Josephites / St Joseph’s Society of the Sacred Heart

21 Accused in This Religious Order

Fr. Joseph L. Brown

Order: SSJ
Ordained: 1948
Status: Accused

Died: 12/21/1985
Diocese: Archdiocese of Baltimore MD

Died in 1985. Named publicly as accused by the Archdiocese of Baltimore on its list in 12/2024. The list notes that Joseph was accused in 2023 and 2024 by two different people. Each said they were abused by the priest in the early 1950s. Brown appears to have spent much of his priesthood in Louisiana.

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Fr. John F. Byrne

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Order: SSJ
Status: Accused

Died: 08/8/2014
Diocese: Diocese of Beaumont TX

Named publicly as accused by the Beaumont diocese on its list 1/31/19. Also known to have been assigned in the Archdiocese of New Orleans 1967-74. Removed from ministry in about 1981. Died 8/18/14. Included on the St. Augustine diocese's list 11/6/20. Noted to have abused there 1976-78.

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Fr. Brian M. Cox

Order: SSJ
Ordained: 1968
Status: Convicted

Diocese: Archdiocese of Baltimore MD

Ordained for the Josephites in 1968. Joined the Baltimore archdiocese in 1981. Parish priest; chaplain 1975-1978 at Archbishop Keough High School. Admitted in 1994 to a church secretary to touching the genitals of a 13-year-old boy. The secretary told others in authority, who did nothing. Another person she told in 1995 did tell the Archdiocese, who reported it to the State's Attorney's Office. No charges. In 1995 a complaint was made to the Archdiocese of sexual abuse of a boy, age 16, in 1981. Cox admitted only to "sexual talk" with the boy, and said he had made a sexual suggestion to another boy. All occurred during 1979-1985. Placed on permanent leave without privileges. Sent to St. Louis for treatment. Although the Archdiocese recommended he stay there to avoid charges, Cox returned to MD. Report in 2002 of abuse of a fifth-grade altar boy over six months in 1980. Arrested, charged with the abuse of two boys (the third and fourth reported victims), one of whom said he went to the Archdiocese in 1984 to no avail. Pleaded guilty. Sentenced to 15 months in jail and 5 years probation. Served 9 months. Included on the archdiocese's list in 2002. Laicized in 2003. Registered as a sex offender. Report in 2017 of abuse of an altar boy, age 10 or 11, in 1987-1988. Cox said he told a Church official sometime 1985-1990 about his "struggles" with pedophilia, whose response was "You're a fine priest. Don't worry about it." Included in the 4/5/2023 MD Attorney General's Report.

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Archdiocese of Baltimore List via Baltimore Sun 9.26.02

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Fr. John J. Coyne

Order: SSJ
Ordained: 1941
Status: Accused

Died: 06/4/1981
Diocese: Diocese of Baton Rouge LA

Named publicly as accused by the Baton Rouge diocese on its list in early 2019, noting an allegation received in 12/2002 of abuse 1968-1972. Coyne left the diocese in 1977. Also known to have worked in New Orleans in 1979. Died in 1981.

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Fr. Alfred A. Dean

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Order: SSJ
Ordained: 1989
Status: Settled

Diocese: Archdiocese of Baltimore MD

From the Bahamas. Assigned to St. Veronica in South Baltimore and then in 2000 to St. Francis Xavier in East Baltimore. Suspended in 2002 after allegations that he molested a 13-year-old boy in 4/2002 at St. Francis Xavier. Archdiocese said in 9/2002 that the allegation did not "appear...credible" but investigation revealed "significant issues of concern about...fitness for ministry with minors." He resigned and was placed on leave by his Order. One young man said in 8/2002 that Dean would "ride around Mount Vernon and pick up little boys" every Monday night. Indicted on criminal charges in 5/2003; charges dismissed by judge "at the request of the victim's family" in 12/2003. Settlement in 2004. Included on the Baltimore archdiocese's list. Included in the 4/5/2023 MD Attorney General's Report.

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Fr. N. Wilfred DesRosiers

Order: SSJ
Ordained: 1955
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Lafayette LA

Retired and living at a nursing home in Canada when accused in 2002 of sexually abusing four minors in the Lafayette LA diocese between 1967 and 1972. Was on leave of absence 1972-1973, then worked in TX for two years. Retired in 1975. The Order was investigating and had offered counseling to DesRosiers' victims. Note: Both the 1993 and 2002 Catholic Directories show him assigned to the Archdiocese of Baltimore. They also show his name spelled Wilfrid. Died in 2012.

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Fr. Richard R. Earley

Order: SSJ
Ordained: 1937
Status: Accused

Died: 02/11/1988
Diocese: Diocese of Richmond VA

Named publicly as accused by the Richmond diocese on its list 2/13/19. Noted to have been removed in 1988. Worked in a number of dioceses including Boston MA, New Orleans LA, Birmingham AL, and Natchez-Jackson MS. Died in 1988.

