11 Accused in This Religious Order
- Monastery of the Holy Spirit Newsletter 03.08.02
- Atlanta Journal Constitution 04.02.02
- WXIA TV (Atlanta) 04.25.02
- Atlanta Journal Constitution 06.12.02
- Atlanta Journal Constitution 10.25.03
- Archdiocese of Atlanta 11.06.18
- WSB TV 11.07.18
- Marietta Daily Journal 11.07.18
- Advocate 02.05.19
- The Advocate 02.27.19
- Diocese of Baton Rouge List 03.27.19
- Diocese of Tucson List of Accused Priests from Website
- Diocese of Tucson List of Accused Priests 08.05.11
- Diocese of Stockton Revised List 11.12.20
- Diocese of Fresno Directory accessed 06.08.21
- Tucson Citizen 09.13.02
- Associated Press 03.28.03
- Tucson Citizen 03.29.03
- Associated Press 05.03.03
- Tucson Citizen 06.10.03
- Arizona Daily Star 11.27.03
- Letter from Bishop Kicanas 02.27.04
- Tucson Citizen 12.07.06
- Tucson Citizen 05.24.07
- Marianists US Province List 06.24.20
- Belleville News-Democrat 07.06.20
- Birmingham News 11.02.93
- Birmingham News 11.30.93
- Arkansas Democrat-Gazette 12.30.93
- Arkansas Democrat-Gazette 06.07.95
- Associated Press 04.26.02
- Associated Press 10.08.03
- Diocese of Little Rock list 09.10.18
- Advocate 02.05.19
- The Advocate 02.27.19
- Diocese of Baton Rouge List 03.27.19
- Diocese of Baton Rouge List 03.27.19
- BA.org Assignment Record
- Monterey County Herald 06.06.03
- Monterey County Herald 01.28.04
- Bishop Ryan’s February Pastoral Letter 02.04.04
- RichardSipe site 04.17.07
- OC Weekly 12.07.07
- Monterey Herald 05.17.09
- KSBW 05.26.09
- Salinas Californian 05.29.09
- KSBW 05.29.09
- Monterey Herald 05.30.09
- Yuma Sun 06.01.09
- Arizona Daily Star 06.03.09
- Monterey Herald 07.19.09
- Monterey Herald 07.19.09
- Diocese of Monterey List 01.02.19
- KSBW TV 01.02.19
Fr. Clarence Biggers
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 1965-67. Biggers was transferred back to Atlanta in 1967. Began living in a monastery 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. Biggers died in 2009. On Atlanta archdiocese's list 11/6/18. On Baton Rouge diocese's list in 2019.
Sources:
Fr. Philip S. Gage
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. During 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. He was active in Baltimore in 2003 per unrelated news article. Possibly living in Atlanta area as of 2009. Per Marist website accessed 10/17, Gage was a Council of the Province member. On Wheeling-Charleston diocese's list in late 2018. Worked there at St. Vincent de Paul 1979-81.
Fr. James M. Johnston
A man came forward in 2004 to allege abuse by Johnston in the 1960s when he was a minor. Johnston worked at St. Louis King of France 1954-61. settlement $42K reached in 2004. Name is not included on either the original or the amended lists of credibly accused priests released by the Archdiocese on 12/2/13 and 02/17/14.
Fr. Lawrence Joseph Michaud
A woman wrote to Cardinal Law in 3/94, alleging that Michaud repeatedly abused her when she was 12-years-old in the late 1950s or early 1960s. He was assigned at the timme of the alleged abuse to St. Joseph's in Haverhill, MA. Living in Van Buren, ME when he died in 1990 at age 80. Omitted from the 2011 Boston AD database.
Fr. Thomas Patrick Purcell
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 1990 into the Diocese of Fresno. Faculties revoked 3/15/96. Name appeared in a 6/02 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 1982-84 as a visiting priest. Convicted in 2003 of abuse of a 13-year-old in 1982-83. Received a 9.5-year sentence. In 8/11, referred to by Tucson as a Diocese of Fresno priest suspended from ministry. Included on the Marianists' 6/24/20 list of accused. On the Stockton diocese's list 11/12/20, where he worked summer 1981 and 1/1-3/1 1982.
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Fr. Henry J. Rancourt
Accused anonymously in 1992 of "kissing and molesting Haitian boys" in his Boston parish school in 1992. On 6/27/09 the archdiocesan website showed him to have active status with an assignment at Marist House in Framingtham. In 4/12, attorney Garabedian announced a recent settlement of at least one claim involving Rancourt. Also worked in MI, NY and OH. Included in 1/21 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
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.
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Fr. Julian Edward Rondeau
Rondeau admitted in 1992-93 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. Omitted from 2011 Boston AD database.
Fr. Timothy Sugrue
Accused in 1992 civil suit of abusing a girl, age 8, and her sister in the 1970s at Air Force Base in AR. Sugrue did not testify; took the Fifth Amendment in deposition regarding involvement with children while working in Ohio, Georgia, Louisiana, Alaska and the Philippines. Resigned from Air Force in 1979 after investigation into allegations. Trial in 1993 resulted in $1.5 mil judgment against Sugrue, not Order. Dismissed from priesthood 2005. On Little Rock diocese's 9/10/18 list. It noted one known victim. Living in FL in 2/19. On Baton Rouge diocese's list in early 2019.
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Fr. Armand J. Thibault
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 12/02. Criminal trial in 1993 in ME for sexual contact in 1992 with child under 14 (3 boys) and child endangerment (providing beer). Found not guilty on sex charge and pleaded no contest to the other. Received treatment then reassigned to Boston under restrictions. Retired. All privileges removed in 1/02. Died in 8/12.
Fr. John Velez
Left El Paso TX diocese in 1990 under a cloud. In 1991 Monterey Diocese learned of the abuse of a youth by Velez and another priest, and met with the victim and his family. 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 2003 by this plaintiff. Accused of abuse in Monterey and Tucson. Monterey case settled 5/09 for $1.2M just before trial. On Monterey diocese's list 1/2/19. It notes he is deceased.