27 Accused in This Religious Order
- Obituary and Assignments 08.17.77
- Ortiz y Pino, M v Christian Brothers 05.17.95
- Ortiz y Pino, P v Christian Brothrs 05.17.95
- Sante Fe New Mexican 05.18.95
- Albuquerque Journal 05.19.95
- McGuire v Christian Brothers 06.28.95
- Albuquerque Journal 07.01.95
- Malone v St Charles College, Abdon & NOSF 08.03.95
- Albuquerque Journal 08.08.95
- Santa Fe New Mexican 11.30.95
- Santa Fe New Mexican 10.03.96
- Archdiocese of Santa Fe List 09.12.17
- Archdiocese of Santa Fe List 03.08.19
- De La Salle website accessed 04.02.20
- Albuquerque Journal 04.19.21
- Patricia Clancy via SNAP 01.31.04
- Philadelphia Weekly 03.03.04
- SNAP Video at Philadelphia Inquirer 08.07.06
- Patricia Clancy letter to Bishop Serratelli 10.05.06
- Diocese of Tucson List 09.06.08
- Star Ledger 01.13.09
- SNAP Statement 01.13.09
- Daily Record 01.13.09
- SNAP Statement 01.13.09
- Daily Record 01.17.09
- CBS Philly 04.07.11
- Diocese of Paterson List 02.13.19
- Times Picayune 03.04.07
- El Paso Times 03.05.03
- KFoxTV 05.02.08
- El Paso Times 05.10.10
- Diocese of Lafayette Website: 2011 Jubilarians 05.09.11
- KVIA 01.20.12
- El Paso Times 01.20.12
- El Paso Times 01.21.12
- Santa Fe New Mexican 03.05.12
- El Paso Times 04.05.12
- KFOX 14 04.06.12
- KATC 09.08.14
- SNAP Statement 09.08.14
- SNAP Statement 09.08.14
- SNAP Statement 09.10.14
- Advertiser 09.10.14
- Albuquerque Journal Obituary 02.06.16
- KATC 01.13.19
- Diocese of El Paso List 01.31.19
- Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors 10.13.20
- Contra Costa Times 01.23.05
- Contra Costa Times 04.01.08
- Pioneer Press 02.27.09
- Star Tribune 05.19.09
- Pioneer Press 05.19.09
- Pioneer Press 05.22.09
- Stillwater Gazette 06.25.09
- San Jose Mercury News 06.26.09
- Inforum 08.22.09
- Wausau Daily Herald 09.01.09
- Fox 11 09.03.09
- Star Tribune 09.23.09
- Stillwater Gazette 09.24.09
- Star Tibune 11.17.09
- Inforum 11.20.09
- Inforum 01.26.10
- Inforum 03.10.10
- KFGO 03.16.10
- Inforum 04.12.10
- Inforum 05.06.10
- Leader-Telegram 05.11.10
- Diocese of Oakland List 06.01.19
Br. Andrew Abdon
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 the College of Santa Fe. Last of lawsuits settled in 10/1996. A woman filed suit in 1995 alleging abuse by Br. Abdon at St. Michael's. Trained at the Juniorate in Las Vegas, NM and De La Salle Novitiate in Lafayette, LA. Took the habit in 1936; final profession 1945. Died 8/17/1977. The stadium at St. Michael's is called Brother Abdon Field, as late as 2022. There is also a street in Santa Fe named after Abdon. Name included on the Santa Fe the archdiocese's list of accused 9/12/2017. New suit in 4/2021.
Assignments:
Sources:
Br. Felix Bland
Pleaded guilty in 1995 to sodomizing an 11-year-old boy in 1988. The assault occurred at LaSalle Institute in Wildwood MO. Police were informed prior to 1995 while Bland was working as a missionary in Africa. Upon his return, his victim met with Bland while wearing a wire and Bland was arrested. He was 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. In 1997 a lawsuit filed by a man claiming Bland sexually abused his five sons, ages 5-18, settled just before trial.
