Augustinians – OSA - BishopAccountability.org

26 Accused in This Religious Order

Brother John

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Order: OSA
Status: Settled

A civil lawsuit filed the against Order settled for $100K in 10/2011. It alleged abuse of a boy by a Brother John and by Fr. Alfred Murphy between 1966-1968 at St. Mary Parish.

Sources:

Eagle Tribune 10.29.11

Fr. Thomas A. Burke

Order: OSA
Ordained: 1941
Status: Sued

Died: 12/10/1984
Diocese: Archdiocese of New York NY

Accused in a lawsuit filed under the NY Child Victims Act in 8/19 of sexually abusing a child, ages 11-14, at St. Sylvester's in Concord 1966-69. Burke died in 1984 at age 72.

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Fr. George J. Callaghan

Order: OSA
Ordained: 1956
Status: Settled

Died: 12/24/2008
Diocese: Archdiocese of Boston MA

Personnel files released in 12/2002. Accused of sexual advances in 1983 toward a 17-year-old boy in a rectory bedroom of a Lawrence MA parish. Matter settled. The same youth accused Rev. Alfred M. Murphy O.S.A., assigned to the same parish, of repeatedly sexually abusing him a few months later during a cross-country trip. Callaghan was accused also of sexually harassing a 22-year-old male employee of the MA parish. Settled in 1993 for $17K. Transferred in the late 1980s or early 1990s to Augustinian headquarters in PA, then to a nursing home due to Alzheimers disease. Died 12/24/2008. Name omitted from the 2011 Boston AD database because he was an order priest.

Assignments:

BA.org Assignment Record

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Fr. Arthur B. Chappell

Order: OSA
Ordained: 1969
Status: Accused

Diocese: Archdiocese of Philadelphia PA

Chair of Villanova University's Theology Dept. Resigned in 5/03 amid allegations that he sexually abused a teenage seminary student 1975-76. Chappell was the youth's spiritual advisor. The alleged victim reported abuse in 1977 to a Villanova psychologist who told the Order. The Order counseled Chappell at the time but no written record of the complaint was made and no other actions were taken. Beginning in 2005 he was working as executive director of Augustinian Press.

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Fr. Richard J. Cochrane

Order: OSA
Ordained: 1972
Status: Convicted

Diocese: Archdiocese of Philadelphia PA

Arrested in 1999 for assault of a 14-year-old boy during a trip to the Poconos. Cochrane was a teacher at Malvern Prep School. Another person came forward to allege the same type of abuse in 1990. Pleaded no contest to statutory rape charge in 1/03 regarding the first boy after PA appellate court ruled that the second student could testify at trial. Sentenced in 7/03 to 18-48 months in jail. In 7/03, the archdiocese settled a civil suit filed by the first youth. New suit 2/14/11.

Assignments:

Sources:

Fr. Thomas Dullard

Order: OSA
Ordained: 1965
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Jackson MS

Named publicly as accused by the Diocese on its list 3/19/2019. Alleged abuse occurring in 1973 was reported to the Diocese the same year. Removed from ministry in 1974. Deceased. Included on the Augustinians' Midwest Province list of accused, updated 5/31/2024.

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Fr. William Ambrose Griffin

Order: OSA
Ordained: 1964
Status: Accused

Died: 03/18/2017
Diocese: Archdiocese of Chicago IL

Named publicly as accused by the Order of St. Augustine's Midwest Province on its list updated in 5/2024. The list notes that Griffin was dismissed from the order in 1978 and died in 2017. The Official Catholic Directory shows that Griffin was a faculty member 1964-1971 at Mendel Catholic High School (for boys) in Chicago, then was assigned to St. Mary Parish in Rockford IL until 1974. Per his obituary, Griffin moved to Canada in 1974. After his dismissal he went on to marry and raise a family.

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Fr. John J. Gallagher

Order: OSA
Ordained: 1945
Status: Accused

Died: 12/12/2006
Diocese: Archdiocese of Boston MA

Worked in MA, NY, PA and FL. In a 2005 civil lawsuit, a woman accused Gallagher of sexually abusing her as a child at St. Mary's in Lawrence MA 1972-1978. The suit involved multiple plaintiffs and named multiple priests as defendants. Attorney Durso said that almost all claims were settled. Gallagher died 12/12/2006. Omitted from the 2011 Boston AD database because he was an Order priest. The Augustinians settled in 6/2018 for $1M to eight plaintiffs claiming abuse by two priests, including Gallagher. Three were women who said Gallagher abused them as girls at St. Mary's. All were between ages 9-12 years when allegedly abused. A settlement of $1.4M was announced in 8/2020 of a suit alleging the sexual abuse of 11 children, boys and girls, at St. Mary's 1974-1978. The children's ages ranges from 8-14 when abused. In 10/2021 Attorney Garabedian announced that a 15th claim against Gallagher had recently settled, in the low six figures.

