Marist Fathers – SM - BishopAccountability.org

15 Accused in This Religious Order

Fr. Clarence Biggers

Order: SM
Ordained: 1950
Status: Settled

Died: 03/3/2009
Diocese: Archdiocese of Atlanta GA

In 2002 several women accused Biggers of molesting them as children in Marietta, GA in the early 1960s. Transferred to Baton Rouge diocese in 1964. In 2000 a woman told the Baton Rouge diocese he sexually abused her as a girl 1965-1967. Biggers was transferred back to Atlanta in 1967. Began living in a monastery in Conyers, GA in 1969. In 2003 ten women settled for $25K each. Personnel file had a letter from the early 1960s showing that parents of some of the girls had complained to the Marists. His victims were as young as age 10. Biggers died in 2009. Included on the Atlanta archdiocese's list 11/6/2018. On the Baton Rouge diocese's list in 2019. Included in the 3/24/2023 GA PAC Report.

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Fr. Raymond A. Boulanger

Order: SM
Ordained: 1951
Status: Accused

Died: 02/12/2010
Diocese: Archdiocese of Boston MA

Boucher's personnel file was one of several released to the public in 12/2002 because it contained allegations of sexual abuse. Boulanger, then 81, said he used to give girls affectionate hugs and believes that one of the mothers must have misinterpreted what he was doing and filed a complaint. He denied misconduct. Reportedly, no clear accusations were found in his file. He died 2/12/2010. Omitted from 2011 Boston AD database.

Assignments:

BA.org Assignment Record

Sources:

Fr. Arthur T. Devlin

Donate Photo

Order: SM
Ordained: 1945
Status: Settled

Diocese: Archdiocese of Boston MA

Worked in the Diocese of Wheeling, the South Solomon Islands, and the Archdioceses of San Francisco, Boston and New York. Accused at some point of sexually abusing a 13-year-old boy in 1959, on multiple occasions. The boy attended Our Lady of Presentation Parish in Brighton MA; Devlin was the nephew of the parish's pastor, Rev. Charles McInnis. A claim was settled in 4/2020 in the mid-five figures.

Assignments:

Garabedian Law Offices Assignment Record

Sources:

Garabedian Law Offices Assignment Record

Fr. Merle Joseph Fisher

Order: SM
Ordained: 1960
Status: Settled

Died: 11/26/2001
Diocese: Diocese of Honolulu HI

Accused in a lawsuit that settled in 2020 in the low six figures of sexually abusing a boy, ages 8-11, during 1967-1970. The abuse allegedly occurred in the rectory of Holy Cross Parish in Kalaheo, HI. In addition to the Diocese of Honolulu, Fisher had assignments in the Archdiocese of San Francisco, the Diocese of Boise, the Diocese of Christchurch New Zealand and the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. He died 11/26/2001.

Assignments:

Garabedian Law Offices Assignment Record

Sources:

Fr. Philip S. Gage

Order: SM
Ordained: 1969
Status: Accused

Diocese: Archdiocese of Atlanta GA

Officials of the Marist School announced in 1995 that Gage had been removed in 1993 after allegations that he molested a 17-year-old student in 1989. The victim became seriously ill with cancer, during which time Gage molested him. During the investigation, officials learned of another possible victim who was 18 at the time of the alleged abuse. Gage was sent to his Order's headquarters in Washington D.C. Possibly living in the Atlanta area as of 2009. Per the Marist website accessed 10/2017, Gage was a Council of the Province member. Included on the Wheeling-Charleston diocese's list in late 2018. Worked there at St. Vincent de Paul 1979-1981. Included on the Atlanta diocese's list in 11/2020 which notes "Supervised by Order." Included in the 3/24/2023 GA PAC Report.

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Fr. Robert D. Huneke

Order: SM
Ordained: 1969
Status: Sued

Diocese: Diocese of Rockville Centre NY

Former Notre Dame University rector. In 1980 a man reported to the Diocese abuse by Huneke for years, starting when he was age 13. He also notified the FL bishop where Huneke was working. FL sent him back to NY in 1982. His accuser went public in 1989 and again in 1993. Huneke left the priesthood in 1989. Two other accusers came forward in 1993. In 2002 the first accuser learned that Huneke was working as a high school guidance counselor in Atlanta and notified the Order that ran the school; Huneke was fired. He died 5/16/2002 at age 62. Identified as Priest M in the 2003 Suffolk Co. Grand Jury Report. A lawsuit was filed in 10/2018 by a man alleging he was sexually abused by Huneke at age 9 in 1981 while attending Christ the King church and school in Tampa. Included on the Rockville Centre diocese's list in 3/2021.

Fr. John Jairo Velez

Donate Photo

Order: SM
Ordained: 1988
Status: Settled

Diocese: Diocese of Monterey CA

Visiting priest from Mexico. Left the El Paso TX diocese in 1990 "under a cloud of suspicion." In 1991 the Monterey Diocese learned of the abuse by Velez and another priest of a Salinas CA altar boy, and met with the victim and his family. The Diocese expelled Velez and notified his Order. Order recalled Velez to Mexico, sending an escort to ensure his return. Diocese says civil authorities were notified in 1991. Sued in 2003 by this plaintiff. The case settled in 5/2009 for $1.2M just before trial. Reportedly worked a as a priest in Mexico before being deported to his native Colombia. Thought in 2009 to be in active ministry in Colombia. Per the Monterey diocese's list 1/2/2019, Velez is deceased.

