Cambron Number of victims: 2 Alleged time of abuse: 1978, 1980 Current state: Resigned from the priesthood in 1985 Jeffrey James Charlton Number of victims: 3 Alleged time period of abuse:1982, 1984, 1986-87 Current state: Resigned 1995, removed from clerical state in Nov. 2014 Samuel Thomas Curry Number of victims: 7 Alleged time period of abuse: 1970s Current state: Deceased Albert Vincent Deery Number of victims: 23 Alleged time period of abuse: 1950s-1970s Current state: Deceased Jack F. Emrich Number of victims: 1 Alleged time period of abuse: 1970s Current state: Removed from ministry in 2003 Donald J. Evrard Number of victims: 5 Alleged time period of abuse: 1977, 1985 Current state: Deceased Micheal Howard Kelley Number of victims: 2 Alleged time period of abuse: 1990, 1992 Current state: Removed from ministry in 2003 Joseph Stanley Kos Number of victims: 3 Alleged time period of abuse: 1980s Current state: Deceased Laurence Michael Lynch Number of victims: 1 Alleged time period of abuse: 1972-73 Current state: Deceased John S. Maung Number of victims: 1 Alleged time period of abuse: 1993-1997 Current state: Removed from ministry in 2018 Harold E. Monroe Number of victims: 16 Alleged time period of abuse: 1976-1982 Current state: Removed from clerical state in April 2011 Eugene Jack Okon Number of victims: 4 Alleged time period of abuse: 1974 Current state: Deceased Roger Gerard Rudolf Number of victims: 1 Alleged time period of abuse: 1987-88 Current state: Removed from clerical state in May 2015 Frederick Adam Schmitt Number of victims: 3 Alleged time period of abuse: 1973-74 Current state: Deceased John Bernard Schoettelkotte Number of victims: 5 Alleged time period of abuse: 1964-67 Current state: Removed from ministry in 2003 Myles Hale Patrick Smith Number of victims: 3 Alleged time period of abuse: 1976-1988 Current state: Deceased Jonathan Lovill Stewart Number of victims: 1 Alleged time period of abuse: 1993 Current state: Removed from ministry in 2003 The four religious order priests who have served in the archdiocese: Brennan Harris Number of victims: 1 Alleged time period of abuse: 1971 Current state: Deceased Bernard Knoth Number of victims: 1 Alleged time period of abuse: 1978 Current state: Removed from clerical state Donald O’Shaughnessy Number of victims: 2 Alleged time period of abuse: 1965 Current state: Deceased Roman Pfalzer Number of victims: 2 Alleged time period of abuse: 1953-54 Current state: Deceased The archdiocese named two priests who are the subjects of “credible” allegations involving adults who were adolescents when the emotional aspects of the relationship began: Patrick Andrew Doyle Number of victims: 1 Alleged time of abuse: 1987 Current state: Removed from ministry in 2018 Karl Joseph Miltz Number of victims: 1 Alleged time of abuse: 1974 Current state: Removed from clerical state in Dec. 2005 The release also includes the names of four members of the clergy who had claims of abuse against them but were deceased before the allegations were reported. The board had no way to substantiate the claims against them. Their names are being released “out of an abundance of caution and transparency,” the archdiocese said. The four: John Stanley Kramer Number of victims: 1 Alleged time of abuse: 1947-1952 William Kreis Number of victims: 1 Alleged time of abuse: 1944-46 James Joseph Shanahan Number of victims: 1 Alleged time of abuse: 1958 George Peter Ziemer Number of victims: 1 Alleged time of abuse: 1955-57 How to report Those who have been the victim of sexual abuse or harassment by a member of the clergy are encouraged to contact civil authorities and the archdiocesan victim assistance coordinator, Carla Hill. Hill can be reached 317-236-1548 or 800-382-9836, ext. 1548, or by e-mail at carlahill@archindy.org. Reports can also be submitted online at archdioceseofindianapolis.ethicspoint.com.
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