Viatorians / Clerics of St Viator – CSV

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Terry McKiernan February 27, 2021

9 Accused in This Religious Order

Fr. R. Dixon Beattie

Order: CSV
Ordained: 1934
Status: Accused

Died: 06/14/1971
Diocese: Diocese of Richmond VA

Died 6/14/71. Accused in a complaint that resulted in a settlement in 2020 with the diocese's RICP program of sexually abusing a girl, including rape, beginning when she was age 9, during 1958-60. The abuse allegedly began after the girl's mother died and the priest befriended the family. Beattie would take the girl on rides in his car, where the abuse allegedly took place. Beattie was assigned to St. Ann's during the time in question. Beattie's name was added in 7/21 to the diocese's list of those with a credible and substantiated claim.

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Fr. John M. Beatty

Order: CSV
Ordained: 1950
Status: Accused

Died: 07/9/1997
Diocese: Diocese of San Diego CA

Parish priest, high school teacher, hospital chaplain. Worked in the Diocese of Peoria until 1963, when he was transferred to San Diego. Died in 7/1997. First named publicly as accused on the San Diego diocese's 9/14/2018 list. Added to the Diocese of Joliet's list in 2/2021. Included in the 5/23/2023 IL Attorney General's Report. Report in 1955 to Beatty's superior, Fr. John Burke, that Beatty fondled a St. Patrick Central Catholic High School student, age 16. Beatty was transferred. (Burke is also an accused priest.) Beatty's victim did not come forward again until he spoke with the Attorney General's investigators in 2018. In 2004 another former St. Patrick's student had reported abuse by Beatty in the early 1960s; the allegation was deemed credible, but not publicized.

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Fr. John J. Burke

Order: CSV
Ordained: 1943
Status: Charged

Died: 09/4/1986
Diocese: Diocese of Joliet IL

Named publicly in the 5/23/2023 IL Attorney General's Report. Abused at least eight children. Targeted low-income, at-risk children. One man told the Attorney General's investigators that Burke abused him at about age 13 in 1958. He had run away from foster care, was found and put in a jail where Burke was chaplain. Police released him to Burke's care, where he was abused for two nights. He fled to the orphanage in which he had been placed prior to foster care. He said he told church officials but was not believed. In 2017 the man reported the abuse in a letter to Pope Francis, which was forwarded to the Joliet diocese and the Viatorians. The Order acknowledged allegations made in 1985 and that the diocese also knew. Four people had came forward in 1984 with allegations of abuse as children 1980-1984 by Burke, while he was assigned to St. George in Bourbonnais. Children and Family Services investigated and found "credible evidence" and child sex abuse was "indicated." Criminally charged in 1/1985. Found not guilty. One alleged victim and his father received small settlements from the Viatiorans. By 1/2004 four people had come forward publicly. In 11/2010 the Diocese received a report of past abuse and another in 6/2011 of abuse in the 1980s. Order not informed. In 2018 a man told the Order Burke sexually abused him 1972-1975, beginning when he was 12, and that the priest would ply him with alcohol and drugs. He said Burke would pay him, and that he trafficked him to another man for abuse. Settled in 11/2021. As of 5/2023, name not included on Order or Diocese's lists of accused. Died in 1986.

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Fr. Paul M. Desilets

Order: CSV
Ordained: 1963
Status: Settled

Diocese: Archdiocese of Boston MA

Accused of molesting at least 20 altar boys 1974-1984 in MA. Returned to Canada in 1984. Indicted in 2002 for molesting 18 additional boys 1978-1984. Extradited in 2005 from Canada. Pled guilty, sentenced to up to 18 months in prison and probation. Asked judge to excuse him from sex offender treatment because of his advanced age (82) and health. Allowed to return to Canada to serve probation. Died in 2010 at age 86. Omitted from 2011 Boston AD database.

Assignments:

BA.org Assignment Record

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Br. John Dodd

Donate Photo

Order: CSV
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Las Vegas NV

Named publicly as accused on the Diocese of Las Vegas list 4/11/2019. Retired in 2014. Removed from ministry in 2019. The list notes complaints were to the Viatorians in IL (diocese not specified). No record of allegations against Dodd in NV. Reportedly the subject of one substantiated allegation of abuse, occurring around 1985. Included on the Order's list of credibly accused 10/31/2020, which shows him to be retired and living in a structured environment on a safety plan.

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Br. James Lewnard

Order: CSV
Status: Accused

Diocese: Archdiocese of Chicago IL

Joined the Clerics of St. Viatore (Viatorians), Province of Chicago, as a brother in 1978. Ordained for the diaconate in 12/1995. Named publicly as the subject of a substantiated allegation on the Order's website 10/31/2020. It notes a single allegation of abuse, occurring in 1978. Also, suspended from ministry and living in a structured environment on a safety plan. Included in the 5/23/2023 IL Attorney General's Report.

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Br. Jack O’Dell

Order: CSV
Ordained: 1988
Status: Settled

Diocese: Archdiocese of Chicago IL

Accused in a civil suit filed in 1996 of abuse of a youth at St. Viator High School 1980-84 and for four years after the boy graduated. Suit dismissed by court on SOL. A second man came forward in 2002 alleging abuse as a minor in about 1974. The order said in 2003 that it could not substantiate the allegations. Order settled with this man in 2005. O'Dell died in 9/1998.

Sources:

Chicago Tribune 09.22.88

Fr. Joseph Paradiso

Donate Photo

Order: CSV
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Las Vegas NV

Named publicly as accused by the Las Vegas diocese on its list 4/12/2019. Died in 2017.

Sources:

Diocese of Las Vegas List 04.12.19

Fr. Louis P. Senesac

Donate Photo

Order: CSV
Ordained: 1935
Status: Accused

Died: 10/22/1966
Diocese: Diocese of Alexandria LA

Named publicly as accused by the Alexandria diocese on its list 2/6/19. A 2019 review by the diocese of Senesac's file showed a credibl allegation of sexual abuse of a male minor in 1945. Assigned 1941-48 to Church of the Little Flower in Evergreen. Senesac died in 1966.

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