De La Salle Brothers / Brothers of the Christian Schools

26 Accused in This Religious Order

Br. Andrew Abdon

Order: FSC
Ordained: 1945
Status: Settled

Died: 08/17/1977
Diocese: Archdiocese of Santa Fe NM

Also known as John Christenson. In separate 1995 lawsuits, two brothers and another man claimed abuse as grade-schoolers in the 1950s by Abdon and other Christian Brothers, at St. Michael's in Santa Fe and at College of Santa Fe. Last of lawsuits settled in 10/96. A woman filed suit in 1995 alleging abuse by Br. Abdon at St. Michael's. Trained at Juniorate in Las Vegas, NM and De La Salle Novitiate in Lafayette, LA. Took the habit in 1936; final profession 1945. Died 8/17/77. Stadium at St. Michael's called Brother Abdon Field, as late as 2009. On Santa Fe archdiocese's list of accused 9/12/17. New suit in 4/21.

Assignments:

Archdiocese of Santa Fe List 03.08.19

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Br. Felix Bland

Donate Photo

Order: FSC
Status: Convicted

Diocese: Archdiocese of St. Louis MO

Pleaded guilty in 1995 to sodomizing an 11-year-old boy in 1988. Assault occurred at LaSalle Institute in Wildwood. Police knew of the assault prior to 1995 while Bland was working as a missionary in Africa. Upon his return, his victim wore a wire and he was arrested. Sentenced to 15 years prison with all but 1 year suspended. The year was spent in a work release program so he only spent nights in jail. One man filed suit alleging abuse of 5 of his sons; suit settled on eve of trial in 1997.

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Brother Alex

Donate Photo

Order: FSC
Status: Settled

Diocese: Archdiocese of Santa Fe NM

In a 1995 civil suit, a man alleged he was abused by Bro. Alex when he was a student at the Junior Novitiate of The College of Santa Fe 1955-57. The same man also alleged abuse by Bro. Abdon and by a scout master. Settled in 1996.

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Brother Henry

Donate Photo

Order: FSC
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Manchester NH

A man notified the diocese in 7/03 that he had been sexually abused by a Br. Henry (no last name known) at Bishop Bradley High School in Manchester in 1961. Deceased.

Sources:

NH AG Audit Records 03.26.09

Br. Louis Brouseau

Order: FSC
Status: Sued

Diocese: Archdiocese of Santa Fe NM

Brouseau and two other De La Salle Christian Brothers were accused in 1995 civil suits of independently molesting a young man over several years at St. Michael's school. The man's brother also claimed abuse by one of the Brothers. Brouseau later left the order and worked as a public high school principal. Case settled Fall 1996. On Santa Fe archdiocese list of accused on 9/12/17. New suit in 4/21.

Assignments:

Archdiocese of Santa Fe List 03.08.19

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Br. Thomas Bryan

Donate Photo

Order: FSC
Status: Accused

Died: 04/16/2020
Diocese: Diocese of Covington KY

Included on the Diocese of Covington's list 7/31/20 of those with substantiated allegation(s). Assigned to Newport Catholic High School 1964-65. Died 4/16/20.

Assignments:

Diocese of Covington List 07.31.20

Sources:

Diocese of Covington List 07.31.20

Br. George A. Costigan

Order: FSC
Ordained: 1974
Status: Accused

Died: 09/21/2015
Diocese: Archdiocese of Philadelphia PA

Also known as Br. Daniel Eliseus. Left the Christian Bros; ordained in 1974 and incardinated into the Paterson NJ diocese. Accused 1993 of sexually abusing a girl, ages 9-15, starting in the mid-1960s when he was a Christian Brother at West Catholic Boys High School in the Philadelphia archdiocese. Worked as a hospital chaplain. Retired in 1993; lived at a convent attached to a youth retreat center. No privileges. Named auxiliary contract chaplain in 2006. Presented himself as active priest in 2007 and 1/09. Died in 9/15. On the Paterson diocese's list 2/13/19. One accusation noted. Also noted to have been removed from ministry 4/28/94.

