19 Accused in This Religious Order
- Philadelphia Archdiocesan Priest Data Profile
- Daily Times 07.27.12
- Philadelphia Grand Jury Report
- Morning Call 08.07.99
- Philadelphia Inquirer 08.07.99
- Philadelphia Inquirer 10.22.99
- Philadelphia Inquirer 03.03.02
- USA Today 11.11.02
- Philadelphia Inquirer 01.08.03
- Associated Press 07.16.03
- Pocono Record 07.17.03
- Philadelphia Inquirer 09.17.05
- Philadelphia Inquirer 09.25.05
- John Doe 10 v Archdiocese of Philadelphia et al, 02.14.11
- Canadian Press 02.14.11
- SNAP Statement 02.14.11
- Reuters 02.16.11
- BA.org Assignment Record
- JOHN DOE Nos 30 – 68 and MARY ROE Nos 6 – 8 v Roman Catholic Archbishop of Boston, CA 05-0006
- Stretch Funeral Home 12.15.06
- BishopAccountability Letter to Dr Mary Jane Doherty, Chairperson of the Archdiocese of Boston Review Board 07.27.11
- Boston Globe 07.28.11
- Boston Globe 11.20.11
- Boston Globe 07.17.18
- Lawrence Eagle-Tribune 08.26.20
- Lawrence Eagle-Tribune 08.29.20
- Andover Townsman 09.03.20
- New Lenox Patch 02.19.18
- Chicago Sun-Times 04.12.18
- The Herald-News 04.12.18
- WLS 04.12.18
- Daily Southtown 04.12.18
- WGN 04.13.18
- Daily Southtown 04.14.18
- Chicago Sun-Times 09.21.18
- Church Militant 09.21.18
- The Patch 12.29.18
- The Hill 12.29.18
- New York Times 01.09.19
- Chicago Tribune 04.08.19
- Chicago Sun-Times 02.05.21
- Chicago Sun-Times 02.26.21
- LA Times Database 04.20.06
- LA Archdiocesan Report 02.17.04
- Chicago Sun-Times 02.14.03
- Chicago Tribune 02.15.03
- Chicago Tribune 08.20.03
- Chicago Sun-Times 07.15.04
- KOTV (Tulsa, OK) 12.08.04
- Chicago Tribune 12.08.04
- Chicago Sun Times 12.08.04
- Chicago Daily Herald 12.09.04
- Daily Southtown 02.01.06
- Chicago Sun-Times 02.01.06
- Chicago Sun Times 03.21.08
- Southtown Star 03.21.08
- Southwest News Herald 03.28.08
- SNAP Letter to Cardinal George 04.30.13
Brother John
A civil suit filed the against Order settled for $100K in 10/11. It alleged abuse of a youth by a Brother John and by Fr. Alfred Murphy between 1966-1968 at St. Mary Parish.
Sources:
Fr. George J. Callaghan
Personnel files released in 12/02. Accused of sexual advances in 1983 toward a 17-year-old boy in a rectory bedroom of a Lawrence MA parish. Matter settled. Same youth accused Rev. Alfred M. Murphy O.S.A., assigned to 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 1993 for $17K. Transferred late 1980s or early 1990s to Augustinian headquarters in PA, then to nursing home due to Alzheimers disease. Died 12/24/08. Name omitted from 2011 Boston AD database because he was an Order priest.
Fr. Arthur B. Chappell
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.
Fr. Richard J. Cochrane
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. John J. Gallagher
Worked in MA, NY, PA and FL. In a 2005 civil suit, a woman accused Gallagher of sexually abusing her as a child at St. Mary's in Lawrence MA 1972-78. The suit involved multiple plaintiffs and named multiple priests as defendants. Attorney Durso said that almost all claims were settled. Gallagher died 12/12/06. Omitted from 2011 Boston AD database because he was an Order priest. Augustinians settled 6/18 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. Settlement of $1.4M announced in 8/20 of suit alleging abuse of 11 children, boys and girls, at St. Mary's 1974-78. The children's ages ranges from 8-14 when abused.
Assignments:
Sources:
Fr. Joseph Donald Keffer
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:
Fr. Patrick F. Leonard
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.
