Society of the Precious Blood / Missionaries of the Precious Blood

27 Accused in This Religious Order

Fr. Lawrence J. Baird

Order: CPPS
Ordained: 1969
Status: Accused

Monsignor. Longtime spokesman for the diocese. Accused in 2002 of sexually abusing a girl who came to him for advice after being abused by Rev. John Lenihan. Baird countersued the plaintiff in 4/2002. His suit was dismissed in 2002 and he was ordered to pay attorney fees for the plaintiff. A second woman also alleged abuse as a child. Continued in active ministry. Retired in 2017.

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Fr. Richard Colbert

Order: CPPS
Ordained: 1969
Status: Sued

Diocese: Archdiocese of Omaha NE

Per news reports in 2003, Colbert was accused of abuse of a boy in 1988 at Boys Town. The priest reportedly left Boys Town for MO abruptly and quietly in 1988 during an investigation of the allegation. He had been a Boys Town teacher and counselor for three years. Per his order, the case was reviewed in 2002; Colbert was allowed to remain in ministry after a determination that the incident was not sexual misconduct. A civil suit filed in 10/2005 claimed Colbert sexually abused a boy in the mid-1980s at Boys Town, and that he also abused other boys there. Placed on leave by the Jefferson MO diocese where he was working. The suit was dismissed by court in 5/2006 after the plaintiff's attorney withdrew. [Some earlier news articles had Richard as first name; others had Robert. Richard is correct, per the 1989 Official Catholic Directory].

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Fr. Thomas A. Conway

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Order: CPPS
Ordained: 1957
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Superior WI

Placed on leave in 6/02 after the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph received a complaint from a woman who accused him of inappropriate behavior in another state in the 1970s when she was age 14 or 15. Conway was assigned to parishes through the 1970s, until 1979, in the Diocese of Superior, WI. By 1979-80 he was working in the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, MO. Conway died 10/6/10.

Sources:

Kansas City Star 06.18.02
CPPS Missionaries 10.08.10

Fr. Gilbert F. Esser

Order: CPPS
Ordained: 1924
Status: Accused

Died: 05/15/1979
Diocese: Diocese of Lafayette IN

Named as accused on the Lafayette IN Diocese's list 9/28/2018. Taught Latin and Greek at St. Joseph's College in Rensselaer for almost thirty years. Hospital chaplain in Detroit. Died 5/15/1979.

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State Historical Society of Missouri

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Fr. Clint Farabaugh

Order: CPPS
Ordained: 1955
Status: Sued

Died: 05/13/1990
Diocese: Archdiocese of Los Angeles CA

Named publicly as accused by the Los Angeles archdiocese in its 2004 report. One accuser noted, of abuse occurring 1973-75. Assigned 1970-90 to St. Agnes parish in L.A. One civil lawsuit known. Died 5/13/90.

Assignments:

LA Times Database 04.20.06

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LA Archdiocesan Report 02.17.04

Fr. Michael Goode

Order: CPPS
Ordained: 1979
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of San Angelo TX

Named publicly as accused by the San Angelo diocese on its list 2/13/19. Removed from ministry by the diocese in 6/02.

Sources:

Diocese of San Angelo List 02.13.19

Fr. Joseph A. Grasso

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Order: CPPS
Ordained: 1992
Status: Trial awarded damages

Diocese: Diocese of Rochester NY

Priest of the Congregation of Missionaries of the Precious Blood (C.P.P.S.). Teacher and/or principal at a number of high schools. Accused in a lawsuit filed 2/19/2020 of sexually abusing a male student in the early 2000s at Siena Catholic Academy in Brighton and St. Thomas More Church. The abuse allegedly began in 2002 when the boy was age 12, and continued into the next year. Grasso is said to have threatened the boy with eternal damnation if he told. Grasso denied the allegations. V.A. chaplain in Albany since 2008. In 3/2024 unanimous jury verdict, Grasso's accuser was awarded $5.4 million.

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Fr. Augustine Hanchak

Order: CPPS
Ordained: 1952
Status: Accused

Died: 11/12/2001
Diocese: Diocese of Dodge City KS

Named publicly as accused by the Diocese of Dodge City on its list 10/1/2019. It notes recent allegations of abuse occurring in the 1960s. Substantiated. Worked in the diocese 8/1963-8/1965. Died 11/20/2001. Included in 11/2022 on the Diocese of Superior's list, where he worked 1966-1968 and 1976-1984. Multiple allegations.