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Br. George Curtis

Order: FSC
Status: Settled

Diocese: Diocese of Lafayette LA

Per suit filed in October 1991, accused of molesting two brothers repeatedly between 1975 and 1977. Mother reportedly allowed Curtis custody of the boys 3 to 5 times per week for their benefit, per his suggestion. Curtis worked at local parish and performed educational duties at Iberia Catholic High School 1970-1991. Suit settled in 1992. Died in 1998.

Sources:

KATC 01.13.19

Br. Donald Dimitroff

Donate Photo

Order: FSC
Status: Accused

Diocese: Archdiocese of Baltimore MD

Name appears on Baltimore archdiocese's 9/2002 list of religious priests and brothers accused of sexual abuse. Had been with his order about 26 years. Order told the Archdiocese in 1997 that an individual alleged sexual abuse by Dimitroff in the early 1980s, possibly at Bishop Walsh High School. Dimitroff lived at Christian Brothers residence at Calvert Hall High School 1992-2002. Adjunct faculty member at Loyola College, per 5/2008 website.

Sources:

Archdiocese of Baltimore List via Baltimore Sun 09.26.02

Br. Martin Fenerty

Donate Photo

Order: FSC
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of El Paso TX

Per Fenerty's personnel file, a woman made a complaint of abuse against Br. Fenerty in 4/02. No date of abuse was stated and no litigation was filed. The woman alleged that Fenerty molested her on several occasions when she was ages 5 1/2 -12. The abuse allegedly occurred in Santa Fe where Fenerty was a teacher. Fenerty denied abuse but said there was an occasional hug. He was placed on leave and then "retired." Reportedly remained active in 2007,

Sources:

Times Picayune 03.04.07

Br. Stephen Furches

Donate Photo

Order: FSC
Status: Sued

Diocese: Diocese of El Paso TX

Former principal of Cathedral High School in El Paso. Accused in an 8/12 civil suit filed in Santa Fe of abusing a male student of the school for two years in the late 1980s, and threatening to keep him from graduating if he told. On the El Paso diocese's list 1/31/19.

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Br. Robert Gandara

Donate Photo

Order: FSC
Status: Convicted

Diocese: Archdiocese of New Orleans LA

Per personnel file, accused in 1989 of performing homosexual acts on a 16-year-old boy who was a student at St. Paul's School in Covington. Suit filed in 1989. Police filed charges. Pleaded no contest. Spent 9 months in jail and was placed on probation until 1995. Left the order in 3/94. Worked at some point in Galveston TX as a teacher at Kirwin High School. Accused, along with Bro. Richard Langenstein, in a lawsuit filed 8/7/20 of molesting a boy in the 1980s. The boy was a student at La Salle High School.

Sources:

NOLA com 09.18.20

Br. Richard Geimer

Order: FSC
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph MO

Terminated from position at Archbishop O'Hara High School 11/13 after student found one picture on his school computer and notified the school administrators 10/13. He had been at the school for 28 years. Principal said picture was disturbing enough (and involved a youth) to warrant immediate termination, even before FBI completed its investigation.

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Br. Jeffrey Gregory

Donate Photo

Order: FSC
Status: Settled

Diocese: Diocese of Lansing MI

Accused of performing oral sex on a 16-year-old altar boy in 1966. The alleged victim settled with the De La Salle Christian Brothers in 1995 for $10K in psychiatric care. The Lansing diocese was not involved in the settlement. In 2002 Gregory was living in a CA nursing home. Police were notified in 2002 but no charges were filed, due to the statute of limitations.