Fr. John R. Liggio
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.
Fr. Peter Joseph Marron
Born in Ireland. Arrived in the U.S. at age 16. Name appears on list of priests with credible allegations released by San Diego diocese 3/30/07. Navy Chaplain 1945-69. Died in 3/98 at age 91. Brother of accused priest Michael V. Marron. Two women sued in 1/20, claiming Marron molested them in 1976-77 or '78.
Br. Christopher J. McCartney
One man filed civil suit against Archdiocese and Archbishop George 8/12 alleging that he was sexually attacked by McCartney at St Rita of Cascia High School (all boys) in late 1970s. McCartney was Dean of Men, Vocations Director and Mission Director at S
Fr. Richard J. McGrath
Accused in a 4/18 lawsuit of the sexual abuse of a boy ages 13-15 in 1995-96. The abuse allegedly occurred at Providence Catholic High School in New Lenox, where McGrath was president. Police investigating. Had been investigated in 12/17 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; investigation closed. McGrath resigned from the high school. The man who filed suit in 4/18 came forward to police in 1/18. Per news in 9/18, 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 outcry. Sent to a friary in Chicago. Reported in 12/18 to have "gone missing" from Order. Thought to be living alone in a Chicago apartment.
Sources:
Fr. Alfred J. Monte
Accused of abuse of a child in 1947, per 2004 archdiocesan report. Died in 1996. Named in at least one lawsuit.
Assignments:
Sources:
Fr. Alfred M. Murphy
Personnel file released in 12/02 included allegation of molestation of a 17-year-old boy over a 3-week period in 1983, during a cross-country trip in an RV. Accuser settled with the Archdiocese and the Order in 1992. Murphy was transferred to a Philadelphia monastery to live under supervision. Civil suit filed and settled in 1992. Another suit against Order settled for $100K in 10/11. It alleged abuse of a youth by Murphy and a Brother John between 1966-68. Omitted from 2011 Boston AD database.
Fr. John Daniel Murphy
At least six plaintiffs filed suits in 2003 accusing Murphy of abuse. Settlement with 13 plaintiffs in 2004. Order knew of abuse of at least one by 1981. Resigned from Order in 1993. Named in a 1/06 class action suit. Named in new suit filed in 3/08 by a man who alleged Murphy and music director, Br. Mark Thedens, abused him 1976-79.
Sources:
Br. Frank Paduch
Augustinian brother serving as religion instructor and coach when he allegedly abused a freshman boy at St. Rita H.S. in Chicago in 1980-81. In 1988 he was assigned to St. Charles Borromeo in Nederland, TX. Ordained for Beaumont TX diocese 1989. Civil suit filed 1997 in IL; settled around 1999. Left Beaumont in 2000. Several complaints received there. Faculties revoked 10/01. At least four known accusers. Began working for city of Berwyn, IL in 2005. Placed on leave from city job 1/15/10. Laicized 1/05. On Beaumont diocese's list 6/11/19.
Br. Mark E. Thedens
Lawuit filed in 3/08 by a man who alleged that Thedens, a former music director, and Fr. John D. Murphy abused him 1976-79. Reportedly there have been other reports of abuse by Thedsen, most of which were settled. Thedens died in 2/03.
Fr. Esteban Trujillo
Visiting priest from Mexico, in San Bernardino diocese beginning mid-2001. Removed by diocese 6/02. Order told the diocese in 7/02 that it had investigated and cleared Trujillo of an allegation of past sexual misconduct. On San Bernardino list 10/9/18. It notes Trujillo had no faculties or assignments there and that he had been residing in the area with his family. Abuse allegedly took place in Mexico 1998 and 2001.
Fr. Robert Turnbull
Sued in 2/01 for sexually abusing two brothers at Austin Prep and at a cabin in NH in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Moved to FL in 1981 and PA in1984. Worked also on St. Lucia in the West Indies. Died in 2000. Personnel file released in 12/02. Included in 3/03 NH Attorney General Report. Omitted from 2011 Boston AD database.
Fr. William F. Waters
Accused publicly in 4/19 of the abuse of a boy, ages 8-10, in 1987-90. His 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 4/20 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.