Viatorians / Clerics of St Viator – CSV

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Terry McKiernan February 27, 2021

7 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.

Sources:

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

Sources:

Br. John Dodd

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Order: CSV
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Las Vegas NV

Named publicly as accused by the Las Vegas diocese on its list 4/11/19. Retired in 2014. Removed from ministry in 2019. It notes complaints were to the Viatorians in IL (diocese not specified). No record of accusations against Dodd in NV. Reportedly the subject of one substantiated allegation of abuse, occurring around 1985.

Sources:

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 a deacon in 12/95. Named publicly as the subject of a substantiated by the Viatorians on the order's website sometime prior to 4/21. It notes that there was a single accusation, of abuse occurring in 1978. Also, suspended from ministry and living in a structured environment on a safety plan.

Sources:

Viatorians webpage accessed 04.23.21

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

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Order: CSV
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Las Vegas NV

Named publicly as accused by the Las Vegas diocese on its list 4/12/19. Died 2017.

Sources:

Diocese of Las Vegas List 04.12.19

Fr. Louis P. Senesac

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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.

Sources: