Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity – SOLT

4 Accused in This Religious Order

Fr. Stephen Tarleton Dougherty

Order: SOLT
Ordained: 2003
Status: Convicted

Removed from active ministry in 12/11 after the Corpus Christi diocese received an allegation that Dougherty had engaged in sexual misconduct. His accuser filed a civil lawsuit 7/12/16, claiming Dougherty sexually abused her 2005-2011, beginning when she was age 7. Indicted in 6/16 charges of rape of a 13-year-old girl in 12/11. Pled not guilty. Judge declared a mistrial in 3/17 after jury deadlocked. Convicted at second trial 2/28/18, sentenced to 60 years in prison. Bishop Mulvey testified that a man told him in a letter that Dougherty sexually abused him at age 8. On diocese's list 1/31/19. On Fargo diocese's list 1/2/20, where he worked at some point. No known allegations there.

Assignments:

BA.org Assignment Record

Sources:

Fr. John M. Fiala

Order: SOLT
Ordained: 1984
Status: Convicted

Died: 07/20/2017
Diocese: Archdiocese of Omaha NE

Ordained for Omaha. Joined the SOLT Order 1996. Worked in NE, MO, KS, TX. Privileges removed in 10/08 after allegations of abuse in the San Antonio archdiocese. A 4/10 TX suit alleged Fiala raped a 16-year-old boy at least twice, at gunpoint, in 2007-08. In 4/10, Omaha said it knew in 2002 of his advances toward a minor in the mid-1980s. Indicted in 8/10 in TX. Arrested 9/3/10 in KS; returned to TX. Released on bail. Settlement of lawsuit with San Antonio and Omaha archdioceses, Corpus Christi diocese and Order in 01/2011. Arrested in Dallas 11/18/10 for trying to hire a hit-man to kill accuser. Convicted in Dallas on solicitation of murder 5/17/12. Sentenced to 60 years in prison. Died in 7/17. On Omaha archdiocese's list 11/30/18. It notes two victims. On Kansas City KS list 1/25/19. On Corpus Christi and San Antonio lists 1/31/19. The 11/21 NE A.G. report counts four known victims, one of whom died by suicide.

Assignments:

BA.org Assignment Record

Sources:

Fr. Edward J. Horan

Donate Photo

Order: SOLT
Ordained: 1987
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Corpus Christi TX

Named publicly as accused by the Corpus Christi diocese on its list 1/31/9. Retired 1996. Died 1997.

Sources:

Diocese of Corpus Christi List 01.31.19

Fr. Eckley Macklin

Order: SOLT
Ordained: 1995
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Corpus Christi TX

In Summer 2021 the Diocese of Cheyenne informed parishioners that Macklin,age 85, had been credibly accused of abusing a minor in the Diocese of Corpus Christi and was restricted from public ministry. Macklin worked in the Cheyenne diocese 2004-2015. He was ordained late in life, in 1995. The bio for a book of stories and poems he authored describes Eckley as "an African American folk singer....public radio host...park ranger...priest...college missionary to the American Indians in Wyoming." In 8/2024 Macklin's name appears on the Archdiocese of Hartford's list under "...credibly accused...residing in the Archdiocese of Hartford without permission."