Assignments:

BA.org Assignment Record

Sources:

Fr. Peter G. Gori

Order: OSA
Ordained: 1979
Status: Reinstated

Diocese: Archdiocese of Boston MA

Placed on administrative leave in 4/2019 after he was accused of sexually abusing a 10-year-old boy 28 years prior. Gori denied the allegations. Pastor of St. Augustine's in Andover, former canon lawyer for the archdiocesan Tribunal. Order to investigate the allegations. Gori's accuser said he was also abused by Rev. William Waters, O.S.A. from ages 8-10, 1987-1990. Both priests were at either St. Augustine's in Lawrence or Andover. On Villanova University's board of trustees since 2013. Suspended in Spring 2019 during the investigation by the Augustinians of allegations. Returned to the board after the order found the allegation to be unfounded. The Archdiocese determined that the allegations could not be substantiated and announced in late 3/2020 that Gori would be returned to his position as pastor of St. Augustine's.

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Fr. Jerome M. Heyman

Order: OSA
Ordained: 1961
Status: Accused

Died: 02/19/2023
Diocese: Diocese of Kalamazoo MI

Named publicly as accused by the MI Attorney General in its Diocese of Kalamazoo report 5/22/2024. Assigned in the diocese 1991 until his retirement in 2006. Accused of making unwanted sexual advances toward women. Accused in a 2005 letter to Bishop Murray of making sexual advances a woman and her 12-year-old granddaughter. Heyman allegedly tried to kiss the girl and said that he wished he was 60 years younger. Heyman agreed to resign that year after his 75th birthday, the normal retirement age. In 2011 another woman reported to the Diocese sexual misconduct toward her by Heyman. (Heyman was in residence at that time at a Home Glen IL parish, in the Diocese of Joliet.) The Diocese informed Heyman's Order and asked that he "curtail his trips to the Diocese of Kalamazoo" and undergo counseling. Heyman died in 2/2023, at age 91.

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Fr. Albert Hillebrand

Order: OSA
Ordained: 1953
Status: Accused

Died: 07/20/1999
Diocese: Archdiocese of Detroit MI

Ordained for the Augustinian Order. Principal from the mid-1960s through the mid-1970s of Austin Catholic Prep High School in Detroit. Appears to have left the Order in the early 1980s and to have become a priest of the archdiocese. Named publicly as credibly accused by the Detroit archdiocese on its list 6/10/2019. Removed from public ministry. Died 7/20/1999.

Sources:

Archdiocese of Detroit List 06.10.19

Fr. Michael P. Hogan

Order: OSA
Ordained: 1956
Status: Accused

Died: 09/29/2008
Diocese: Archdiocese of Chicago IL

Named publicly by a man in 1/2019 who claimed Hogan sexually abused him when he was a St. Rita High School sophomore. Hogan worked at St. Rita's 1960-1970 as a teacher, Vice Principal for Guidance and Director of Public Relations. His accuser said the priest offered to take him to a camp in Milwaukee, plied him with alcohol in a hotel room and started touching him. The man said he told the Archdiocese in 2006, who had him contact the Midwest Augustinians, and that the Order said Hogan was in a nursing home and denied the abuse. Hogan died 9/29/2008.

Assignments:

Midwest Augustinians Obituary 09.29.08

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Fr. Joseph Donald Keffer

Order: OSA
Ordained: 1947
Status: Sued

Died: 02/6/2005
Diocese: Diocese of Albany NY

Accused in a lawsuit filed in 6/20 of sexually abusing a group of four or five boys at St. Mary's in Waterford in the early 1980s. The boys, who were as young as 7 or 8, were Sunday school students. Keffer allegedly took them to a back room under the guise of selecting altar boys, had them put their heads down, then fondled their genitals. He is said to have warned the boys that, if they told, God would punish them. Keffer died 2/6/05.

