38 Accused in This Religious Order
- Diocese of Charlotte Assignment Record 12.29.19
- Empire State News 06.04.08
- NY Post 06.05.08
- Brooklyn Daily Eagle 06.06.08
- Queens Ledger 06.12.08
- CBS New York 09.22.14
- Newsday 09.23.14
- WPIX 09.24.14
- 27 East 10.01.14
- New York Times 11.16.15
- Newsday 11.19.15
- SNAP 11.19.15
- 27East 11.19.15
- The Patch 04.24.17
- Newsday 04.24.17
- 27 East 04.24.17
- Daily Mail 04.25.17
- The Patch 04.26.17
- Diocese of Charlotte List 12.29.19
- LA Archdiocesan Report 02.17.04
- LA Daily News 09.09.13
- SNAP Statement 09.12.13
- SNAP Statement 09.16.13
- East Missourian 09.20.13
- SNAP Statement re Personnel File 10.25.13
- Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau List 04.01.19
- Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau List updated 04.13.21
- IL Attorney General’s Report 05.23.23
- L.A. Times 08.18.02
- L.A. Times 12.11.02
- Ventura County Star 03.16.03
- L.A. Times 10.28.03
- Ventura County Star 12.07.03
- L.A. Archdiocesan Report, page 2 02.17.04
- L.A. Times 04.20.06
- Pasadena Weekly 04.20.06
- Ventura County Star 12.02.06
- L.A. Archdiocese Statement 07.24.07
- L.A. Times 07.24.07
- Reuters 07.24.07
- L.A. County DA’s Office Statement 07.24.07
- L.A. Daily News 07.25.07
- San Francisco Chronicle 10.23.07
- Union Tribune 12.02.08
- L.A. Times 12.03.08
- Press-Enterprise 01.30.09
- L.A. Daily News 10.12.12
- Personnel File Released 01.31.13
- NY Times 02.01.13
- Boston Globe 02.02.13
- L.A. Daily News 02.09.13
- L.A. Times 02.18.14
- KHTS 10.17.18
- Archdiocese of LA List 12.21.21
- L.A. Archdiocesan Report Errata Notice # 1
- USA Today 11.11.02
- Los Angeles Daily News 07.01.03
- Ventura County Star 12.07.03
- L.A. Archdiocesan Report 02.17.04
- John Roe 4 vs Does, Cause No 1156450, Superior Court of California 08.27.04
- Ventura County Star 01.09.05
- L.A. Archdiocesan Report Addendum 11.15.05
- L.A. Times Database 04.20.06
- L.A. Times 12.02.06
- Ventura County Star 12.02.06
- City of Angels 12.07.07
- City of Angels 01.22.08
- Ventura County Star 10.04.09
- L.A. Daily News 10.12.12
- L.A. Times 02.01.13
- NY Times 02.04.13
- SNAP Statement 09.08.13
- Los Angeles Daily News 09.09.13
- Sun Herald 09.09.13
- Gallup Independent 12.10.13
- My News LA 11.01.16
- KPCC Radio 10.25.18
- San Bernardino Sun 10.25.18
- Los Angeles Times 10.18.18
- Palm Springs Desert Sun 11.01.18
- Diocese of San Bernardino List 02.06.19
- KEYT 3 TV 06.21.19
- Ventura County Star 06.25.19
- Los Angeles Daily News 07.06.20
- City News Service 10.13.21
- OC Register 04.15.92
- L.A. Times 01.15.93
- L.A. Archdiocesan Report 02.17.04
- L.A. Times 02.18.04
- L.A. Times 12.04.04
- OC Register 04.13.05
- Detroit Free Press 05.19.05
- OC Register 05.19.05
- L.A. Times 05.19.05
- L.A. Daily News 09.09.13
- Orange County Weekly 09.11.13
- Worthy Adversary 09.11.13
- SNAP Statement 09.16.13
- East Missourian 09.20.13
- SNAP Statement re Personnel File 10.25.13
- Diocese of Orange 08.12.16
- KHTS 10.17.18
- Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau List 04.01.19
- Diocese of Orange List Updated 04.02.19
- Chicago Sun-Times 03.22.06
- Houston Chronicle 03.22.06
- KWMU (AP) 06.20.06
- Chicago Sun-Times 06.21.06
- NY Times (AP) 10.31.06
- Chicago Sun-Times 11.01.06
- Chicago Tribune 11.01.06
- Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau List 04.01.19
- Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau List updated 04.13.21
- Archdiocese of Chicago List 10.14.22
- IL Attorney General’s Report 05.23.23
Fr. Joseph V. Agostino
A man notified the Diocese and Order in 2003 that Agostino had abused him. The Order investigated and could not find sufficient information to support the allegations. Kept in ministry. Bishop met with the accuser. In 4/09 the same man came forward again, this time with more evidence and proof that he was a minor at the time of the abuse. The Diocese told the County D.A. and the Order removed Agostino from his assignment at St. John the Baptist, pending further investigation. He reportedly was moved in 2009 to Philadelphia and assigned to various projects by the Vincentians' Superior General. The Philadelphia archdiocese's website in 6/20 shows him as there at St. Vincent's Seminary.
