13 Accused in This Religious Order
Fr. John Joseph Berube
Member of Missionary Fathers of La Salette. Died in 1998. Four men filed suit spring 2003 alleging that they were abused by Berube over a 6-month period in 1965, when he was assigned to St. Theresa of Avila church. Parents complained; Berube was transferred shortly thereafter. Worked in Canada and in Boston. Settled 4/04 just before trial. On diocese's list in 2019. It notes "priestly service" in diocese "terminated in 1965."
Fr. Richard Roy Boucher
Priest of the Missionaries of Our Lady of LaSalette. Named publicly as accused on the Atlanta archdiocese's list 11/6/2018. Worked in the archdiocese at Our Lady of LaSalette. Removed from ministry in 1992 after parishioners complained about Boucher's behavior with young boys, including hugging, squeezing and kissing them. He allegedly abused a nine-year-old boy in the confessional by putting the boy on his lap, having the boy's knee touch his (the priest's) penis, then sighing and kissing the boy on the lips. After his removal, Boucher was moved to the Order's Hartford House in CT, where over many years he was given the roles of superior, treasurer and house council member. Settlement in 1994 related to allegations of a abuse of a boy, age 12. Boucher died in 2020. Included in the 3/24/2023 GA PAC Report.
Seminarian Kenneth Joseph Cassity
Seminarian of the Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette. In 11/1999 a woman told Cassity's supervising priest at St. Ann's in Marietta GA that Cassity was behaving inappropriately with her son, age 8. Sent to St. Luke's Institute for evaluation. Arrested in 4/2002 in Lake Wales, FL, where he had been working since 11/01/2001 as Director of Youth Ministry at Holy Spirit Catholic Church. Charges related to allegations of abuse of three boys in 7/1999-12/2000 while working at St. Ann's in Marietta. Pleaded guilty in 7/2003 to molesting 12-year-old twin boys. The third boy was age 16 when allegedly abused. Sentenced to six years in prison and nine years' probation The family sued; settled in 12/2003 for $10M. Cassity died in 2006. Included on the archdiocese's list 11/6/2018. Also reportedly worked 1994-1999 in Silver Spring MD as a youth minister at St. John the Baptist, and briefly as Coordinator of Youth Ministry at Sacred Heart in Glyndon, MD between his assignments in GA and FL. Included in the 3/24/2023 GA PAC Report.
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Fr. Eugene Adalbert Dranka
Two people settled claims against Dranka as part of 2004 $7.5M settlement reached between 45 claimants and the Diocese of Springfield involving 18 priests. This was first time Dranka had been publicly identified as accused. From Three Rivers. Worked in parishes in Westfield and Bondsville as well as LaSallette settings in TX and NH. Died at age 66 in 1974. Added to the Springfield diocese's list 5/2/21, with multiple credible allegations noted, occurring 1966-68. Assigned to the diocese 1964-74.
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Fr. Albert A. Fredette
Priest of the Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette (M.S.) Named publicly by the Fall River diocese in 1/21 on its list of accused (as Alfred, other sources show his name as Albert A). Assigned to the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette in Attleboro. Per his obituary, Fredette had many assignments across the US, the Philippines and Canada. Died in 6/26/2000 in Attleboro MA.
Fr. Alphonse Rodrigue Hemond
Ordained for the Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette. Incardinated into the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston in 1978. Worked in West Warwick, RI; Ontario, Canada; Baton Rouge, Scotlandville and Maringouin, LA. Retired and died in 1990. Allegations received in 11/1992, 5/2002 and 6/2002 of abuse in the 1960s-1970s while at St. Tomas More in Baton Rouge. On Galveston-Houston's list 1/31/2019. On Baton Rouge diocese's list 3/27/2019. Noted to have left Baton Rouge in 1968. Included in 4/2019 on the Diocese of Tyler's list.
Fr. Joseph F. Kettner
Kettner's name was included on the diocese's list 3/22/2019 of clergy on whose behalf settlements were paid related to allegations of sexual abuse of minors. The allegations against Kettner were deemed not credible. He was accused of sexually abusing two girls, ages 7-8, in 1979 and 1970. He died 3/6/2002.
Fr. Peter D. Kohler
Assigned in LA, MO, MI, Madagascar. Lived at the La Salette House in Hartford CT 2011 until his death in 2014. Named publicly as credibly accused by the the Diocese of Rockford on its list 11/14/2018. Included in the 5/23/2023 IL Attorney General's Report, which shows that in 2017 a man reported that when he was 12 years old in 1999, Kohler raped him during confession at St. Joseph's in Lena, IL. Kohler was filling in for an absent priest. The boy told his father the same night, who said he would take care of it. Kohler did not return to the parish.
Fr. Jeffrey L’Arche
LaSalette Missionaries priest. Pastor of two parishes in the Diocese of Albany NY 6/2/21 when when placed on leave after the Diocese of Springfield MA released a list of accused which included L'Arche. He allegedly sexually abused a minor in MA 1976-81. L'Arche denied the allegation and his order deemed it not credible. Also worked in CT and FL.
Fr. Gerard R. Miller
Known as "Fr. Jerry." Priest of the Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette. Named in a suit by two men in 2019 of abusing them and other boys as teenagers for three years, beginning in 1984. The boys were residents of the Home for Wayward Boys in Knox. Miller allegedly raped and assaulted them, at times along with a visiting "Fr. Jim," in his bedroom at the Home, and on trips to Agawam, MA and Atlanta, GA. Said to have plied them with alcohol, drugs, and "lavish spending on shopping sprees" and to have threatened them if they resisted the abuse. In 1987 one boy told trusted adults who, along with a nun, contacted law enforcement. No charges, reportedly because the boy was too traumatized to give a full statement. In 7/2019 a man said his son died by suicide just shy of age 18, having been abused by Miller. Order moved Miller to a Marietta, GA parish, then to England in 1989. He left the priesthood, married, and moved to FL. Included in the 3/24/2023 GA PAC Report (first name 'Gerard'.)
Br. Edmund Normantowicz
La Salette Missionary. Per the 1989 Catholic Directory was also a permanent deacon in St. Louis, MO. By 1999 he was a permanent deacon in the Lake Charles, LA diocese. Named publicly as accused by the Lake Charles diocese on its list updated in 11/2019. (Name misspelled Normanmtowicz, first name Edward, but is Edmund in Directories and father's 2014 obituary.) Lake Charles' list notes accusations of sexual abuse of minors, occurring 1976-1978 and 1980 in Sulphur, LA and reported to the diocese in 2003 and 2019. Prohibited from ministry. Appears to have been long living with his order in Hartford, CT.
Fr. Louis J. Reczek
Priest of the LaSalette Province of Mary, Mother of the Americas Missionaries. Permanently removed by the Order in 1974. Assigned in Peoria IL early career, including as a hospital chaplain. Active priest in FL 1970s and 1980s until his death. Died in 1986, age 57. Named publicly as credibly accused by the Pensacola-Tallahassee diocese on its list in 2020.
Fr. Donald D. Simonds
Named publicly as accused by the Diocese of Springfield MA on its list 6/2/21. Worked in the diocese 1980-83 and 1984-97. Removed from ministry in 2002. Multiple credible allegations of the sexual abuse of minors, occurring 1979-83.