Brothers of the Congregation of Holy Cross – CSC

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Terry McKiernan February 27, 2021

17 Accused in This Religious Order

Br. Harold Ehlinger

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Order: CSC
Status: Settled

Diocese: Archdiocese of New Orleans LA

Accused in multiple lawsuits pending in 11/2023 of sexually boys at Madonna Manor. Subject of previous settlements. A social worker at the facility in 1980 reported Ehlinger to her supervisor after boys in her care disclosed abuse by the Brother, and after she knocked on Ehlinger's dormitory bedroom and saw a "flustered child" there with him. Ehlinger then "disappeared." The social worker saw several years later that Ehlinger was working with children at a Catholic school. One lawsuit alleges a boy was abused by several men, including Ehlinger. He said the men would put a pillow over his face or wear masks during rapes to hide their identities. Reportedly is last known in 11/2023 to be living at a Holy Cross house in Austin, TX.

Sources:

The Guardian 12.03.23

Br. Donald DeFore

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Order: CSC
Status: Accused

Diocese: Archdiocese of Los Angeles CA

Per the L.A. archdiocese's report in 2004, DeFore was accused of abusing a minor 1977-78.

Sources:

LA Archdiocesan Report 02.17.04

Br. Dan Dobbins

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Order: CSC
Status: Sued

Diocese: Archdiocese of Los Angeles CA

Named in 2006 L.A. Times Database of abuse 1979-80 at Rancho San Antonio in Chatsworth. Included in at least one civl suit.

Assignments:

LA Times Database 04.20.06

Sources:

LA Times Database 04.20.06

Br. Donald J. DuFour

Order: CSC
Status: Sued

Diocese: Archdiocese of Los Angeles CA

Per the Los Angeles diocese in 2005, DuFour was accused by one person of abuse occurring 1977-79, while assigned to Rancho San Antonio Boys Home in Chatsworth, CA. Named in a civil suit. Per social media in 2022, a Don Dufour, CSC was living in New York and in 2018 was pictured with children while visiting his alma mater, Holy Cross School, in New Orleans.

Assignments:

LA Times Database 04.20.06

Sources:

Br. Richard Hurley

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Order: CSC
Status: Sued

Diocese: Archdiocese of Los Angeles CA

Named in the Los Angeles Archdiocesan Report Addendum with 1 accuser alleging abuse in 1993-1994. Civil suit filed. Remained active in ministry per the archdiocese's list in 12/21.

Assignments:

LA Times Database 4.20.06

Sources:

Br. John McMuldren

Order: CSC
Status: Accused

Diocese: Archdiocese of Anchorage-Juneau AK

In 1995 three brothers alleged abuse by McMuldren in 1985 at a camp he ran for the Archdiocese of Anchorage. McMuldren denied the charges. Archbishop Hurley declared him innocent after an investigation. Transferred to Tyler TX Diocese in 1992. Worked on the Diocesan Pastoral Council and as Director of Guidance and Counseling during the 2003-2004 school year for Bishop T. K. Gorman Catholic School. As of 3/08 he was activities director of Holy Cross Village at Notre Dame.

Sources:

Br. Lewis Morrow

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Order: CSC
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Brooklyn NY

Religious brother, professed vows in 1963. Named publicly as accused by the Congregation of Holy Cross on its list 6/12/19. It notes multiple allegations of abuse in the 1970s, received in 1977. Permanently removed from ministry in 2003. Died in 2004.

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Br. Gerald Muller

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Order: CSC
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Austin TX

Religious brother. Vows professed 1946. On Diocese of Austin's list 1/31/19. Removed from ministry and restricted in 2017.

Assignments:

Diocese of Austin Assignments

Sources:

Diocese of Austin List 01.31.19

Br. Thomas J. Mulryan

Order: CSC
Status: Accused

Died: 08/14/2009
Diocese: Diocese of St. Petersburg FL

Made perpetual profession of vows in 1955. Accused in 1994 of abuse of three boys at Notre Dame International School in Rome, Italy, in the early 1960s, when he was a religious brother. He left the order in the 1970s. He had worked for Catholic schools in MA and NY prior to becoming a teacher at Jesuit High School in Tampa in 1988. Became principal in 1992. Placed on leave in 12/1994 when allegations became known. He denied all allegations. Mulryan retired in 6/1995. Included on the Fall River diocese's list in 1/2021 of credibly accused. Died in 2009.