Fr. Hugo Bedoya
From Colombia. Not indexed in the U.S. Official Catholic Directory prior to 1973. Worked in Dioceses of Lubbock, TX and Brooklyn, NY; Judicial Vicar of Marriage Tribunal when named in massive 10/2003 civil suit where 27 victims alleged abuse by 24 priests. Per suit, Bedoya abused a child ages of 9-11 at Fourteen Holy Martyrs in Bushwick, in the church, in the rectory, and elsewhere. Suit also says he examined the genitals of his altar boys in a group to make sure they were clean. He denied all the allegations. Another man joined the lawsuit 2/2004 alleging abuse by Bedoya during the 1970s. Bedoya remained in ministry until his removal 6/19/2012. Included on the Diocese's list in 2/2019.
Fr. James T. Beighlie
Parish priest, high school faculty member, hospital chaplain. Assigned to St. Vincent de Paul Parish in St. Louis when removed by his order in 5/2021 after colleagues found nude photos of him on a church printer. Investigators found about 6000 child sexual abuse images on one computer, 236 images on another and 40 videos. Beighlie had also created two PowerPoint presentations of the images. Pleaded guilty in 10/2022 to possession of child pornography.Sentenced in 1/2023 to five years in prison and ordered to pay restitution to one of the victims in the images and other child crime victims. Living in 1/2023 at the Vianney Renewal Center in Dittmer MO. Included on the Vincentians Western Province list of credibly accused.
Fr. James Cairns
Accused of abuse occurring 1971-1973. In 2004 the Los Angeles archdiocese counted one accuser. Added to the Stockton diocese's list in 11/2020, which notes that he was assigned to Sacred Heart in Patterson 1980-1982, Catholic Charities 1982-1986 and Central Catholic High School 1981-1986. Left the order in 2001. Included on the Vincentians list of credibly accused.
Fr. John Joseph Casey
Accused of abuse 1944-1945 in at least one civil suit. The Los Angeles archdiocese counts one accuser in its 2004 report. Died in 2000, age 96. Included on the Vincentians Western Province list of credibly accused. Assigned in CA, MO, IL, TX, LA. Named in the 5/23/2023 IL Attorney General's Report. Included on the Diocese of Peoria's list in 6/2024.
Fr. Anthony Catalina
Named publicly as accused by the Amarillo diocese on its list 1/31/19. Worked in the diocese 10/58 - 7/68. Died 11/30/68.
Fr. Thomas F. Cawley
Spent 31 years as Mission Procurator in Asia, living in Taiwan and Hong Kong. Sent to Rome in 1988 and became the order's Econome General. Transferred in 1993 to to Kansas City KS. In 2004 a man recognized Cawley in KS and came forward with an allegation that the priest molested him in 1979 when he was a 10-year-old altar boy. He said the abuse continued for two years. Cawley was placed on leave and the Order began an investigation. The man filed a civil suit in 8/2005 in St. Louis, the home of the Order. Cawley was assigned in 2004 as senior priest in residence at Vincentian Parish Mission Center in Independence MO. He died 10/28/2013.
