Third Order Regular of St Francis – TOR

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Terry McKiernan February 27, 2021

17 Accused in This Religious Order

Fr. Cletus Adams

Order: TOR
Ordained: 1941
Status: Accused

Died: 12/31/1996
Diocese: Diocese of Rapid City SD

Member of T.O.R community in Hollidaysburg PA. Per PA Grand Jury Presentment 3/15/16, accused of molesting a little girl 1972-80 in Rapid City, SD. Bishop Dimmerling moved him to another parish due to the accusation and released him from diocese 1984. Adams worked in PA 1941-68, VA 1968-70, SD 1972-83. Returned to PA 1971-72, then 1984. In 1993 wanted to teach children piano lessons. T.O.R Provincial Giles Schinelli denied the request after reviewing Adams' file, writing "it is best he is now on our list of retired friars." Adams died 12/31/96. On Rapid City diocese's list in 3/19.

Assignments:

PA GJ Presentment 03.15.16

Sources:

Br. Stephen P. Baker

Order: TOR
Status: Settled

Died: 01/26/2013
Diocese: Archdiocese of St. Paul & Minneapolis, MN

Teacher/trainer/coach in MN, MI, VA, PA. Molested boys and girls when giving massages for injuries. Removed in 2000 after MI allegation; under supervision. First known abuse in MN 1977; reported 2003, settled 2005. Settlement 2012 of Order and JFK HS with 11 men re 1980s abuse announced 1/16/13. Baker died by suicide 1/26/13. Diocese knew of allegations in 2009. Allegations in 2011 re Bishop McCort HS in Johnstown PA. Multiple lawsuits. $8M settlement with 88 survivors announced 10/21/14. PA AG announced charges vs 3 TOR Franciscans responsible for Baker's assignments: Giles A. Schinelli, Robert J. D'Aversa, Anthony M. Criscitelli. Rev. Bradley Baldwin, TOR suspended pending investigation of his supervisory role. Included on St. Paul-Minneapolis archdiocese's list of credibly accused in 10/14. Diocese and TORs settled 28 claims in 9/16 for $900k. Charges v Schinelli dismissed on SOL 10/17. D'Aversa and Criscielli pled no contest 5/18; fined and 5 years probation. Probation for D'Aversa and Criscitelli ended early, in 9/21. New suit 8/18. Baker's name on Youngstown diocese's list 10/29/18.

Assignments:

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Fr. Martin Alfred Brady

Order: TOR
Ordained: 1956
Status: Settled

Died: 03/19/2003
Diocese: Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown PA

Named in a 2/05 lawsuit. Accused of abuse of 16-year-old boy in late the 1970s, when Brady was his teacher at Bishop Carroll High School in Ebensburg. Also worked in MN, VA and WV. Reportedly removed from ministry in 1972. Died in 3/03 in the Wheeling WV diocese. (The plaintiff in the 2/05 suit had become a priest; the diocese placed him on leave after he filed suit; he resigned from active priesthood in 4/06.) A second man came forward in 2012 to report a confidential settlement with the Order and Barry Robinson High in 2003 and 2004. Diocese refused to settle. Brady's name is included on the Richmond diocese's list 2/15/19.

Assignments:

GJ Presentment 03.15.16

Sources:

Fr. Michael L. Brennan

Order: TOR
Ordained: 1950
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Saint Cloud MN

On 1/03/14 the Diocese of St. Cloud released the names of 33 clergy, including Brennan, who were "likely involved in the sexual abuse of minors." Brennan was assigned in the diocese to Holy Family in Belle Prairie 1958-62, and Our Lady of the Angels Boarding School 1958-68. Appears to have left ministry after 1968.

Assignments:

BA.org Assignment Record

Sources:

Fr. Gervase Cain

Order: TOR
Ordained: 1957
Status: Charged

Died: 05/12/2018
Diocese: Diocese of Arlington VA

Taught in PA schools, pastor of PA and WV parishes, taught at St. Francis University in Loretto PA for 20 years, VP there 1976-83. Retired to Franciscan retirement facility in Frederick County VA. Arrested 7/26/17, charged with taking indecent liberties with a child by a person in a custodial or supervisory relationship. Complaint was said to have first been filed in 2003 of abuse by Cain of a 15-year-old girl, at her home in Fairfax. First reported in 2004, later withdrawn, reopened in 5/17. Cain died 5/12/18.