Sources:

The Telegraph 06.15.20

Fr. Patrick F. Leonard

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Order: OSA
Ordained: 1996
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Charlotte NC

Removed from assignment in Charlotte in 9/03 after credible allegations he sexually abused a minor in New York in 1982. Parishioners were not told the reason for the removal until 3/04. A woman also came forward to allege that he spoke to her in a lewd manner.

Assignments:

Diocese of Charlotte Assignment Record 12.29.19

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Fr. John R. Liggio

Order: OSA
Ordained: 1975
Status: Sued

Diocese: Archdiocese of Philadelphia PA

Liggio, a teacher of religion and campus ministry director at Malvern Prep School, was investigated by the DA's office 1/03 after allegations he abused a student at the school in 1997-1998. He was placed on leave in late 2002 after allegation surfaced. He denied allegations. In 9/03, DA's office declined to file charges because of insufficient evidence. Named in 7/25/12 civil suit by original accuser.

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Fr. Peter Joseph Marron

Order: OSA
Ordained: 1936
Status: Sued

Died: 03/1/1998
Diocese: Diocese of San Diego CA

Born in Ireland. Arrived in the U.S. at age 16. Name appears on a list of priests with credible allegations released by the San Diego diocese 3/30/2007. Per his obituary, Marron was assigned to St. Rita High School in Chicago IL 1937-1941, St. Mary's parish in Rockford IL 1941-1945, Navy Chaplain 1945-1969, formation community at Cole St. in San Francisco in 1970, and St. Patrick's Parish in San Diego in 1970. He retired in 1975 to St. Augustine High School Monastery and assisted at parishes around the diocese until 1993. He died in 3/1998 at age 91. Brother of accused priest Michael V. Marron. Two women sued in 1/2020, claiming Marron molested them in San Diego in 1976-1977 or 1978. Included on the Rockford diocese's list in 5/2022. Included in the 5/23/2023 IL Attorney General's Report.

Assignments:

Diocese of San Diego List 03.30.07

Sources:

Br. Christopher J. McCartney

Order: OSA
Status: Sued

Died: 07/21/2002
Diocese: Archdiocese of Chicago IL

A man filed civil suit against the Archdiocese and Archbishop George in 8/2012 alleging that he was sexually attacked by McCartney at St. Rita of Cascia High School in the late 1970s. McCartney was Dean of Men, Vocations Director and Mission Director at the school 1973-1978. He went on to various other assignments. He died 7/21/2002.

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Fr. Richard J. McGrath

Order: OSA
Ordained: 1973
Status: Settled

Diocese: Diocese of Joliet IL

Accused in a 4/2018 lawsuit of the sexual abuse of a boy ages 13-15 in 1995-1996. The abuse allegedly included rape and occurred at Providence Catholic High School in New Lenox, where McGrath was President. Police were investigating. Had been investigated in 12/2017 after a girl reported she saw at a wrestling match that McGrath had a photo of a nude boy on his cellphone. McGrath refused to give the phone to police; that investigation closed. McGrath resigned from the high school. The man who filed suit in 4/2018 came forward to police in 1/2018. Per news in 9/2018, McGrath moved to his Order's St. John Stone Friary in Hyde Park, across an alley from a preschool and near a Catholic grade school. The Augustinians agreed to move him after an outcry. Sent to a friary in Chicago. Reported in 12/2018 to have "gone missing" from Order. Thought to be living alone in a Chicago apartment. Lawsuit settled in 11/2023 for $2M. Reportedly in 2/2025, McGrath was dismissed from the Augustinians in 12/2024. In 5/2024 his whereabouts remained unclear; he was reported by some to have been seen in Mokena.

Fr. Alfred J. Monte

Order: OSA
Ordained: 1939
Status: Sued

Died: 03/7/1996
Diocese: Archdiocese of Los Angeles CA

Accused of abuse of a child in 1947, per the 2004 Los Angeles Archdiocesan report. Died in 1996. Named in at least one lawsuit.

Assignments:

L.A. Times Database 04.20.06

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Fr. Alfred M. Murphy

Order: OSA
Ordained: 1956
Status: Settled

Diocese: Archdiocese of Boston MA

Murphy's' personnel file, released in 12/2002, shows an allegation of molestation of a 17-year-old boy over a 3-week period in 1983, during a cross-country trip in an RV. His accuser settled with the Archdiocese and Order in 1992. Murphy was transferred to a Philadelphia monastery to live under supervision. A civil suit filed was settled in 1992. Another lawsuit against the Order settled for $100K in 10/2011. It alleged abuse of a youth by Murphy and a Brother John between 1966-1968. Murphy's name was omitted from the Boston Archdiocese's 2011 database.