Br. Stanley Conner
Named publicly as accused by the Western Province Vincentians on its list in 2020. Multiple allegations of abuse, occurring in the 1980s, reported in 1987, 1993 and 2004. Assigned to St. Catherine Laboure Parish in St. Louis. Removed from ministry in 1987. Died in 2008.
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Fr. Augusto Cortez
Arrested in 6/08, charged with touching the breast of a 12-year-old girl 5/29/08. Worked at St. John the Baptist School in Bushwick. Had been working at Centro de Evangelizacion San Vicente de Paul; was to return to his order 12/31/08, to not present as priest, and ordered to register as Level 1 sex offender. Also worked at St. Rosalie's in Hampton Bays NY. Sentenced to 6 years probation 7/09. Accused 6/14 of sexual abuse of 6-year-old girl in Hampton Bays. Girl contracted STD. Cortez questioned by police, but let go. Fled country. Girl's family sued Order and Rockville Centre diocese 11/15. Found by Interpol in Guatemala, extradited to U.S., arrested in NY 4/22/17. Per officials, had fled to South America, lived in several countries. Pled not guilty 4/17. Convicted. In NY prison until at least 2023.
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Fr. Philip J. Coury
Worked in TX, MO, IL, CO. The Diocese of KC-St. Joseph announced on 4/6/2017 that it had received a credible allegation of sexual abuse of a minor by Coury while he was on staff at St. John Minor Seminary 1975-1978. The Order restricted Coury's public ministry prior to notifying the Diocese. Included on Diocese's list 9/5/2019. Permanently removed from ministry. On the Vincentians list in 2020, which notes abuse in the 1980s reported in 2010, and that he was removed from ministry and living under supervision. Included in the 5/23/2023 IL Attorney General's Report.
Fr. James Diete
Worked in Lemont, IL and Denver, CO. Named publicly by the Vincentian Order on its list in 2020 as the subject of multiple allegations of abuse, occurring in the 1980s. After the abuse was reported in 1987, Diete was sent to St. Luke Institute for treatment, then returned in 1988 to ministry. His faculties were removed in 1991. Included on the IL Attorney General's 5/23/2023 Report.
Fr. Warren J. Discon
Named publicly as accused of abuse by the Vincentian Order on its list in 2020. It notes a single allegation reported in 2005 of abuse in the 1970s. Discon died in 1993. The list does not reveal the place of the alleged abuse. Discon had assignments in IL, TX, MO and LA. The Official Catholic Directory lists Discon as on staff at the Servants of the Paraclete's Foundation House in Jemez Springs, NM in 1987. The Vincentians' posted assignment history for Discon does not reflect this. (Placing Discon's entry under St. Louis for now, where the Order is headquartered.) Included in the 5/23/2023 IL Attorney General's Report.
Fr. Luigi Esposito
Ordained in Italy. Assigned to Our Lady of Pompei in Highlandtown 1964-2018, named pastor in 1987. Taught, coached and was Athletic Director of the parish school 1964-1987. Incardinated into the Archdiocese in 2000. Suspended from ministry in 5/2018 after the diocese received an allegation that he had sexually abused a girl, beginning when she was about 14 in 1973 and continuing through her high school years. He was said to have begun grooming the girl when she was about ages 5-7. Admitted to having a "crush" on her and to some hugging and kissing, but denied abusing her. Baltimore police were investigating. Included on archdiocese's list 12/14/2018. It notes another allegation of abuse of a a girl, age 16, in 1972-1973. Included in the 4/5/2023 MD Attorney General's Report.