Assignments:

Diocese of Dodge City Assignment History 10.31.19

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Fr. Alan Hartway

Order: CPPS
Ordained: 1976
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph MO

The KC-St. Joseph diocese announced on 7/31/20 that it had received a credible allegation of the sexual abuse of a minor against Hartway. The Order announced the allegation the previous day. The abuse occurred when Hartway was assigned to St. James in Liberty, MO. Hartway was pastor of a Mead, CO parish when removed 11/27/19, due to the allegation. Included on the diocese's list of those with substantiated allegations. Permanently removed from ministry.

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Fr. John Herber

Order: CPPS
Ordained: 1968
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Harrisburg PA

Priest of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood. Shown in the Toledo OH diocese in the 1989 Catholic Directory. Last shown the in 2012 Directory, at a Carthagena OH parish, Archdiocese of Cincinnati. Name on Harrisburg diocese's list released 8/1/18, noted to have "multiple allegations of sexual abuse of children." The list erroneously notes that he was deceased; he died in 2020 and is buried in Carthagena, OH. Included in the PA Grand Jury Report 8/14/18.

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PA Grand Jury Report Profile 08.14.18

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Fr. Robert Hunt

Order: CPPS
Ordained: 1954
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Columbus OH

Named publicly by the Columbus diocese on its list 3/1/2019. Deceased.

Sources:

Diocese of Columbus List 03.01.19

Fr. Gary M. Luiz

Order: CPPS
Ordained: 1977
Status: Sued

Diocese: Diocese of Oakland CA

Assignments included St. Barnabas in Alameda, CA and St. Edward's in Newark, NJ (1980-1985). Accused in a civil suit in the early 2000s of abusing a boy at St. Edward's 1980-1986. The boy's parents said they complained to St. Edward's pastor in 1984, but Newark diocesan officials said they did not learn of the abuse until about 1990, and that they placed him immediately on leave. Luiz earned a canon law degree from Catholic University in DC in 1993. He was reportedly sent to a Berkeley, CA monastery by 1995. Per the 2017 Official Catholic Directory, Luiz was working as a canon lawyer in the Diocese of Reno. On the Oakland diocese's list in 2019. As of 7/2023, Luiz was in residence at Gaspar Mission House in Niagara Falls, Ontario, as noted in the Order's Atlantic Province's newsletter. In 10/2024 Luiz was living at the St. Charles Senior Living Community in Celina OH.

Sources:

The Argus 04.24.05
The Argus 03.30.08
Contra Costa Times 04.01.08
Diocese of Oakland List 06.01.19
Bloodlines 07.2023
Missionaries of the Precious Blood Address Book 2024

Fr. Daniel J. Mangen

Order: CPPS
Ordained: 1980
Status: Sued

Diocese: Diocese of Cleveland OH

Reportedly in 3/2002 a woman accused Mangen of sexually abusing and raping her for three years in the early 1980s, when she was ages 16-18. Lawsuit filed in 1999. Mangen had acknowledged being sexually active with adults and minors but denied the woman's claims. He did admit that he had been sexually active with two parishioners during the time in question. Worked in Chile in 1984 and later in Peru. Believed to be in Valdivia, Chile as of 11/2010 (not as a priest).

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BA.org Assignment Record

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Fr. Robert J. Matichek

Donate Photo

Order: CPPS
Ordained: 1978
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Lafayette IN

Named publicly as credibly accused by the Lafayette, IN diocese on its list 11/25/2019. It notes that Matichek was "impeded from ministry" in 1986 and dismissed from the community in 1997.

Sources:

Diocese of Lafayette in Indiana List 11.25.19

Fr. Charles Meyer

Donate Photo

Order: CPPS
Ordained: 1931
Status: Accused

Died: 12/16/1997
Diocese: Diocese of Bismarck ND

Named publicly as accused by the Bismarck diocese on its list 1/2/2020. Died 12/16/1997. Added to the La Crosse diocese's list 2/5/2020, where was assigned at some point to St. Rose Convent. Included 2/7/2020 on the Diocese of Wichita's list, where he worked 1948-1951. Added in 6/2020 to the St. Cloud diocese's list, where he was pastor of St. Lawrence in Rush Lake 1966-1985. On the Cincinnati archdiocese's list in 2/2022. Meyer died 12/16/1997.