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Bishop Carl A. Fisher

Order: SSJ
Ordained: 1973
Status: Settled

Died: 09/2/1993
Diocese: Archdiocese of Baltimore MD

Named publicly as accused by the Baltimore archdiocese on its list 4/24/2019. It notes multiple allegations of abuse, occurring in the 1970s. Appointed auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles in 1987. Died in 1993. Included in the 4/5/2023 MD Attorney General's report, which shows reports of abuse of boys and girls, the youngest a 7-year-old boy and the oldest a 16-year-old girl. The abuse included rape, and sometimes payment to the children. The Baltimore Archdiocese knew in 1990 of Fisher's sexual involvement with young men. In 2003 Cardinal Keeler told Cardinal Mahony that he was aware in about 1995 that Fisher was accused of sexually abusing a minor. Two of the victims are known to have received settlements.

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Fr. John E. Hardman

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Order: SSJ
Ordained: 1944
Status: Accused

Died: 04/20/2007
Diocese: Archdiocese of Mobile AL

Named publicly as accused by the Archdiocese of Mobile on its list 12/6/2018. "Misconduct" noted to have occurred 1972-1978. Worked at some point at Most Pure Heart of Mary parish in Mobile. Also worked in New Orleans. On the Baton Rouge diocese's list in early 2019. In residence at some point at St. Catherine of Siena in Donaldsonville, LA. Hardman died in 2007.

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Fr. Anthony A. Keil

Order: SSJ
Ordained: 1927
Status: Accused

Died: 05/11/1969
Diocese: Archdiocese of Mobile AL

Born 8/12/1893, ordained in 1/1927. Died 5/11/1969. First named publicly by the Mobile archdiocese as credibly accused on its list 12/6/2018. (Name spelled 'Kiel'.) Worked in the 1950s at St. Joseph's in Maysville AL. Name included on the Galveston-Houston archdiocese's list 1/31/2019 (shows 'Kyles' as an alternate spelling.) Worked in Houston before his assignment in the Mobile archdiocese and again in the 1960s. As a Josephite, Keil's ministry was in African-American churches. Worked in Tampa FL in the 1930s and was transferred to Baton Rouge LA in 1938. Assigned to a New Orleans parish 1930-1931 and 1953-1955. In Tampa he was an organizer of the African-American Boy Scouts movement and a director of the Urban League.

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Fr. Timothy R. Lane

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Order: SSJ
Ordained: 1995
Status: Accused

Diocese: Archdiocese of Los Angeles CA

Accused of sexually assaulting an 18-year-old girl in 6/2006 just after she graduated from high school. The Archdiocese did not tell police until 9/2006, after it completed its own investigation. Lane was reportedly transferred to Missouri. No criminal charges filed due to insufficient evidence. Faculties removed. Named as accused on the Los Angeles Archdiocese's updated list 12/6/2018 of those accused of "sexual misconduct" with minors.

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Fr. Edward J. Lawlor

Order: SSJ
Ordained: 1940
Status: Accused

Died: 09/5/2012
Diocese: Archdiocese of Mobile AL

Named publicly as accused on the Mobile archdiocese's list 12/6/2018. (Name misspelled Lawler.) 'Misconduct' noted to have occurred in 1972. Doesn't say where. Had parish assignments in Birmingham and Mobile. Also worked in New Orleans 1961-1969 and 1989-2001. Died in 2012.

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Fr. Joseph LeFrois

Order: SSJ
Ordained: 1944
Status: Accused

Died: 04/2/1992
Diocese: Diocese of Baton Rouge LA

Named publicly as accused by the Baton Rouge diocese on its list in early 2019. It notes one allegation received in 9/1994, of abuse in the mid-1950s while assigned to Immaculate Conception in Plaquemine. LeFrois died in 1992.

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Fr. Phillip J. Linden

Order: SSJ
Ordained: 1969
Status: Accused

Diocese: Archdiocese of Baltimore MD

Name added to the Archdiocese's list of credibly accused in 6/2023. An allegation was reported in 8/2020 that Linden sexually abused a boy in the 1970s, while pastor of St. Francis Xavier in East Baltimore. Assigned in the archdiocese 1969-1986. Worked at Xavier University of Louisiana 1991-2018, where he helped found and then chaired the theology department .

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Fr. Arthur R. Maurer

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Order: SSJ
Ordained: 1947
Status: Convicted

Died: 11/29/1993
Diocese: Archdiocese of Baltimore MD

Maurer pleaded guilty in 1993 to federal charges of fondling a 12-year-old boy in 1992 on a cruise ship based in Port Canaveral, FL. Before the plea, he was sent to Toronto for treatment. He was apparently retired and living in Baltimore in 1992-1993, but the 1993 Catholic Directory shows he was affiliated with Galveston-Houston Diocese. He died in 1993. His obituary was in a Houston TX newspaper. Worked in New Orleans 1949-1958. Name included on the 9/2002 list from Archdiocese of Baltimore of religious priests and brothers accused of the sexual abuse of children. Mentioned in the 4/5/2023 MD Attorney General's Report.