Assignments:

BA.org Assignment Record

Sources:

Fr. James M. Johnston

Donate Photo

Order: SM
Ordained: 1954
Status: Settled

Diocese: Archdiocese of St. Paul & Minneapolis, MN

Accused by a man in 2004 of sexually abusing him as a child in the 1960s. Johnston worked at St. Louis King of France 1954-1961. Settlement of $42K reached in 2004. Johnston's name is not included on either the original or the amended lists of credibly accused priests released by the Archdiocese on 12/2/2013 and 02/17/2014.

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Fr. Lawrence Joseph Michaud

Order: SM
Ordained: 1936
Status: Accused

Died: 11/2/1990
Diocese: Archdiocese of Boston MA

A woman wrote to Cardinal Law in 3/1994, alleging that Michaud repeatedly sexually abused her when she was 12-years-old in the late 1950s or early 1960s. Michaud was assigned at the time of the alleged abuse to St. Joseph's in Haverhill, MA. He had been living in Van Buren, ME when he died in 1990 at age 80. Omitted from the Boston archdiocese's 2011 database of accused.

Assignments:

BA.org Assignment Record

Sources:

Fr. Thomas Patrick Purcell

Order: SM
Ordained: 1972
Status: Convicted

Diocese: Diocese of Tucson AZ

Professed vows in 1959 as a Marianist, Province of St. Louis. Worked in MO, IL, TX, AZ. Ordained in 1972. Left the Order in 1990. Incardinated in 1990 into the Diocese of Fresno. Faculties revoked 3/15/1996. Name appeared in a 6/2002 news article listing 15 priests with ties to the Tucson diocese who had been accused of child sexual abuse. Purcell worked in the Tucson diocese 1982-1984 as a visiting priest. Convicted in 2003 of abuse of a 13-year-old boy in 1982-1983. Received a 9.5-year sentence. Included on the Diocese of Tucson's list in 8/2011, referred to as a Diocese of Fresno priest suspended from ministry. Included on the Marianists' 6/24/2020 list of accused. On the Stockton diocese's list 11/12/2020, where he worked in the summer of 1981 and 1/1-3/1 1982. Included on the Diocese of Fresno's list in 2021. On the Belleville diocese's list 9/20/2022. Included in the 5/23/2023 IL Attorney General's Report.

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Fr. Henry J. Rancourt

Order: SM
Ordained: 1957
Status: Settled

Diocese: Archdiocese of Boston MA

Accused anonymously in 1992 of "kissing and molesting Haitian boys" in his Boston parish school in 1992. On 6/27/2009 the archdiocesan website showed him to have active status with an assignment at Marist House in Framingtham. In 4/2012, attorney Garabedian announced a recent settlement of at least one claim involving Rancourt. Also worked in MI, NY and OH. Included in 1/2021 on the Fall River diocese's list of accused. Noted to have been assigned at some point to parishes in North Easton, New Bedford and Vineyard Haven.

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Br. Donald Richard

Donate Photo

Order: SM
Status: Settled

Diocese: Archdiocese of Newark NJ

Named publicly as accused by Attorney Mitchell Garabedian in 5/27. Allegedly sexually abused a girl, ages 15-17, 1986-88, while assigned to Roselle Catholic High School in Roselle NJ. The girl was a student. A claim in the case was settled in 2021 in the low six figures.

Assignments:

Law Offices of Mitchel Garabedian 05.27.21

Sources:

Law Offices of Mitchell Garabedian 05.27.21

Fr. Julian Edward Rondeau

Order: SM
Ordained: 1945
Status: Accused

Died: 07/4/1999
Diocese: Archdiocese of Boston MA

Rondeau admitted in 1992-1993 correspondence with a victim that he had sexually abused her and her sister. The victim was about age 10 in 1966 when the abuse started. The girls were from a family that was financially and emotionally dependent on him. Ordination year was apparently adjusted from 1945 to 1971 starting in the 1993 Catholic Directory (this was after the allegation was made). Died in 1999.

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Fr. Timothy Francis Sugrue

Order: SM
Ordained: 1963
Status: Settled

Died: 08/4/2022
Diocese: Diocese of Little Rock AR

Accused in a 1992 civil suit of abusing a girl, age 8, and her sister in 1978 at an Air Force Base in AR. Sugrue did not testify; took the Fifth Amendment in a deposition regarding involvement with children while working in Ohio, Georgia, Louisiana, Alaska and the Philippines. Resigned from the Air Force in 1979 after an investigation into allegations. Trial in 1993 resulted in $1.5M judgment against Sugrue, not his Order. Dismissed from the priesthood in 2005. Included on the Little Rock diocese's 9/10/2018 list, which noted one known victim. Living in FL in 2/2019. On the Baton Rouge diocese's list in early 2019. Included on the Atlanta archdiocese's list in 7/2022, where he is noted to have been assigned 1964-1965 and in 1987. Included in the 3/24/2023 GA PAC Report. Died in FL 8/4/2022.

Assignments:

BishopAccountability.org Assignment Record

Sources:

Fr. Armand J. Thibault

Order: SM
Ordained: 1985
Status: Convicted

Died: 08/13/2012
Diocese: Diocese of Portland ME

Sacred Heart Brother for 34 years, during which time he spent 21 years in Lesotho and Zambia. Ordained in 1985 for the Marists. Personnel file released in 12/2002. Criminal trial in 1993 in ME for sexual contact in 1992 with a child under age 14 (3 boys) and child endangerment (providing beer). Found not guilty on the sex charge and pleaded no contest to the other. Received treatment then was reassigned to Boston under restrictions. Retired. All privileges were removed in 1/2002. Died in 8/2012.

Assignments:

BA.org Assignment Record