List of clergy with substantiated claims of abuse
Definitions:
Child:
Any person under 18 years of age.
Child or Vulnerable Adult Abuse:
Causing or attempting or threatening to cause harm to a child’s or vulnerable adult’s health or welfare, to include damage to the physical or emotional/psychological health and welfare of a child or vulnerable adult, resulting from non-accidental physical or mental injury, incest, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, molestation, or repeated negligent treatment or maltreatment.
Cleric:
A person ordained for service in the Roman Catholic Church.
Complaint:
An allegation of child or vulnerable adult abuse or sexual abuse of a child or vulnerable adult by personnel that is received by the Diocese and contains sufficient detail to identify the alleged abuse and the alleged abuser(s). A complaint may include allegations of a violation of the Code of Conduct’s prohibition on behavior by personnel that constitutes grooming. A form for written complaints is attached as Appendix A.
Life of Prayer and Penance:
A cleric who has been sentenced canonically to a life of prayer and penance has been permanently removed from engaging in public ministry and is obligated to live alone in prayer.
Religious Order Allegation:
An allegation of sexual abuse of a child or vulnerable adult by a member of a religious order who, at the time of the alleged abuse or at the time the allegation is made, works, teaches, ministers, or resides within the Diocese. The allegation may assert a violation of the Code of Conduct’s prohibition on behavior by a member of a religious order that constitutes grooming.
Removed from the Clerical State:
A cleric is removed from the clerical state if the Holy See has returned the cleric to a status essentially equivalent to that of a lay person. Practically speaking, a cleric who has been removed from the clerical state is prohibited from saying Mass, hearing confessions (except in certain extreme circumstances), administering the sacraments, wearing clerical garb, presenting himself as a cleric, using the title “Father” or “Reverend,” or otherwise exercising sacred ministry in the Church. This is sometimes referred to colloquially as being “laicized.”
Vulnerable Adult:
A person who is impaired by reason of mental illness, mental deficiency, physical illness, or disability to the extent that he or she lacks sufficient understanding or capacity to make or communicate responsible decisions concerning his or her person or to manage his or her affairs effectively.
List of diocesan priests with substantiated claims of abuse
Rev. John Aurelio
Birth: 1937 | Death: 8/26/2009
Ordination: 1966
1 or more Allegations: +
Status: Removed from ministry 1993
Rev. Ramon Aymerich
Birth: 1948 | Death:
Ordination: 1975
1 or more Allegations: +
Status: Left Catholic Church 1982; Episcopal priest
Rev. Donald W. Becker
Birth: 1942 | Death: 2/15/2022
Ordination: 1967
1 or more Allegations: +
Status: Deceased
Rev. Ron Baker
Birth: 1945 | Death: 1/21/2009
Ordination: 1972
1 or more Allegations: 1
Status: Deceased priest of the Diocese of Trenton
Rev. David M. Bialkowski
Birth: 1961 | Death:
Ordination: 1988
1 or more Allegations: +
Status: Removed from ministry 2011; Case sent to Rome
Rev. Robert J. Biesinger
Birth: 1931 | Death: 7/22/2012
Ordination: 1956
1 or more Allegations: +
Status: Removed from ministry 1994; deceased
Rev. Richard John Bohm
Birth: 1933 | Death: 10/22/1984
Ordination: 1965
1 or more Allegations: +