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Fr. Deusdedit Mulokozi

Order: CPPS
Ordained: 2003
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Jefferson City MO

"Fr. Deo." From Tanzania. Priest of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood (C.PP.S.) Arrived in MO (part of his Order's Kansas City Province) in 2014 from Tanzania. Assigned 2014-15 to the parishes of Sacred Heart and St. Patrick in Sedalia and St. John the Evangelist in Bahner. First named publicly as accused on the Diocese of Jefferson City's list 11/8/18. In 5/15 a 15-year-old girl reported to the police that Mulokozi gave her a "dirty hug" after a counseling session at Sacred Heart. Detectives requested he be charged with third-degree assault; prosecutors chose not to pursue. Review board found Mulokozi guilty of boundary violations. Sent to Liberty, then to a Houston treatment center for evaluation. Expelled from the diocese. Returned by his Order to ministry in Tanzania. Per website in 2/19, active priest in Numbyani, Kenya parish.

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Fr. John Ambrose Newton

Order: CPPS
Ordained: 1932
Status: Accused

Died: 09/22/1966
Diocese: Diocese of Gallup NM

Name included on Gallup diocese's 12/15/2014 list of credibly accused. Assigned to Winslow AZ 1955-1957; Springerville AZ 1957-1959. Died 9/22/1966 in Detroit MI.

Assignments:

Diocese of Gallup List Downloaded 02.28.15

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Fr. Robert Onofrey

Order: CPPS
Ordained: 1963
Status: Accused

Died: 04/28/2009
Diocese: Diocese of Lansing MI

According to the MI Attorney General's 12/16/2024 Diocese of Lansing Report, in 5/2002 a man told the Diocese that he was sexually abused at age 16-17 in 1974 by Onofrey, during a camping trip out west. The man said that on one of the nights the two of them drank beer and then he went to sleep; a few hours later he woke up to Onofrey performing fellatio on him. He said he told Onofrey to stop, which he did. Onofrey's alleged victim said that he worried that the priest may have also sexually abused other boys. Onofrey died in 2009.

Sources:

MI Attorney General Diocese of Lansing Report 12.16.24

Fr. Christian Sandholdt

Order: CPPS
Ordained: 1973
Status: Accused

Died: 01/30/1979
Diocese: Archdiocese of San Francisco CA

Accused in a lawsuit[s] between 2020-2022 of the sexual abuse of minor[s]. Died by suicide in 1979, at age 45. Per his obituary, Sandholdt had been an assistant at St. Francis of Assisi in East Palo Alto for five years, was involved with the charismatic movement and worked with teenagers. Prior to his priesthood, he was a teacher at John Muir and Encinal High Schools in Alameda.

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Fr. Michael A. Spegele

Order: CPPS
Ordained: 1941
Status: Accused

Died: 03/16/1998
Diocese: Diocese of Bismarck ND

Named publicly as accused by the Bismarck diocese on its list 1/2/20. Allegations made after his death. Substantiated. Died 3/16/98. Added to the La Crosse diocese's list 2/5/20, where he was assigned at some point to St. Francis Hospital. Added to KC-St Joseph list as of 4/21, one substantiated allegation in the diocese noted. Included on the Cincinnati archdiocese's list in 2/22.

Assignments:

Diocese of La Crosse Assignment Record

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Fr. Jerome Stack

Order: CPPS
Ordained: 1972
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Santa Rosa CA

Parish priest, high school and college instructor, state psychiatric facility chaplain in CA, and secretary general for six years for his order in Rome. Retired in 2017 to Mesa, AZ, where he assisted at local parishes. Removed from active ministry in 2019 after the Cincinnati Province of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood received an allegation that Stack sexually abused a minor in 1979. The order's review board deemed the allegation credible. Assigned to the Diocese of Santa Rosa 1971-1981. Included on the Archdiocese of Los Angeles list of accused in 12/2021.