Assignments:

BA.org Assignment Record

Sources:

Fr. John Daniel Murphy

Order: OSA
Ordained: 1968
Status: Settled

Diocese: Archdiocese of Chicago IL

At least six plaintiffs filed suits in 2003 accusing Murphy of sexually abusing them as children. Settlement with 13 plaintiffs in 2004. The Augustinians knew of abuse of at least one by 1981. Murphy resigned from the Order in 1993. Named in a 1/2006 class action suit. Named in a suit filed in 3/2008 by a man who alleged Murphy and music director, Br. Mark Thedens, abused him 1976-1979. Reportedly in 6/2023 Murphy was married and living in a senior complex in West Dundee, near a parish and school. A man claiming abuse by Murphy when he was a 10-year-old altar boy said in 2023 that he knew that Murphy raped some people, and that two of his victims later died by suicide. In 6/2023 Bishop Stika stated that Murphy sexually abused him as a high school seminary freshman in 1971. Included on the Augustinians Midwest Province's List of accused updated in 5/2024.

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Fr. Frank Paduch

Order: OSA
Ordained: 1989
Status: Settled

Diocese: Archdiocese of Chicago IL

Initially an Augustinian Brother, Paduch was working as a religion instructor and coach when he allegedly sexually abused a freshman boy at St. Rita High School in Chicago in 1980-1981. Assigned in 1988 to St. Charles Borromeo in Nederland, TX. Ordained a priest for the Beaumont TX diocese in 1989. A civil suit was filed in 1997 in IL and settled around 1999. Left Beaumont in 2000. Several complaints were received there. Faculties were revoked in 10/2001. There are at least four known accusers. Began working for the city of Berwyn, IL in 2005. Placed on leave from his city job 1/15/2010. Laicized in 1/2005. Included on the Beaumont diocese's list 6/11/2019. Included in the 5/23/2023 IL Attorney General's Report. Included on the Augustinians Midwest Province's list of accused updated 5/31/2024.

Sources:

Br. Mark E. Thedens

Order: OSA
Status: Settled

Died: 02/24/2003
Diocese: Archdiocese of Chicago IL

Accused in a lawsuit filed in 3/2008 by a man who alleged that Thedens, a former music director, and Fr. John D. Murphy abused him as a boy 1976-1979. Reportedly there have been other allegations of abuse against Thedsen, most of which were settled. Thedens died in 2/2003. Included on the Augustinians Midwest Province's list of accused updated 5/31/24.

Assignments:

Augustinian Obituary accessed 08.16.09

Sources:

Fr. Esteban Trujillo

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Order: OSA
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of San Bernardino CA

Visiting priest from Mexico. Worked in the San Bernardino Diocese beginning in mid-2001. Removed in 6/2002. Trujillo's Order told the Diocese in 7/2002 that it had investigated and cleared Trujillo of an allegation of past sexual misconduct. Likely returned to Mexico. Name included on San Bernardino's list 10/9/2018, noting he had no faculties or assignments there and that he had been residing in the area with his family. Abuse allegedly took place in Mexico in 1998 and 2001.

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Fr. Robert Turnbull

Order: OSA
Ordained: 1965
Status: Settled

Died: 02/21/2000
Diocese: Archdiocese of Boston MA

Sued in 2/2001 for sexually abusing two brothers at Austin Preparatory School and at a cabin in NH in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Moved to FL in 1981 and PA in 1984. Worked also on St. Lucia in the West Indies. Died in 2000. Personnel file released in 12/2002. Included in the 3/2003 NH Attorney General's Report. Over 15 cases settled with claims of abuse by Turnbull as of 1/2023, per Attorney Mitchell Garabedian.

Assignments:

BA.org Assignment Record

Sources:

Fr. William F. Waters

Order: OSA
Ordained: 1971
Status: Insufficient evidence

Diocese: Archdiocese of Boston MA

Accused publicly in 4/2019 of sexually abusing boy, ages 8-10, in 1987-1990. Waters' accuser said he was also abused at age 10 by Rev. Peter Gori, O.S.A. in 1990. Both priests were at either St. Augustine's in Lawrence or Andover. Waters denied the allegations. He had been transferred several years earlier to the the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. In 4/2020 the Order announced that an independent investigation found no evidence to support the allegations and that Waters would be reinstated. Gori was also exonerated and returned to ministry.