Claretian Missionaries – CMF - BishopAccountability.org

23 Accused in This Religious Order

Fr. Wayne J. Barron

Order: CMF
Ordained: 1958
Status: Accused

Died: 05/29/2011
Diocese: Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau MO

Named publicly as accused by the Springfield-Cape Girardeau diocese on its list updated 4/1/2019. It notes alleged abused in 1972, reported in 2003. Removed from ministry in the 1990s. Died 5/29/2011. 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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Fr. David Joseph Clark

Order: CMF
Ordained: 1954
Status: Sued

Diocese: Diocese of Gallup NM

Worked in Los Angeles, CA; Prescott, AZ; Ft. Worth, TX; Yuma, AZ; Alexandria, Monroe, Cottonport and Marksville, LA. Accused in 1994 lawsuit of abusing two brothers in Prescott, AZ in 1959 and 1960. Case dismissed on statute of limitations and affirmed by US Court of Appeals in 12/1996. Included on the Gallup diocese's list of credibly accused. Included on the Santa Fe archdiocese list 9/12/2017. On Baton Rouge diocese's list in early 2019. It notes a report to diocese 12/15/2018 of abuse 1964-1965 while assigned to St. Thomas More. Clark left the diocese in 1965. Died in the 2000s.

Assignments:

Archdiocese of Santa Fe List 03.08.19

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Fr. Jose Luis Contreras

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Order: CMF
Ordained: 1967
Status: Accused

Diocese: Archdiocese of San Antonio TX

Ordained in the Diocese of Tepic, Mexico, for the Claretians. Named publicly as accused by the San Antonio Archdiocese on its list 1/31/2019, where he was assigned 1983-1988. Accused in 1987 of touching the genitals of a 17-year-old boy, who was a patient at Methodist Hospital in San Antonio, where Contreras was chaplain. Removed, sent to treatment. Faculties in the Archdiocese removed. Per the Archdiocese, Contreras said he was returning to his native Guadalajara to live with his sister. Returned to the states, worked in the Santa Rosa 1995-2000, on recommendation from the Diocese of Tepic. Spent a short time in 1998 as a chaplain at the WA State Reformatory near Seattle. Returned to Mexico in 2000. Celebrated the 50th anniversary of ordination in a parish in Colima, Mexico in 2017. Retired.

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Fr. Daniel Michael Drinan

Order: CMF
Ordained: 1977
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Austin TX

Removed in 5/2002 after a complaint of inappropriate behavior with a minor. Charged with misdemeanor assault not involving sexual contact or injuries to child. Paid fine; no jail. Bishop refused to return him to ministry because of incident and past issues discovered during investigation. Worked in Reno, NV in 2005 at drug rehab facility for paroled prisoners. Removed from ministry by Order in 2006. Arrested 9/9/2012 in Denver airport after viewing porn on laptop and masturbating during flight. Pled guilty 12/11/2012; sentenced to two years' probation. Laicized in 2014. On Baton Rouge diocese's list in early 2019. It notes report in 3/2003 of abuse in the late 1970s while assigned to Christ the King in Baton Rouge. Left diocese in 1979. On Austin diocese's list 1/31/2019. On Chicago archdiocese's list in 10/2022. Included in the 5/23/2023 IL Attorney General's Report.

Assignments:

Diocese of Austin Assignments

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Br. Joseph Eslava

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Order: CMF
Status: Accused

Diocese: Archdiocese of Los Angeles CA

Name quietly added, along with 23 others, to the Los Angeles archdiocese's Final Addendum posted on its website 1/31/13. Noted on the archdiocese's list in 12/21 to be deceased.

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Fr. David Fleckenstein

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Order: CMF
Ordained: 1977
Status: Accused

Diocese: Archdiocese of Seattle WA

Name included on the Seattle archdiocese's list 1/15/2016 of clergy and religious with admitted, established or credible allegations against them of sexual abuse of a minor. Worked at St. Louise, Bellevue WA 1977-1979. Laicized.