Br. Eugene Morgan
Joined his Order in 1952. Named publicly as accused in the 4/5/2023 MD Attorney General's Report. Accused in 8/2018 of sexually abusing a male Calvert Hall College High Student in the late 1970s. Morgan was Dean of Discipline at the school and later taught typing. The boy was a swim team member and said Morgan would make the boys swim naked, and that Morgan grabbed and fondled his genitals. Another former student said in 2019 that Morgan would watch the students strip down for swim class. A former teacher said Morgan would swim naked with the boys, and that he would throw typewriters at students during typing class.
Brother Alex
In a 1995 civil suit, a man alleged he was abused by Brother Alex when he was a student at the Junior Novitiate of The College of Santa Fe 1955-1957. The same man also alleged abuse by Brother Abdon and by a scout master. Settled in 1996.
Brother Henry
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:
Br. Louis Brouseau
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. Included on the Santa Fe archdiocese list of accused on 9/12/2017. New suit in 420/21.
Assignments:
Sources:
Br. Thomas Bryan
Included on the Diocese of Covington's list 7/31/2020 of those with substantiated allegation(s). Assigned to Newport Catholic High School 1964-1965. Died 4/16/2020.
Assignments:
Sources:
Br. George A. Costigan
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 an active priest in 2007 and 1/2009. Died in 9/2015. Included on the Paterson diocese's list 2/13/2019 which notes one allegation. Also noted to have been removed from ministry 4/28/1994. Included on the Diocese of Tucson's list.
Assignments:
Sources:
Br. George Curtis
Professed final vows in 1936. Assigned during his career to twelve Christian Brothers Schools in the New Orleans-Santa Fe Province. Director of the western section of the Province 1961-1964. Accused in a lawsuit filed in LA 10/1991 of molesting two brothers repeatedly between 1975 and 1977. Assigned 1970-1991 to Iberia Catholic High School in LA and worked at a local parish. Their mother reportedly allowed Curtis custody of the boys 3 to 5 times per week for their benefit, per his suggestion. The suit settled in 1992. Curtis died in 1998.
Br. Donald Dimitroff
Dimitroff's name appears on Baltimore archdiocese's 9/2002 list of religious priests and brothers accused of sexual abuse. He had been with his order about 26 years. The Order told the Archdiocese in 1997 that a man alleged sexual abuse beginning in the early 1980s, when Dimitroff was a Bishop Walsh High School teacher and the man was a student. The abuse lasted until 1997. Dimitroff admitted to the 'relationship' and said he thought the boy was 18. Dimitroff lived at the Christian Brothers residence at Calvert Hall High School 1992-2002. He was a faculty member at Loyola College from 2002 until at least 2008 and at the University of Maryland Baltimore County as of 2010. Included in the 4/5/2023 MD Attorney General's Report.
Br. Martin Fenerty
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:
Br. Stephen Furches
Former principal of Cathedral High School in El Paso. Accused in an 8/2012 civil lawsuit filed in Santa Fe of sexually abusing a male student of the school for two years in the late 1980s, and threatening to keep him from graduating if he told. Included on the El Paso diocese's list of credibly accused 1/31/2019.
Br. Robert Gandara
Per his personnel file, Gandara was accused in 1989 of performing sexual 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 nine months in jail and was placed on probation until 1995. Left the order in 3/1994. Worked at some point in Galveston TX as a teacher at Kirwin High School. Accused, along with Bro. Richard Langenstein, in a lawsuit filed 8/7/2020, of molesting a boy in the 1980s. The boy was a student at La Salle High School.
Sources:
Br. Richard Geimer
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.
Br. Jeffrey Gregory
Also known as Br. Jeffrey Berta or Br. Raymond Charles Berta. Made perpetual vows in 1965. Taught in MO, IL, MI. Moved to CA in 1978. Longtime teacher at St. Mary's College in Moraga, CA. Accused in 1994 of sexually abusing a male student at Msgr. Gabriels High School in Lansing MI in 1964 and 1965. 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. The man contacted the Diocese again in 6/2002, repeating the previous allegation and adding that Fr. James Sullivan (later bishop of Fargo ND) also sexually abused him when he was 16-17 years old in 1966 or 1967. (Sullivan is the subject of another allegation that emerged and was deemed credible after his death in 2006). 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. Gregory died 11/20/2004 at the order's retirement facility in Napa CA.