Sources:

Fr. Anthony Michael Canu

Donate Photo

Order: TOR
Ordained: 1955
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Saint Cloud MN

On 1/03/14 the Diocese of St. Cloud released the names of 33 clergy, including Canu, involved in incidents of likely claims of sexual abuse of minors. No information on the parish where the abuse occurred or when it occurred. Worked at Our Lady of he Angels Boarding School, Belle Prairie. Added to the Richmond diocese's list 6/27/19. It notes that Canu was removed in 1973, was laicized, and died in 2019.

Assignments:

BA.org Assignment Record

Sources:

Fr. Simeon Daniel Mulkern

Order: TOR
Ordained: 1966
Status: Indicted

Died: 08/4/2016
Diocese: Diocese of Steubenville OH

Named publicly in 4/2019 by Franciscan University of Steubenville as credibly accused, after the University's review of cases of unwanted sexual advances against students by clergy since the late 1960s. Mulkern died in 2016.

Sources:

Fr. James H. Greenwell

Donate Photo

Order: TOR
Ordained: 1955
Status: Accused

Died: 07/14/2012
Diocese: Diocese of Austin TX

Named publicly as accused by the Austin diocese on its list 1/31/19. Included on the Tulsa OK diocese's list of credibly accused 10/2/19. Died 7/14/12.

Assignments:

Diocese of Austin Assignments

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Fr. Reginald M. Krakovsky

Order: TOR
Ordained: 1952
Status: Sued

Died: 07/14/1997
Diocese: Diocese of Saint Cloud MN

Sometimes spelled Krakowsky. Correct spelling of last name is Krakovsky per his gravestone and obituary. Worked in OR, MN, PA and in multiple overseas assignments. A man filed suit in the mid-1990s alleging he was sexually molested by Krakovsky 1961-1964 at a Little Falls parish. A news article refers to four other victims. Suit names St. Cloud Diocese and the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. Archdiocese denied it was responsible because Diocese was an independent entity. Living at Monastery in Altoona in 1995. Died 7/14/97 in PA. Name included on St. Cloud's 1/3/14 list. It gave no information as to where or when the abuse occurred. It did show he was the local superior of St. Louis Monastery in St. Cloud and was at Cathedral High School. On the St. Paul and Minneapolis list in 10/14. Included on Harrisburg PA diocese list 8/1/18. On Wheeling-Charleston diocese's list late 2018; there 9/91-4/92.

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Fr. Kenneth LaPan

Order: TOR
Ordained: 1952
Status: Accused

Died: 12/5/2019
Diocese: Diocese of Saint Cloud MN

Member of T.O.R. Franciscan community in Hollidaysburg PA, Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown. Worked in PA 1953-59, including as Boy Scout chaplain. In MN 1959-84, returning to PA 1984. Per the PA Grand Jury Presentment 3/15/16, LaPan was investigated in 1984 in MN for giving a car and money to an 18-year-old male; it was discovered LaPan sexually molested altar boys. Local church official told St. Cloud Bishop Speltz in a letter that the County Attorney would not press charges "out of respect for the Parish and Priesthood." LaPan's Order also received the letter. He was allowed to stay in ministry in PA. Retired. Living in 2016 at T.O.R. monastery in PA. Died in 12/19.

Assignments:

PA GJ Presentment 03.15.16

Sources:

Fr. Conrad McGuire

Order: TOR
Ordained: 1976
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Steubenville OH

Also called John. Named publicly as credibly accused by Franciscan University in 4/2019. "Friar John McGuire, formerly Father Conrad McGuire." Laicized in 1988.

Sources:

WTOV TV 04.12.19

Br. Christian Neetz

Order: TOR
Status: Accused

Died: 10/12/2002
Diocese: Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown PA

Per 3/15/16 PA Grand Jury Presentment, Neetz raped a child in the 1950s while assigned to Highland Hall in Hollidaysburg, as reported by the victim in 2009. The report said further that the victim was abused by other members of the T.O.R. Franciscans years later. Neetz worked also in VA, MD, DC, OH, and FL. He died 10/12/02.