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Fr. Charles Gielow

Order: CMF
Ordained: 1948
Status: Accused

Died: 06/29/1980
Diocese: Diocese of Phoenix AZ

The Phoenix Diocese announced in 3/2014 that the Claretians had recently revealed a credible allegation against Gielow involving the sexual abuse of a minor in the late 1970s. Assigned to Sacred Heart Parish in Prescott 1960-1966. Also spent time at CA State at Los Angeles and East Los Angeles Colleges before becoming chaplain of the Newman Club at Southwest Texas State Univ (San Marcos) 1969-1975. Also worked at the Cursillo Center, later known as the Mount Claret Retreat Center, 1/1976-6/1980. Died 06/29/1980.

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Fr. Henry Herrera

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Order: CMF
Ordained: 1942
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Fort Worth TX

Included on the Fort Worth diocese's list of priests who had "allegations with a semblance of truth made against them regarding sexual misconduct with minors." Name was added to the list in late 2011 or early 2012 but was not publicized in any way. Worked in the diocese 1975-79. Transferred to an AZ parish. Died 11/29/96 in AZ. Spent several years in the Philippines early in his career. Also taught in CA and worked in the El Paso diocese.

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Br. Modesto Leon

Order: CMF
Status: Settled

Diocese: Archdiocese of Los Angeles CA

Accused of abuse of a boy, ages of 14-16 in 1996-1999, per a civil suit filed 2008. The Los Angeles Archdiocesan report noted that the abuse occurred 1995-1996. Leon was the incorporating executive director of Soledad Enrichment Action (SEA). The abuse allegedly took place during retreats at Camp Unity in the Angeles National Forest. The civil case settled at some point between 2006 and 2010. Per the Archdiocese's list in 12/2021, Leon left his order.

Assignments:

L.A. times Database 04.20.06

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Fr. Joseph Lopez

Order: CMF
Ordained: 1963
Status: Accused

Diocese: Archdiocese of Los Angeles CA

In 1992 the Claretians informed the Archdiocese that Lopez had been accused of sexually abusing a girl 1962-1966. Lopez left the priesthood in 1970. Included on the Diocese of Stockton's list 11/12/2020, which notes he was assigned 1961-1963 to St. George Parish.

Assignments:

Sources:

L.A. Archdiocesan Report 02.17.04

Fr. Lawrence Joseph Lovell

Order: CMF
Ordained: 1951
Status: Convicted

Diocese: Archdiocese of Los Angeles CA

"Larry." Convicted in 1986 in Los Angeles for abuse of a boy, age 14; sentenced to three years probation. Convicted in 2004 for abuse of several boys in the 1970s-1980s in Phoenix. Sentenced to 14 years in prison. Placed on leave in 1985. Laicized in 1992. Married a woman with three boys in 1995. She knew he had been a priest but not of past allegations, until his arrest in 2003. He was a counselor and worked for the University of NM health center. Civil suits filed in 1996 and in 12/2003. Included on the L.A. archdiocese's list 2/10/2004. Limited personnel files released in 1/2013. Suit filed under the CA Child Victims Act; settled with L.A. archdiocese, Lovell and the Claretians in 1/2020 for $1.9M. Plaintiff alleged abuse as an altar boy, ages 9-11, in 1982-1984. He said he told church officials when he was age 15 or 16. Included on the Phoenix diocese's list 10/29/2019. Lovell was released from prison in 5/2021. Included 5/19/2021 on the Santa Fe archdiocese's list; was at Via Coeli in Jemez Springs in 1989. Laicized, per the L.A. archdiocese's list in 12/2021. Included in the 5/23/2023 IL Attorney General's Report, which notes at least 12 "reported survivors."

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Fr. Ronald John Luka

Order: CMF
Ordained: 1963
Status: Settled

Diocese: Diocese of St. Petersburg FL

In two 2002 civil suits Luka is accused of abusing three male students in the late 1970s at St. Helen's Catholic School in Lauderdale Lakes. Luka left the school in 1978 after a mother went to the parish pastor. Luka's Order, the Claretians, claimed they received their first allegation against him in 1999, of abuse occurring in NY state around 1979. Sent St. Luke's in MD for treatment. Permanently removed from ministry. Living in 2002 at Wounded Brothers Project in MO. Judge ruled in 2/2003 that the latest suit against Luka could go forward. At least one claim settled in 9/2004 for $150K. Included in 3/2018 on the Rockville Centre Diocese's list of accused. Reportedly died around 2011. Included in 10/2022 on the Chicago Archdiocese's list. Included on the 5/23/2023 IL Attorney General's Report.