Status: Deceased
Msgr. George Brennan
Birth: 1921 | Death: 1/31/2006
Ordination: 1949
1 or more Allegations: +
Status: Deceased
Rev. Gerald P. Collins
Birth: 1927 | Death: 6/8/1995
Ordination: 1954
1 or more Allegations: +
Status: Deceased
Rev. Robert Patrick Conlin
Birth: 1931 | Death: 12/9/1997
Ordination: 1956
1 or more Allegations: +
Status: Deceased
Rev. Paul R. Coppola
Birth: 1923 | Death: 11/17/2006
Ordination: 1951
1 or more Allegations: +
Status: Deceased
Rev. James H. Cotter
Birth: 1916 | Death: 7/14/1991
Ordination: 1950
1 or more Allegations: +
Status: Deceased
Rev. Richard C. Crumlish
Birth: 1921 | Death: 4/15/2006
Ordination: 1945
1 or more Allegations: +
Status: Deceased
Rev. Louis S. Dolinic
Birth: 1940 | Death:
Ordination: 1966
1 or more Allegations: +
Status: Removed from ministry 2018; Case sent to Rome
Rev. John S. Doyle
Birth: 1903 | Death: 1/3/1977
Ordination: 1929
1 or more Allegations: +
Status: Deceased
Rev. Daniel G. Duggan
Birth: 1923 | Death: 1975
Ordination: 1948
1 or more Allegations: +
Status: Deceased
Rev. Donald S. Fafinski
Birth: 1941 | Death:
Ordination: 1966
1 or more Allegations: +
Status: Life of Prayer and Penance; Removed from ministry 2003
Rev. Douglas F. Faraci
Birth: 1943 | Death:
Ordination: 1969
1 or more Allegations: +
Status: Life of Prayer and Penance; Removed from ministry 2018
Rev. Ralph P. Federico
Birth: 1927 | Death: 2007
Ordination: 1952
1 or more Allegations: +
Status: Deceased
Rev. Frederick G. Fingerle
Birth: 1937 | Death: 1/25/2002
Ordination: 1963
1 or more Allegations: +
Status: Deceased
Rev. Michael R. Freeman
Birth: 1946 | Death: 1/17/2010
Ordination: 1972
1 or more Allegations: +
Status: Removed from ministry 1989; Deceased
Rev. Joseph Patrick Friel
Birth: 1932 | Death: 8/19/1995
Ordination: 1957
1 or more Allegations: +
Status: Removed from ministry 1992; Deceased
Rev. Mark McCormick Friel
Birth: 1934 | Death: 2/24/23
Ordination: 1963
1 or more Allegations: +
Status: Life of Prayer and Penance; Removed from ministry 2003
Rev. Dennis A. Fronczak
Birth: 1948 | Death: 10/6/2021
Ordination: 1975
1 or more Allegations: +
Status: Deceased; Removed from ministry 2015
Rev. Gerard Leo Green
Birth: 1928 | Death: 8/14/2012
Ordination: 1956
1 or more Allegations: +
Status: Deceased
Rev. Thomas Gresock
Birth: 1956 | Death:
Ordination: 1985
1 or more Allegations: +
Status: Removed from the clerical state
Rev. John P. Hajduk
Birth: 1949 | Death: 10/18/2021
Ordination: 1976
1 or more Allegations: +
Status: Removed from ministry 1994; awaiting judicial process
Rev. Michael J. Harrington
Birth: 1910 | Death: 12/19/1989
Ordination: 1942
1 or more Allegations: +
Status: Deceased
Rev. Brian M. Hatrick
Birth: 1945 | Death:
Ordination: 1979
1 or more Allegations: +
Status: Life of Prayer and Penance; Removed from ministry 2007
Msgr. James Patrick Hayes
Birth: 1922 | Death: 11/29/1988
Ordination: 1946
1 or more Allegations: +
Status: Deceased
Rev. Louis J. Hendricks
Birth: 1936 | Death: 10/27/1990
Ordination: 1963
1 or more Allegations: +
Status: Deceased
Rev. Joseph Grant Higgins
Birth: 1926 | Death: 11/23/2016
Ordination: 1975
1 or more Allegations: +
Status: Deceased
Rev. Francis T. Hogan
Birth: 1921 | Death: 6/21/2010
Ordination: 1946
1 or more Allegations: +
Status: Deceased
Rev. Fred D. Ingalls
Birth: 1948 | Death:
Ordination: 1974
1 or more Allegations: 1
Status: Life of Prayer and Penance
Rev. Pascal D. Ipolito
Birth: 1944 | Death:
Ordination: 1970
1 or more Allegations: +
Status: Life of Prayer and Penance