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Br. Joseph Gutierrez-Cervantes

Order: FSC
Status: Settled

Diocese: Diocese of Oakland CA

Left the Order in 1985. Worked at the Hanna Boys Center in Sonoma as a counselor. Dismissed from there in 1986. Accused in a 2003 civil suit of abusing a boy who was a student at De La Salle High School. Plaintiff received $4M in settlement in late 2004. Gutierrez was working as a consultant in Sonoma in the 2000s, known as Jesse Gutierrez-Cervantes. New allegations of abuse in 1986 against Gutierrez surfaced in early 2019. On the Oakland diocese's list in 2019. Lawsuit filed in 10/19 by another De La Salle alumnus claiming he was drugged and abused by Gutierrez several times 1968-72.

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Br. Xavier Langan

Order: FSC
Status: Accused

Diocese: Archdiocese of Baltimore MD

Accused in 2003 of sexually abusing a Calvert Hall College High School student in 1969. In 2004, the school acknowledged the accusation and another by an older alumnus. Aka Br. Geoffrey Xavier. Added to the Baltimore archdiocese's list 4/24/2019. It notes having received an allegation in 2002 and receipt of allegations of abuse from additional former Calvert High students. Langan was at the school 1942-1952 and 1960-1985. He died in 1985.

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Br. Richard J. Langenstein

Donate Photo

Order: FSC
Status: Convicted

Diocese: Archdiocese of New Orleans LA

A retired Christian Brother and former high school teacher, counselor, principal and college vice president when accused in 1997 of abuse of a 15-year-old boy. The boy was a student at Covington High School, where Langenstein was a volunteer substitute teacher. Civil suit filed in 1998. Pleaded no contest in 2000 to a charge of indecent behavior with a juvenile. Given a three years suspended sentence and five years probation. Reportedly died in 2003, at age 68. Accused, along with Br. Robert Gandara, in a suit filed 8/7/20 of molesting a De La Salle High School student for two years in the 1980s.

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Br. Samuel F. Martinez

Order: FSC
Ordained: 2016
Status: Settled

Diocese: Archdiocese of New Orleans LA

A 3/03 lawsuit claimed abuse of a boy at Cathedral High in El Paso in the mid-1980s. At least 10 men alleged abuse there as boys when he was principal 1976-85. Others alleged abuse in New Orleans in the 1970s, prior to El Paso. Suit settled in 7/04. One of the additional plaintiffs filed suit in 5/04. Working in Santa Fe NM when suit filed. Retired. Two men settled a suit in 1/12 for $1.6M. New suit in 3/12, another in 4/12. Living in Lafayette, LA in 9/14 and allowed (under safety plan) to travel to Holy Family Community on the campus of John Paul The Great Academy on weekends for religious exercises. Visits stopped after publicity. Died in 2016. On El Paso diocese's list 1/31/19.

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Fr. R. Thomas McConaghy

Order: FSC
Ordained: 1981
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Rockville Centre NY

Accused of abuse of a student at a military academy in New York state 1973-1975, prior to ordination. Ordained for the Diocese of Norwich CT; Norwich informed the Rockville Centre diocese of the abuse allegation. Removed from ministry in 2005. Norwich diocese's list 2/10/19.

Assignments:

BA.org Assignment Record and Other Info

Sources:

Br. Tom McConnell

Donate Photo

Order: FSC
Status: Settled

Diocese: Archdiocese of Santa Fe NM

Accused, along with Bro. Abdon and former Bro. Louis Brouseau, in a 5/17/95 civil suit by two men, who were siblings, of molesting them on several occasions while they were in elementary school and junior high at St. Michael's in Santa Fe. Litigation was settled in Fall 1996 for an undisclosed amount. New suit filed in 4/21.