Assignments:

Diocese of Rockville Centre List 03.18.21

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Fr. William Paiz

Order: CMF
Ordained: 1979
Status: Settled

Diocese: Diocese of Fort Worth TX

Accused in a lawsuit filed 1/31/12 of abusing a boy 1982-1987 while assigned to All Saints in Fort Worth and to Nolan Catholic High School, where he was a religion teacher and the boy was a student. Removed from ministry in 1/12 by his order. Paiz left the Fort Worth diocese in about 1987 and went on to work in CA and NV for many years. Worked in the Diocese of Fresno during much of 1995-2010. Transferred to his order's Provincial house in the Chicago area in 2010 after his alleged victim's complaints to Fort Worth. Lawsuit settled 11/21/12. Name included on the Springfield-Cape Girardeau diocese's list updated 4/1/19. On the San Bernardino diocese's list in 5/21, where he was assigned to parishes 1998-2002. Also on the Diocese of Fresno's 8/21 list of credibly accused.

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Fr. Eusebio Pantoja Segura

Order: CMF
Ordained: 1969
Status: Settled

Died: 10/22/2007
Diocese: Archdiocese of Chicago IL

"Chevy." Ordained for the Claretian Missionaries in Mexico. Left the Claretians in 1973. After working in Chicago, Pantoja had assignments in NJ and TX, then spent nearly a decade working as priest in Mexico. Found in 1994 and 1996 in Guanajuato, México, Diocese of Celaya, Archdiocese of Leon. Placed on leave by the Diocese of Claya in 2004 after a lawsuit was filed in 2003, claiming abuse of a 14-year-old boy in the 1970s at Our Lady of Guadalupe in Chicago. Settled. Added to the Chicago archdiocese's list 11/28/2018. On the Corpus Christ diocese's list 1/31/2019. On San Antonio's list 1/31/2019; noted to have been accused in 2002 of the abuse of two children in the in the early 1970s. Included in the 5/23/2023 IL Attorney General's Report, which shows four "reported survivors."

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Fr. Thomas Paramo

Order: CMF
Ordained: 1956
Status: Settled

Died: 05/15/2004
Diocese: Archdiocese of Chicago IL

A woman filed suit in 5/2005 against the Claretians, alleging they protected Paramo after he abused her when she was ages 11-15, beginning in 1966. Paramo was assigned to Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Chicago at the time of the alleged abuse. He died in a nursing home in 2004; the woman had confronted him there before his death. Civil suit settled. A second accuser reportedly also contacted the plaintiff's attorney. Included in 10/2022 on the Chicago archdiocese's list of credibly accused. Included in the 5/23/2023 IL Attorney General's Report.

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Fr. William C. Roper

Order: CMF
Ordained: 1960
Status: Sued

Diocese: Archdiocese of Los Angeles CA

Accused in 2002 of abuse of a girl 1968-1969. Named in a civil suit and in archdiocesan report. Worked in the Gallup diocese 1964-1965. Requested leave of absence then laicization in 6/1973. Married and raised a family. Last known to be living in Seattle WA. His accuser said she met with him in the late 1980s and he admitted to abusing her and two others. Also, she said he told her he had been sent to AZ for treatment. Included on Gallup 12/2014 list of clerics credibly accused of abuse of minor(s). Deceased.

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Documents:

Archdiocese of Los Angeles from Settlement Agreement 2013

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Fr. Marcel Salinas

Order: CMF
Ordained: 1954
Status: Sued

Died: 03/26/1997
Diocese: Diocese of Phoenix AZ

In 1976 Salinas was the Phoenix diocese's director of Cursillos. He was accused in a lawsuit in 2006 of sexually abusing a 9-year-old boy in 1988 at St. Timothy Parish. A lawsuit filed in 12/2021 claims that Salinas sexually abused a 10-year-old girl in 1976 at Queen of Peace Parish in Mesa. He died 3/26/1997.