Sources:

Br. Lawrence O’Brien

Order: CSC
Status: Sued

Diocese: Diocese of Oakland CA

Accused in a 2003 civil suit. Abuse was said to have occurred in the 1970s and 1980s, of at least one youth, at Hayward's Moreau High School. O'Brien is deceased.

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Br. Frederick Raehsler

Order: CSC
Status: Accused

Diocese: Archdiocese of Anchorage-Juneau AK

Joined the Holy Cross Brothers in WI in 1960. Named among seven clerics by the Juneau diocese in 8/19 as having allegations of sexual misconduct against them involving minors or vulnerable adults. Allegedly involved in sexual misconduct with a minor 1988-93. Worked in AK as a Physician Assistant and was involved with a Skagway parish. Returned to his order in 1993. Worked as a Physician's Assistant and/or nurse also in Blanchard, MI; South Bend, IN; and Wilkes Barre, PA.

Assignments:

Sources:

Br. Joseph Franklin Reagan

Order: CSC
Status: Sued

Diocese: Archdiocese of Los Angeles CA

Accused in a 2003 civil suit against the Los Angeles archdiocese of abuse of a minor. Abuse alleged to have occurred in 1965 when he was working at Rancho San Antonio in Chatsworth, CA. Died in about 1989. Joined the order at age 18 and left in 1966 at age 22 to pursue a career in baseball. Included on the archdiocese's Addendum to the Report to the People of God in 2005. (Reagan's name is spelled "Regan" in the report, but is "Reagan" in his personnel file.)

Assignments:

LA Times Database 04.20.06

Sources:

Br. Stanley Repucci

Order: CSC
Status: Sued

Diocese: Archdiocese of New Orleans LA

Accused in a 7/21 lawsuit of sexually abusing a boy, age 10 or 11, in 1968 or 1969, at Holy Cross School summer camp in New Orleans. Repucci is deceased.

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Br. Ernest Rodie

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Order: CSC
Status: Sued

Diocese: Archdiocese of Los Angeles CA

Accused of abuse of a minor in 1964-65. Named in 2005 Archdiocesan Report Addendum. Named in a civil suit.

Assignments:

LA Times Database 04.20.06

Sources:

LA Archdiocesan Report Addendum 11.15.05

Br. Lawrence Sandstrom

Order: CSC
Status: Settled

Died: 03/28/2021
Diocese: Archdiocese of Los Angeles CA

Left order in 1997. Accused of abuse of five boys 1955-69, per 2004 archdiocesan report. Two filed civil suit in 12/03 alleging abuse 1967-69. Accusations involved children at Maryvale, which was a Catholic orphanage in Rosemead. Later went on to work at La Salle High in Pasadena and other Catholic schools in Hayward and New Orleans. Accused in 2003 of abuse at Rancho San Antonio in Chatsworth in the 1960s. Settlement with two men in 2007. Personnel file released in 2013. Died in 3/21.

Assignments:

LA Times Database 04.20.06

Sources:

Br. Thomas Sawyer

Order: CSC
Status: Arrested

Diocese: Archdiocese of Hartford CT

Educator in schools across the U.S. Was IT director for Holy Cross HS in Waterbury, living at St. John Vianney in West Hartford when another clergy member reported to police he saw images of naked children on Sawyer's computer. Order moved Sawyer to upstate NY when the police investigation started. Arrested in 4/2016, charged with possession of child pornography. Sawyer may have downloaded thousands of photos of naked children, mostly pre-teen males.

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Br. John D. Walsh

Order: CSC
Status: Convicted

Diocese: Diocese of Rochester NY

Holy Cross brother (mis-identified in at least one news report as a Franciscan). Vice-principal of Cardinal Mooney High School in Greece, NY in 9/85 when arrested and charged with kidnapping at gunpoint two boys, ages 11 and 12, and offering them money for sex. The boys got away without physical injury. Walsh was sent to the Servants of the Paraclete in NM for treatment in 9/85. Pled guilty in 1/86 and sentenced to six months in jail. Accused in a 1/20 lawsuit against the Order of sexually abusing a Mooney High School student 1966-69. The abuse allegedly began during counseling sessions, became sadistic, and occurred many times in the school's locker room, library and rectory and at hotels.

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