Documents:

Letter from CPPS Cincinnati Provincial to Santa Rosa Bishop 06.10.20

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Fr. Charles F. Stephney

Donate Photo

Order: CPPS
Ordained: 1980
Status: Accused

Diocese: Archdiocese of Cincinnati OH

Ordination date unclear - may have been 1980, possibly earlier. In 1981 Stephney was assigned to a Cincinnati parish and was chaplain at a Cincinnati jail. Several boys accused him of making sexual advances and jail officials asked him to leave. His Order sent him for treatment in Brooklyn NY and he was assigned to a parish there. In defiance of his Order, he left for Baltimore and went to work in DC for accused priest Rev. George Stallings in 1987. Stallings broke away from the Roman Catholic Church and started his own "Imani Temple." In 1990 Stephney was known to be assisting Stallings there.

Assignments:

BA.org Assignment Record

Sources:

Washington Post 04.30.90

Fr. Louis A. Telegdy

Order: CPPS
Ordained: 1942
Status: Settled

Died: 01/21/1995
Diocese: Diocese of Davenport IA

Accused in a 2004 civil suit of abusing a 13-year-old boy 1957-1959. Case settled in 2005. Name is on the Davenport diocese's in 7/2008 list of credibly accused. It notes accusations of abuse of three boys, earliest known to have occurred in the 1950s. Worked in many other dioceses. Spent time in the Dodge City KS diocese 1966-1968. On the Diocese of Owensboro list 4/12/2019, where he worked 1972-1978. Died in 1995. Added to Stockton diocese's list 11/12/2020, where he worked 1978-1984. The Davenport diocese's updated list in 2/2022 shows that he was accused of abusing four male minors. Included on the Diocese of Superior's list in 11/2022; one allegation of abuse there 1961-1962 in Rib Lake and 1962-1966 in Park Falls.

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Fr. James Urbanic

Order: CPPS
Ordained: 1971
Status: Settled

Diocese: Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph MO

Removed in 7/11 after recent allegations of sexual improprieties with two minors in the 1970s, while assigned to St. Francis Xavier Church in St. Joseph. Review board found allegations credible. He admitted to order that early in his priesthood he acted inappropriately. Previously served as provincial for the Society. Named by one plaintiff in a civil suit filed 2/8/12. Plaintiff said abuse occurred in mid-1970s at Bishop LeBlond High School. Suit settled 12/13 for $130K. On diocese's list 9/5/19, noting multiple substantiated allegations. Permanently removed from ministry.

Assignments:

BA.org Assignment Record

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Fr. Bernard Ward

Order: CPPS
Ordained: 1977
Status: Convicted

Diocese: Diocese of Santa Rosa CA

Left priesthood in 1979 or 1980. Went on to marry and have children. Became a radio talk show host. Indicted in 12/2007 on federal internet child porn charges. His attorney said the images were for a book Ward was researching three to four years prior. He reportedly emailed child porn images to a woman who immediately turned him over to police and the FBI. Originally pled not guilty. Pled guilty in 5/2008 to one count. Per 5/2008 articles, abuse was alleged when he was an active priest. Sentenced in 8/2008 to seven-plus years. Released from prison in 12/2014. On Santa Rosa diocese's list 1/12/2019.

Fr. Ron Wiecek

Order: CPPS
Ordained: 1971
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Santa Rosa CA

Allegations were made public in 1/2010. Placed on leave. Reportedly, Wiecek's privileges were removed after he was accused of having "overzealously spanked" a boy in the 1970s while working in the Santa Rosa diocese, and he attempted to pick up a gay man about 30 years prior. He had been in Monterey for 20 years. His Order recalled him to Ohio immediately. Included on the Santa Rosa diocese's list 1/12/2019.

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Fr. Robert Wuest

Donate Photo

Order: CPPS
Ordained: 1940
Status: Accused

Died: 03/26/1988
Diocese: Diocese of Bismarck ND

Named publicly as accused by the Bismarck diocese on its list 1/2/20. Allegations made after his death. Substantiated. Died 3/26/88.

Sources:

Diocese of Bismarck List 01.02.20

Society of the Precious Blood / Missionaries of the Precious Blood – CPPS

27 Accused in This Religious Order

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