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Sources:

Arizona Republic 10.12.06

Fr. Jose L. Sanchez

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Order: CMF
Ordained: 1996
Status: Reinstated

Diocese: Archdiocese of Los Angeles CA

Named publicly as accused on the Los Angeles archdiocese's updated list 12/6/18. Report to archdiocese in 2014 of incident(s) in the 1990s. Noted to have left the archdiocese in 2009. Per the archdiocese's list in 12/21, Sanchez was reinstated in 2015 after the order's review board deemed the allegation not credible.

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Fr. Wayne Schimmelmann

Order: CMF
Ordained: 1986
Status: Accused

Died: 01/12/2017
Diocese: Archdiocese of Atlanta GA

Assigned in MO, NJ, IL, GA. Named publicly as accused in the GA PAC Report. In 9/1995, the Archdiocese received a report Schimmelmann behaved inappropriately toward a 13-year-old girl, by pressing her against a wall and tickling her, and pulling her to sit in his lap at the inside of his thigh. Accused in a 2004 lawsuit of sexually harrassing a female CNA at a nursing home the previous year, where he was chaplain; the woman said she was fired from her Catholic hospital job in retaliation for the allegation. She said Schimmelmann fondled her on numerous occasions. He died 1/12/2017.

Assignments:

GA PAC Report 03.24.23

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Fr. Octavio J. Suarez

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Order: CMF
Ordained: 1964
Status: Arrested

Diocese: Diocese of Tyler TX

Arrested in 10/96 for aggravated sexual assault of a child in 4/96. Released on bail. Diocese investigated and found no evidence of misconduct; thought matter had gone away. Reportedly the child's parents also confirmed no evidence. Diocese reaffirmed offer of assistance to all parties in 10/96. Investigation conducted by Texas Rangers, Henderson Police and Rusk County DA. Suarez was returned to ministry 7/30/97.

Sources:

Dallas Morning News (AP) 10.20.96
Houston Chornicle 07.30.97

Br. Richard Allen Suttle

Order: CMF
Status: Accused

Died: 08/19/2021
Diocese: Diocese of Phoenix AZ

Accused in 2008 of sexual abuse 1982-1983 at Sacred Heart grade school in Prescott AZ, where he was a teacher and coach. The Phoenix diocese investigated; referred the case to the Claretians whose review board found the allegations credible, i.e. possible. Suttle denied the allegations. Assigned to Bourgade Catholic High School in Phoenix 1988-1998; Vietnam missionary in 2002; principal of Sacred Heart 2006-2008. In residence at IHM parish in San Antonio TX in summer 2008. Assigned in 2010 to direct a High School in East Nigeria. As of 6/2013 Sutte was in Buenos Aires Argentina with a Claretian UN team. He died 8/19/2021 in Dili, Timor-Leste.

Fr. Luis Villoria

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Order: CMF
Status: Accused

Diocese: Archdiocese of Los Angeles CA

Name quietly added, along with 23 others, to the Los Angeles archdiocese's Final Addendum posted on its website 1/31/13.

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Fr. Bruce Wellems

Order: CMF
Ordained: 1986
Status: Settled

Diocese: Archdiocese of Chicago IL

Admitted to his Order in 1995 that, when he was age 15, he sexually abused a 7-year-old boy multiple times. His victim had come forward to the Chicago Archdiocese. Wellems was sent for assessment and treatment, then allowed to return to ministry in 7/1996. He was working in Los Angeles in 2014, as prefect of the apostolate for the Claretians, when removed by Archbishop Gomez, who had become aware of Wellems history of abusing a child. He returned to Chicago and in 3/2015 resumed work with at-risk youth. He was removed within a few months after an investigation by the Dept. of Children and Family Services of Wellems' history. His victim sued the Claretians and received a settlement. Wellems left the Order and requested laicization. In 10/2022 Wellems' name was included on the Chicago archdiocese's list of credibly accused. Included in the 5/23/2023 IL Attorney General's Report.