Columbans / Society of St Columban – SSC

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Terry McKiernan February 27, 2021

10 Accused in This Religious Order

    Fr. Eamonn Byrne

    Order: SSC
    Ordained: 1953
    Status: Sued

    Died: 12/12/2015
    Diocese: Archdiocese of Chicago IL

    Born in Ireland. Spent most of career in the Philippines, beginning in 1957. In the U.S. for three years beginning in 1974 to develop Columban apostolate to the Filipino community. Accused in a 1992 lawsuit of abuse of a girl during a church outing in 1974. She claimed the abuse was reported to his superiors but no action was taken by them. Byrne retired to Ireland in 2007. Died 12/12/15.

    Fr. John F. Roche

    Order: SSC
    Ordained: 1956
    Status: Indicted

    Died: 05/8/2015
    Diocese: Archdiocese of Boston MA

    "Jack." Named publicly as credibly accused by the Columbans U.S. Province on its list in 2/22. Noted to have a single allegation against him, of abuse 1973-75. Per the Official Catholic Directory, Roche was assigned during the time in question to St. Patrick's in Stoneham, MA. He died in 2015.

    Fr. Brian Gallagher

    Order: SSC
    Ordained: 1952
    Status: Settled

    Died: 11/5/2014
    Diocese: Archdiocese of Boston MA

    From Ireland. Missionary in Japan, briefly back to Ireland, then sent to the U.S., reportedly due to abuse allegations in Japan. Died in 2014. Accused in two lawsuits, one filed in 2017 and one in 8/18, of the sexual abuse of two brothers when they were children, 1973-76. Gallagher was assigned at the time of the alleged abuse to St. Mark's in Dorchester MA, where the boys' mother worked. Settlement of one lawsuit in 11/21 in the high five figures. The suit also named Rev. John K. Connell. Included in 2/22 on the Columbans U.S. Province list of credibly accused. Two allegations noted, of abuse 1973-80.

    Fr. Thomas Glennon

    Order: SSC
    Ordained: 1979
    Status: Accused

    Diocese: Archdiocese of Omaha NE

    Named publicly as accused by the Omaha archdiocese on its list 11/30/18. Noted to have been an extern priest. Reports in 2018 to the archdiocese of abuse 1980-81. Retired, left NE in 2018. Included in 2/22 on the Columbans U.S. Province list of credibly accused. One allegation noted, occurring "pre-1990," and "restricted from public ministry" since 1992. Per the NE A.G.'s report in 11/21, Glennon admitted in 1991 that he had had sexual contact with males, including with a 16-year-old boy, while living in Taiwan in the 1980s. He lived at his order's headquarters in Bellvue NE 2009-2018, his ministry restricted. In 2018 he was moved out of state to a retirement facility, due to concerns that the Columbans' headquarters was used for high school retreats, and because his restrictions were violated by his involvement in a ministry regarding pornography awareness.

    Fr. Joseph B. Hanrahan

    Order: SSC
    Ordained: 1954
    Status: Accused

    Died: 05/29/1990
    Diocese: Archdiocese of Omaha NE

    Named publicly as credibly accused by the Columbans U.S. Province on its list in 2/22. A single allegation is noted, of abuse occurring in 1976. Hanrahan died in 1990. Per the Official Catholic Directory, he was assigned in 1976 to St. Columban in St. Columbans, NE.

    Fr. Francis J. Keaney

    Order: SSC
    Ordained: 1965
    Status: Accused

    Died: 05/13/2018
    Diocese: Archdiocese of Omaha NE

    Named publicly as credibly accused by the Columbans U.S. Province on its list in 2/22. Multiple allegations noted, of abuse occurring in the 1980s. Per the Official Catholic Directory, Keaney was assigned in the Philippines in the 1980s. (We are placing him in the Omaha archdiocese, where the Columban Fathers' foreign missions office was headquartered.) Keaney died in 2018 in Winchester, MA.

    Fr. Robert J. Lamby

    Order: SSC
    Ordained: 1975
    Status: Accused

    Died: 06/15/2002
    Diocese: Archdiocese of Omaha NE

    Named publicly as credibly accused by the Columbans U.S. Province on its list in 2/22. Multiple allegations noted, occurring in the 1970s. Per the Official Catholic Directory, Lamby was assigned in the 1970s to the Philippines, the Diocese of Buffalo NY and the Archdiocese of Boston MA. At some later point he became a U.S. Air Force chaplain. Placing him for now in the Diocese of Omaha, where the Province is headquartered. Lamby left the Columbans in 2000 and died in OH in 2002.

    Fr. Michael M. MacCourt

    Order: SSC
    Ordained: 1923
    Status: Accused

    Died: 12/1/1977
    Diocese: Diocese of San Diego CA

    From Northern Ireland, where he was ordained in 1923 then sent to the U.S. Worked at St Columban's in NE 1923-24 and St. Columban's in Silver Creek NY 1924-30. He then returned to Ireland on sick leave 1930-38. While there he worked in parishes and as a chaplain. Sent back to the U.S. in 1938. Known to have worked in CA, NY and Silver Creek NY, where he died in 1977. Named publicly as credibly accused by the Columbans U.S. Province on its list in 2/22 (name spelled "McCourt.") A single allegation is noted, of abuse in 1940. Per the Official Catholic Directory, MacCourt was assigned in 1940 to St. Columban's in San Diego CA.

    Fr. Seán John McGrath

    Order: SSC
    Ordained: 1954
    Status: Accused

    Died: 04/27/2018
    Diocese: Archdiocese of Los Angeles CA

    From Ireland. Ordained for the Columban Fathers (s.s.c.). Worked in the Philippines after ordination until about 1974, then in London, England until about 1984. Beginning in 1986 he spent ten years in Belize, after which he was sent to the United States. He returned to Ireland in 2014 and died 4/27/18. McGrath was named publicly as accused on the Los Angeles archdiocese's updated list 12/6/18.