Br. Joseph Gutierrez-Cervantes
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.
Br. Xavier Langan
Also known as Br. Geoffrey Xavier. Joined the Christian Brothers in 1935. Taught at schools in PA and MD. Accused in 2003 of sexually abusing a Calvert Hall College High School student (Baltimore) in 1969. In 2004, the school acknowledged the allegation and another by an older alumnus. Added to the Baltimore archdiocese's list 4/24/2019. It notes an allegation in 2002 and other allegations of abuse from additional former Calvert High students. Langan was at the school 1942-1952 and 1960-1985. He died in 1985. Included in the 4/5/2023 MD Attorney General's Report, noting a settlement in 2011 with man who reported in 1/2002 abuse occurring 1967-1968. In later 2002 a man reported abuse as a freshman at Calvert Hall 1948-1949, and that he first reported it in 1990. Another former student reported in 2008 abuse in 1979 or 1980; received a settlement. In 2018 a former Calvert Hall student said Langan would watch students swim naked through the pool's underwater window and at times appeared to be masturbating. The students nicknamed Langan "Brother Squeeze-ums."
Br. Richard J. Langenstein
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 8/7/2020 of molesting a De La Salle High School student for two years in the 1980s.
Br. Samuel F. Martinez
A 3/2003 lawsuit claimed abuse of a boy at Cathedral High in El Paso 1983-1985. At least 10 men alleged abuse as boys by Martinez while he was principal of the school 1976-1985. Others alleged abuse in New Orleans in the 1970s, prior to El Paso. The suit settled in 7/2004. One of the additional plaintiffs filed suit in 5/2004. Martinez was working in Santa Fe NM when the suit was filed. Retired. Two men settled a suit in 1/2012 for $1.6M. New suit in 3/2012, another in 4/2012. Living in Lafayette, LA in 9/2014 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. Included on the El Paso diocese's list 1/31/2019.
Sources:
Fr. R. Thomas McConaghy
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.
Br. Tom McConnell
Accused, along with Br. Abdon and former Br. Louis Brouseau, in a 5/17/1995 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 4/2021.
Assignments:
Sources:
Br. John Moriarty
Joined the Christian Brothers in 1951. Accused in a 2003 lawsuit of abusing a 17-year-old boy 1975-1976 at Christian Brothers Retreat House at St. Helena CA, where he was assigned 1974-1978. Plaintiff settled in late 2004 for $1.2M. Moriarty was at Wounded Brothers Project treatment center in MO as of 1/2005. Per a 5/2006 newsletter by the San Francisco District of Christian Brothers, he was based at Mont La Salle in Napa. He died 5/9/2013 at Mt. La Salle. Included on the Santa Rosa diocese's list 1/12/2019. Included on the Diocese of Oakland's list in 6/2019. Suit filed in 11/2019 by a man claiming abuse in the 1970s as a Moreau Catholic High student in Hayward, by both Moriarty and principal Rev. Gordon Wilcox.
Br. Benedict Reams
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].
Br. Charles A. Rose
"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.
Sources:
Br. David Trichtinger
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:
Br. Francis Verngren
A man filed suit in 5/2003 alleging abuse by Verngren 1966-1970, 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, and that he returned later to his position. The suit settled in 9/2003. Vergren died 12/12/2003. Included on the Santa Rosa diocese's list 1/12/2019, where he worked at Mont LaSalle 1969-1984 and at Justin Siena in 1984. He was a math tutor at St. Apollinaris 1990-2002. Included on the Oakland Diocese's list of credibly accused in 2019.
Br. Joseph Wilhelm
Entered the De La Salle Christian Brothers in 1942. Took final vows in 1948. Name included on the Diocese of Covington's list 7/31/2020 of those with substantiated allegation(s). Assigned to Newport Catholic High School 1963-1977. Also taught in Chicago IL, St. Paul MN, Jefferson City MO, Memphis TN, Santa Fe NM, Cincinnati OH. Died 9/6/2011.