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 1965-67. 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. 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 12/02 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. Died 2/12/10. 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 4/20 in the mid-five figures.

Assignments:

Garabedian Law Offices Assignment Record

Sources:

Garabedian Law Offices Assignment Record

Fr. Merle Joseph Fisher

Donate Photo

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 1967-70. 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 11/26/01.

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. 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. Included on the Atlanta diocese's list in 11/20 which notes "Supervised by Order."

Sources:

Fr. Robert D. Huneke

Order: SM
Ordained: 1969
Status: Sued

Diocese: Diocese of Rockville Centre NY

Former Notre Dame rector. In 1980 a man reported to the diocese abuse by Huneke for years, starting when he was age 13. He also notified FL bishop where Huneke was working. FL sent him back to NY in 1982. Accuser went public in 1989 and again in 1993. Huneke left 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 Order that ran school; Huneke was fired. Huneke died in 2002. Identified as Priest M in the 2003 Suffolk Co. Grand Jury Report. Suit filed 10/18 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. On Rockville Centre diocese's list in 3/21.

Fr. James M. Johnston

Donate Photo

Order: SM
Ordained: 1954
Status: Settled

Diocese: Archdiocese of St. Paul & Minneapolis, MN

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 of $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.

Sources:

Fr. Lawrence Joseph Michaud

Donate Photo

Order: SM
Ordained: 1936
Status: Accused

Diocese: Archdiocese of Boston MA

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.

Assignments:

BA.org Assignment Record

Sources:

Docs produced by Boston Archdiocese: 1994 letter from Accuser
Boston Globe 11.05.90
Boston Globe 11.20.11

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 3/15/96. 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. Included on the Diocese of Fresno's list in 2021.

Assignments:

Sources:

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 6/27/09 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.

Assignments:

Sources:

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

Donate Photo

Order: SM
Ordained: 1945
Status: Accused

Diocese: Archdiocese of Boston MA

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.

Assignments:

Sources:

Fr. Timothy Francis Sugrue

Donate Photo

Order: SM
Ordained: 1963
Status: Settled

Diocese: Diocese of Little Rock AR

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 $1.5M 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. Included on the Atlanta archdiocese's list in 7/22, where he is noted to have been assigned 1964-65 and in 1987.

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 12/02. 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.

Assignments:

BA.org Assignment Record

Sources:

Fr. John Velez

Donate Photo

Order: SM
Ordained: 1988
Status: Settled

Diocese: Diocese of Monterey CA

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.

Assignments:

BA.org Assignment Record