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Fr. Patrick C. McCarthy

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Order: SSJ
Ordained: 1982
Status: Accused

Died: 12/18/1987
Diocese: Archdiocese of New Orleans LA

Accused of sexually abusing two brothers, both children of a single mother of 12 with schizophrenia. One of the brothers said he was introduced at age 15 or 16 to McCarthy by another priest who was sexually abusing them, Fr. Paul Oberg. In 1987 the older brother, then a young adult, had been recently discharged from the Army and was struggling. McCarthy invited the young man to stay in the rectory of Blessed Sacrament Parish, where he was pastor. In 12/1987 the young man murdered McCarthy at the rectory, alleging that McCarthy had been making sexual advances toward him. He involved his brother, telling him to grab an extension cord. Both were convicted and in 2025 are serving life sentences. They filed claims against the Archdiocese in its bankruptcy.

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Fr. Cyril Nwankwo

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Order: SSJ
Status: Accused

Diocese: Archdiocese of Los Angeles CA

Accused of abuse of a minor in 1997, per the 2004 Los Angeles Archdiocesan Report. Left the archdiocese in 1997. Added 5/6/2020 to the Diocese of La Crosse's list of those with substantiated allegations against them of abuse in another diocese; assigned at some point to St. Matthew's in Wausau.

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Fr. Paul J. Oberg

Order: SSJ
Ordained: 1985
Status: Sued

Diocese: Archdiocese of New Orleans LA

Religious brother prior to his ordination to the priesthood in 1985. Parish priest, high school teacher; reportedly certified in criminology, clinical counseling, drug abuse and alcoholism. Known to have been assigned in New Orleans LA, Port Arthur TX, Beaumont TX, Birmingham AL. Became involved in New Orleans with a family of 12 children whose single mother struggled with schizophrenia. Accused in a lawsuit of sexually abusing two of the boys, beginning when one was a young teenager and the other age 11, in 1979. Oberg's accusers also alleged sexual abuse by Fr. Patrick McCarthy, who was later murdered by the older brother, in 1987. Both brothers were convicted of murder and are serving life sentences. In 2025 Oberg is living in Washington D.C. where he is rector of a community of elderly Josephites.

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Fr. James W. Queren

Order: SSJ
Ordained: 1968
Status: Accused

Died: 08/29/1992
Diocese: Diocese of Lafayette LA

In 10/2021 three men in their 50s stated publicly that Queren repeatedly sexually abused them and "nearly a dozen" other boys when they were 10- and 11-year-old altar servers at Holy Family in Lawtell. The priest allegedly used them to recruit other boys, and tried to have them "do each other" in a group. At least one of them had come forward to the Diocese in 2018. Queren died in 1992.

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KLFY 10.06.21

Fr. Walter Dayton Salisbury

Order: SSJ
Ordained: 1959
Status: Convicted

Diocese: Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston TX

Worked many years in the Galveston-Houston archdiocese. Long-time TX Southern University Newman center chaplain. Taught at St. Tomas University, Alderian psychologist. Also worked in Washington DC and Mobile AL. Convicted twice on child sex charges. Pleaded no contest in 1979 to indecency with a child in Houston, TX, given three years probation. Kept in ministry. Surrendered to police in DC in 4/1993 after allegations that in 1/1993 he had sex with a boy he was tutoring. Sentenced to one year prison, suspended, and one year probation. Removed from ministry. Had also been accused in AL. Returned after 1993 to his native Bar Harbor, ME. On the Washington DC archdiocese's list 10/15/2018. On Galveston Houston's list 1/31/2019.

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BA.org Assignment Record

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Fr. Wayne E. Wigglesworth

Order: SSJ
Ordained: 1967
Status: Convicted

Diocese: Archdiocese of Chicago IL

Worked in the Baltimore area in the 1960s-1980s. Left the priesthood and married. Met his wife when she was teenager at church. Married her when her family learned she was pregnant at age 19. She found child pornography on his computer in 2007 and left him. He would visit her in a rehab center, where she lived after an auto accident in 2007. (She died as a result at age 49 in 2010.) Police warned him after he made improper calls to a 9-year-old boy he met at the center. Arrested in 8/2009 in Chicago after he was caught in a car with a 15-year-old boy he met online. More child pornography found. Pleaded guilty in 1/2011. Sentenced in 8/2012 to 10 years in prison and 10 years probation.

Josephites / St Joseph’s Society of the Sacred Heart – SSJ

21 Accused in This Religious Order

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