Fr. John V. Farris
Attended St. John Seminary in Kansas City and worked in nine Missouri parishes. Major issues with alcoholism throughout career. Spent seven years at St. John's and/or Queen of Angels Seminary in CA. Sued in 2003 in CA, accused of abuse of a youth 1951-1954. Died in 2003. Personnel file released 09/09/2013. Also worked in Denver CO and Cape Girardeau and Perryville, MO. On Springfield-Cape Girardeau diocese's list updated 4/1/2019. Included on the Vincentians list in 2020. Included in the 5/23/2023 IL Attorney General's Report.
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Fr. William J. Gormley
Named publicly as accused by the Rockville Centre diocese on its list in 3/2021. Gorman allegedly abused at his house. No time-frame shown. Died 5/2/2013.
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Fr. Joseph J. Hill
Worked in NY, China, AL, MD, PA. Named publicly as accused in the 4/5/2023 MD Attorney General's Report. Accused in 2003 of sexually abusing a girl, age 16 or 17, at Our Lady of Lourdes in Baltimore where he was assigned 1964-1971. Hill's victim died by suicide in 2002.
Fr. Thomas Kloppenborg
Entered the Vincentians as a novice in 1969. Ordained a deacon in 1978. Ordained for priesthood in 1991. In preparation for religious life, admitted early on that he had a "consensual" relationship as an older teen with a youth in mid-teens while in seminary in the 1970s. In 2002 removed by superior from assignment in CO. Stayed at Order's headquarters until 2004 when he moved to Nairobi. Worked there until his death in 2007.
Fr. Richard Wallace Lang
Named publicly as accused by the Amarillo diocese on its list 1/31/19. Worked in the diocese 12/41- 3/45 and 8/57-7/68. Died 5/30/74.
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Fr. Richard L. Lause
Accused in a suit filed in 8/2004 of abusing a boy in the 1980s at St. Vincent de Paul High School. The boy's mother had taken him to a seminary in IL in 1985 and the priests agreed to raise him. The boy later transferred to the school in St. Louis. The Vincentians were told of the abuse in 1988, sent Lause to counseling, then reassigned him in 1989. He was placed on leave in 2003 after his victim again complained. Claim settled by order in 1/2005. Name included on the Springfield-Cape Girardeau diocese's list updated 4/1/2019 and on the Vincentians list in 2020. Included in the 5/23/2023 IL Attorney General's Report.
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Fr. James Lawbaugh
Accused in a civil suit filed in 2/08 of abusing a 10-year-old boy at St. Vincent's in Kansas City in 1968. Left the priesthood in 1969 to marry. Living in FL at time of lawsuit. Denied the allegations. Claim settled in 8/08 as part of $10M settlement involving 12 priests. On the Kansas CIty-St. Joseph diocese's list 9/5/19.
Fr. J. Dennis Martin
Named publicly as accused by the Vincentian Order on its list in 2020. Multiple allegations of abuse occurring in the 1960s and 1980s were reported in 2003. Martin was removed from ministry. Assigned in 1995 to Kenrick-Glennon Seminary in St. Louis. Died in 2014. (The list does not indicate where the abuse is said to have occurred; placing Martin's entry for now under St. Louis, where the Order is headquartered.) Included in the 5/23/2023 IL Attorney General's Report.
Fr. Francisco Mateos
Ordained in Spain. Arrived in L.A. in 1974. Accused of abuse of a minor 1976-1979, per archdiocesan report. Sued in 12/2003. Archdiocese investigated and said no grounds to remove. Remained active priest. Per SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests), may have had ties to Mexico.
Fr. Louis Meteye
Named publicly as accused by the Vincentian Order on its list in 2020. Multiple allegations of abuse, occurring in the 1960s, were reported in 2003. Meteye died in 1979. (The list does not indicate where the alleged abuse occurred, so placing him for now under St. Louis, where the Order is headquartered.)
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Fr. George Michael Miller
Removed from active ministry in 1997. Accused of abuse of a boy in the 1970s and 1980s. Arrested in 2002; charges dropped 2003 due to US Supreme Court ruling. Six accusers, per the Archdiocese. Named by two in a 10/2003 civil suit. Some claims settled in a 12/2006 $60M settlement involving 22 priests. In 7/2007, four claims settled for $660M involving 508 priests. Laicized in 5/2005. Arrested 7/23/2007 for molesting a boy 1988-1991. Pleaded guilty in 12/2008. Admitted abuse of three more. Sentenced to three years in 1/2009. Personnel file released in 1/2013. Claims settled 2/18/2014 as part of a $13M claim. May have died in 6/2018. Named in a 10/2018 suit. Per the Archdiocese's list in 12/2021, Miller is deceased.