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Fr. Michael Scanlan

Order: TOR
Ordained: 1964
Status: Sued

Died: 01/7/2017
Diocese: Archdiocese of Newark NJ

Took the name Theophane Scanlan upon ordination. Longtime president of Franciscan University of Steubenville. Leader in the Charismatic Renewal movement. Died in 2017. Accused in a lawsuit filed in 2020 of sexually abusing a boy, age 9, in 1978. The abuse allegedly occurred at a People of Hope (Charismatic community) gathering at St. Antoninus Parish in Newark, NJ, and on multiple other occasions when Scanlan would visit the NJ parish. The boy and his mother and brothers were living in the parish rectory. Scanlan has also been accused of covering up for credibly accused priest Samuel Tiesi, T.O.R.

Documents:

Plaintiff v St. Antoninus Church et al 12.17.20

Sources:

Fr. Samuel Tiesi

Order: TOR
Ordained: 1963
Status: Accused

Died: 06/12/2001
Diocese: Diocese of Steubenville OH

Named publicly as credibly accused by Franciscan University in 4/2019. Accused of the sexual abuse of young female college students. Died in 2001.

Sources:

Fr. Raymond Waldruff

Order: TOR
Ordained: 1953
Status: Sued

Died: 03/25/1985
Diocese: Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown PA

Named in Altoona-Johnstown 3/16 GJ report. Per report, abused boy 1964-67 in Altoona diocese and monastery in Hollidaysburg. Allegations 5/16 that Waldruff raped a teen boy in Altoona, bribing him with alcohol, money and cars, and making him dress as a woman. Sent to KY 1967. Suit filed 4/02 alleging abuse by Waldruff of boy, age 11, around 1968, in Owensboro. Accuser and his parents told bishop; sent for treatment, reassigned. Transferred to WV in 1972. Sent to MA for treatment 1976. May have abused in Worcester MA, where he was sent 1979. Living in NY 1980. Dismissed by Order 1983. Died 3/25/85. On Wheeling-Charleston diocese's list in late 2018. On Owensboro's list 4/12/19, noting five allegations, two substantiated.

Assignments:

Sources:

Fr. Adalbert Wolski

Order: TOR
Ordained: 1958
Status: Accused

Died: 01/3/2012
Diocese: Diocese of Saint Cloud MN

On 1/03/14 the Diocese of St. Cloud released the names of 33 clergy, including Wolski, with claims of sexual abuse of minors. Cathedral High School in St. Cloud appears to be his only assignment in the diocese. Spent time in Paraguay in the 1960s. Died 1/3/12 at St. Bernardine Monastery in PA, age 80. Included on the St. Paul and Minneapolis archdiocese's list in 10/14. Named in PA AG's 3/15/16 Grand Jury Report. Per report, abused 3 boys, ages 10-11,1963-67, at an Altoona PA parish. Said to have taken little boys into parish offices and fondled their genitals. Bishop Adamec and T.O.R. Provincial Giles Schinelli learned of allegations in 1991. Robert D'Avdersa, T.O.R. and Adamec assigned Wolski to hospital ministry. Schinelli, D'Aversa and Anthony M. Criscitelli, T.O.R. were criminally charged 3/15/16 with child endangerment and conspiracy related to the Wolski case and other T.O.R. Franciscan child sex abusers under their supervision. On Wheeling-Charleston list late 2018; there 1990-91.

Assignments:

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Fr. Gabriel Zeis

Order: TOR
Ordained: 1980
Status: Indicted

Diocese: Diocese of Trenton NJ

Director and chaplain of Princeton University's Catholic campus ministry and Diocesan Vicar for Catholic Education in 9/2019 when accused of sexually abusing a minor in 1975, prior to ordination. Denied the allegation. Resigned. On 6/16/2020 the TOR Province of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus announced that investigations by the Attorney General and Order could not substantiate the allegation and deemed it not credible. Zeis was to be reinstated.

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