Assignments:

Archdiocese of Santa Fe List 03.08.19

Sources:

Br. John Moriarty

Order: FSC
Status: Settled

Died: 05/9/2013
Diocese: Archdiocese of San Francisco CA

Joined the Christian Brothers in 1951. Accused in a 2003 lawsuit of abusing a 17-year-old boy 1975-76 at Christian Brothers Retreat House at St. Helena CA, where he was assigned 1974-78. Plaintiff settled in late 2004 for $1.2M. Moriarty was at Wounded Brothers Project treatment center in MO as of 1/05. Per a 5/06 newsletter by the San Francisco District of Christian Brothers, he was based at Mont La Salle in Napa. He died 5/9/13 at Mt. La Salle. Included on the Santa Rosa diocese's list 1/12/19. Included on the Diocese of Oakland's list in 6/19. Suit filed in 11/19 by a man claiming abuse in the 1970s as a Moreau Catholic High student in Hayward, by both Moriarty and principal Rev. Gordon Wilcox.

Assignments:

BA.org Assignment Record

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Br. Benedict Reams

Order: FSC
Status: Sued

Died: 05/23/1994
Diocese: Diocese of Oakland CA

Given name Joseph Ambrose Reams. Full religious name Ultanian Benedict Reams. Made final vows as a De Las Salle Christian Brother in 1939. Taught at Mont La Salle 1936-1946, then at St. Mary's College in Moraga 1946 until retirement in 1969. Continued at St. Mary's assisting in physics classes. Also operated a weather station throughout his time there. Played organ at St. Mary's college chapel and at St. Monica's Parish in Moraga. Died in 1994 in Napa. Accused in a lawsuit [s] filed sometime between 2020-2022 of the sexual abuse of minor[s].

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Br. Charles A. Rose

Order: FSC
Status: Settled

Diocese: Archdiocese of St. Paul & Minneapolis, MN

"Bro. Raimond." Accused in a 2003 CA suit of abuse of a 14-year-old boy in early 1982. Settled late 2004 for $1.1M. Rose moved back to MN in 1983 when allegations first surfaced. Suit filed in MN in 2/09 alleged the order and school knew of abuse of a boy but allowed Rose to continue working and to abuse 1966-67. Eight new suits in MN in 2009 claimed abuse after transfer to MN. Was living in Chicago without ministry from 2002. Other suits in ND and WI in 2010. One settled 9/10, 16 settled 12/10. Died in 2015. On Oakland diocese's list in 2019. On Fargo diocese's list 1/2/20.

Br. David Trichtinger

Order: FSC
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Pittsburgh PA

The diocese announced in 12/2018 that it had recently received an allegation that Trichtinger sexually abused a Seton-LaSalle High School student in the mid-1980s. Trichtinger was a counselor at the school 1985-1987. He also was an assistant principal 1991-1995 at Central Catholic High School.

Sources:

The Observer-Reporter 12.20.18

Br. Francis Verngren

Order: FSC
Status: Sued

Died: 12/12/2003
Diocese: Diocese of Oakland CA

A man filed suit in 5/03 alleging abuse by Verngren 1966-70, when Verngren was principal and head dorm resident at a Catholic school in Berkeley. The man said he told another staff member in 1969, that Verngren was temporarily removed, returning later to his position. Suit settled 9/03. Vergren died 12/12/03. On Santa Rosa diocese's list 1/12/19. Worked there at Mont LaSalle 1969-84 and at Justin Siena in 1984. Math tutor at St. Apollinaris 1990-2002. On Oakland diocese's list in 2019.

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Br. Joseph Wilhelm

Order: FSC
Status: Accused

Died: 09/6/2011
Diocese: Diocese of Covington KY

Entered the De La Salle Christian Brothers in 1942. Took final vows in 1948. Name included on the Diocese of Covington's list 7/31/20 of those with substantiated allegation(s). Assigned to Newport Catholic High School 1963-77. Also taught in Chicago IL, St. Paul MN, Jefferson City MO, Memphis TN, Santa Fe NM, Cincinnati OH. Died 9/6/11.

Assignments:

Diocese of Covington List 07.31.20

De La Salle Brothers / Brothers of the Christian Schools – FSC

26 Accused in This Religious Order

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