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Fr. Arthur C. Morgan
First named publicly as accused on the Las Cruces diocese's list 11/8/2018. It notes a report was received in 2013 of an incident in 1973. Assignments in the diocese were Our Lord of Mercy in Hatch 1968-1971 and San Isidro in Garfield 1971-1991.
Fr. Francis J. Murphy
Named publicly as accused by the Los Angeles Archdiocese on its list updated 12/6/2018. Allegations reported to the Archdiocese in 2008 of abuse 1964-1965. Murphy died in 1970. Included on the Vincentians list of credibly accused 11/12/2020. Included in the 5/23/2023 IL Attorney General's Report.
Fr. Thomas O’Hern
Worked in MO, IL, and Kenya, where he founded and was the Executive Director of Family Hope Charity. Named publicly as accused by the Vincentian Order on its list 11/12/2020. Multiple allegations of abuse occurring in the 1980s reported in 1991. Location of abuse not revealed. Sent to a residential program in St. Louis 11/1991-3/1992. Returned to ministry in Kenya in 1994. Removed from ministry in 2004, left the Order in 2006. Died in 2014. (Placing O'Hern's entry under St. Louis for now, where the Order is based.) Included in the 5/23/2023 IL Attorney General's Report.
Fr. Thomas Parrott
Ordained for the Vincentians. Incardinated in 1974 into the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau. Allegation in 2010 that Parrott molested a boy over two years, beginning when the boy was age 14 in 1966 and a student at St. John's Minor Seminary in Kansas City. Parrott was his spiritual advisor and confessor. Parrott's accuser settled with the Vincentians. Parrott retired from Springfield-Cape Girardeau diocese in 1987 and moved to Florida. He died in 1/1996. Included on the Springfield-Cape Girardeau list 4/1/2019. Also on the Vincentians list in 2020, which notes multiple allegations of abuse occurring in the late-1950s to mid-1960s, reported in 2002. Included in the 5/23/2023 IL Attorney General's Report.
Fr. Charles Plock
Chaplain and youth minister at St. John's University in Queens. Arrested in 10/08 after emailing a homemade video of himself masturbating to someone he thought was a 13-year-old boy in Colorado. The "boy" was a police officer. Plock was released on bond and immediately sent to St. John Vianney Center in Downington, PA for evaluation. Criminal charges filed. Pleaded guilty and sentenced to 5 years probation in 12/09.
Fr. Carlos Rene Rodriguez
From Mexico. First abuse report in 1987. Placed on leave in 1993. Convicted in 2004 of abuse of two teen boys 1988-1993. Sentenced to eight years' prison. Accused of abuse prior to 1994 in civil litigation. Laicized in 1998. Included in a 12/2006 $60M settlement involving 22 priests, which covered all of the cases that occurred since Mahony was named head of the diocese in 1985. Laicized in 5/1998. Released from prison in 1/2008. Personnel file released 1/2013. Order file released 9/9/2013. Found in 10/2016 ministering at an L.A. church not affiliated with the archdiocese, using the name Carlos Ramirez. Removed after publicity. Lawsuit filed in 10/2018 by two brothers alleging abuse in the 1990s in Riverside, when they were ages twelve and seven. Settled in 10/2021. In 2018 was reportedly living in Bakersfield CA. Warning in 6/2019 from the Archdiocese that Rodriguez was reported to be saying mass in homes, that he is not a priest and is a convicted abuser. Included on the San Bernardino diocese's list in 2/2019. On the Vincentians' list in 2020, noting six accusers.
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Fr. John Edward Ruhl
Ordained for the Vincentians. Incardinated in 1983 into the Diocese of Orange. The Diocese knew of an allegation in 1992. Accused of the sexual abuse of at least three minors 1970-1982. Named in the 2004 Los Angeles Archdiocesan Report. Included on the Diocese of Orange's list. Named in at least one civil suit. One $500K settlement in 2005. Personnel file released in 9/2013. Also worked in Cape Girardeau and Perryville, MO. Per the Diocese of Orange's website 8/12/2016, Ruhl's status was "Life of Prayer and Penance." Named in a 10/2018 lawsuit. Died 4/17/2018. Included on the Springfield-Cape Girardeau diocese's list updated 4/1/2019.
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Fr. John D. Rutledge
Rutledge was named publicly as accused on the Mobile archdiocese's list 12/6/2018. 'Misconduct' noted to have occurred 1968 while assigned to St Michael's in Auburn, an African-American parish. Rutledge trained at the Vincentian's Mary Immaculate Seminary in Northampton PA and after ordination there in 1951 was assigned to missionary work at St. Mary's in Balboa, Panama. Transferred after his Auburn assignment in 1971 to Our Lady of the Immaculate Medal/St Mary's church in Greensboro NC, in the newly formed Charlotte diocese. Rutledge was pastor there 1972-1975, then began graduate studies at Catholic University in Washington DC. In 1978, he was assigned again to St Mary's in Balboa. He died there on 3/23/1998. Included on the Charlotte diocese's list 12/29/2019.
Fr. Daniel R. Schulte
Charged in 2006 with downloading child pornography from the internet. He had been removed from his position as hospital chaplain in 2005 and sent to St. Louis, MO for treatment. Pleaded guilty in 6/2006. Sentenced to 7 years, 3 months in prison in 10/2006 and ordered to register as a sex offender upon release. Remained a priest; faced possible laicization. On Springfield-Cape Girardeau diocese's list updated 4/1/2019. On the Vincentians list in 2020, which notes he died the same year. Name included in 10/2022 on the Chicago archdiocese's list. Included in the 5/23/2023 IL Attorney General's Report.
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Br. James Bernard Steinbach
Named publicly as credibly accused by the Vincentian Order on its list in 2020. It notes alleged abuse in the 1960s, reported in 2007. Steinbach was removed from ministry in 2007. Died 12/26/2007. The list does not reveal the location of the alleged abuse. (Placing him under St. Louis, which is where the Order is based.)
Fr. Thomas Thelin
Named publicly as credibly accused by the Vincentian Order on its list in 2020. Worked in LA and TX. Abuse estimated to have occurred in the 1980s, reported in 1990. Left the Vincentians in 1985, married in 1991. Dismissed from the Order in 2002. Location of the alleged abuse not revealed. (Placing his entry under St. Louis for now, where the Order is based.)
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Fr. James N. Thompson
Named publicly in 2/2004 by the Diocese as credibly accused of child sexual abuse. Reportedly assigned to St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Phoenix in 1964-1965 when the parish was in the Diocese of Tucson. Died in 1982.
Br. Augustine Denis Towey
Member of the Eastern Province Vincentians. Accused in a 7/2021 lawsuit of sexually abusing a boy, age 15, in about 1971. Towey was head of the theater department at Niagara University for 42 years until he retired in 2005. He remained active there until 2010, when he moved to St. Vincent's Seminary in Philadelphia. He died 11/22/2012.
Fr. Adreanus Johannes Willemsen
Also known as Andrew, Andy, or Andre. Named publicly as accused by the Galveston-Houston archdiocese on its list 1/31/2019. Also on the Austin diocese's list 1/31/2019. From the Netherlands. Ordained for the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (Vincentians), later diocesan. As a Vincentian, worked briefly in Camarillo, CA then in Houston TX 1964-1981. Became an Austin diocesan priest in 1982. The Galveston-Houston archdiocese received allegation in 1988. Sent back to the Netherlands in 1988, continued ministry there until removed in 2004, still as an incardinated Austin priest. Allegedly many victims. Died in 2012. On the Vincentians' list in 2020.