Rev. Florian Anthony Jasinski
Birth: 1930 | Death: 12/19/1983
Ordination: 1957
1 or more Allegations: +
Status: Deceased
Rev. Gerald C. Jasinski
Birth: 1942 | Death:
Ordination: 1968
1 or more Allegations: +
Status: Removed from ministry 1986; laicized 1988
Rev. Richard P. Judd
Birth: 1924 | Death: 11/17/1988
Ordination: 1964
1 or more Allegations: +
Status: Deceased
Rev. Michael Juran
Birth: 1948 | Death:
Ordination: 1976
1 or more Allegations: +
Status: Removed from ministry 2018; awaiting judicial process
Msgr. Edward L. Kazmierczak
Birth: 1926 | Death: 2001
Ordination: 1951
1 or more Allegations:
Status: Deceased
Rev. Timothy James Kelley
Birth: 1947 | Death:
Ordination: 1978
1 or more Allegations: +
Status: Transferred to St. Petersburg Diocese 1983; faculties revoked
Rev. Thomas L. Kemp
Birth: 1927 | Death: 3/7/2019
Ordination: 1952
1 or more Allegations: +
Status: Removed from ministry 2004; Deceased
Rev. Richard J. Keppeler
Birth: 1929 | Death: 12/26/2011
Ordination: 1954
1 or more Allegations: +
Status: Removed from ministry 2003; Deceased
Msgr. Charles A. Klauder
Birth: 1880 | Death: 9/16/1972
Ordination: 1918
1 or more Allegations: +
Status: Deceased
Rev. Paul James Kowalewski
Birth: 1947 | Death:
Ordination: 1973
1 or more Allegations: +
Status: Left priesthood 1976; laicized 1977; Episcopal priest
Rev. John D. Lewandowski
Birth: 1932 | Death: 1/13/1982
Ordination: 1962
1 or more Allegations: +
Status: Deceased
Rev. Donald J. Lutz
Birth: 1944 | Death:
Ordination: 1970
1 or more Allegations: +
Status: Life of Prayer and Penance
Rev. Bernard M. Mach
Birth: 1938 | Death: 2/17/2004
Ordination: 1964
1 or more Allegations: +
Status: Removed from ministry 1993; Deceased
Rev. Louis Mako
Birth: 1934 | Death:
Ordination: 1962
1 or more Allegations: +
Status: Left Diocese 1972; retired in Vienna; case is in Rome
Rev. Loville N. Martlock
Birth: 1937 | Death: 12/26/2014
Ordination: 1963
1 or more Allegations: +
Status: Removed from ministry 2004; Deceased
Rev. Fabian J. Maryanski
Birth: 1941 | Death:
Ordination: 1971
1 or more Allegations: 1
Status: Removed from ministry 2018; Awaiting extra judicial process
Rev. Thomas J. McCarthy
Birth: 1941 | Death:
Ordination: 1980
1 or more Allegations: +
Status: Life of Prayer and Penance
Rev. Francis W. McKenna
Birth: 1901 | Death: 1/3/1977
Ordination: 1927
1 or more Allegations: +
Status: Deceased
Msgr. Joseph M. McPherson
Birth: 1909 | Death: 11/26/1982
Ordination: 1936
1 or more Allegations: +
Status: Deceased
Rev. Ronald Mierzwa
Birth: 1950 | Death:
Ordination: 1976
1 or more Allegations: 1
Status: Removed from ministry 2018; Case sent to Rome
Rev. Robert D. Moss
Birth: 1943 | Death: 3/29/2018
Ordination: 1969
1 or more Allegations: +
Status: Deceased
Rev. Terrence N. Niedbalski
Birth: 1939 | Death: 7/10/1997
Ordination: 1964
1 or more Allegations: +
Status: Removed from ministry 1975; Deceased
Rev. Basil A. Ormsby
Birth: 1912 | Death: 6/14/1997
Ordination: 1942
1 or more Allegations: +
Status: Deceased
Rev. Norbert F. Orsolits
Birth: 1939 | Death: 3/25/2021
Ordination: 1965
1 or more Allegations: +
Status: Removed from ministry 2003; Deceased
Rev. Daniel J. Palys
Birth: 1943 | Death:
Ordination: 1969
1 or more Allegations: +
Status: Removed from ministry 2018; Case sent to Rome
Rev. Martin L. Pavlock
Birth: 1939 | Death:
Ordination: 1966
1 or more Allegations: 1
Status: Life of Prayer and Penance
Rev. Michael Raimondo
Birth: 1877 | Death: Italy
Ordination: 1903
1 or more Allegations: +
Status: Deceased
Rev. Joseph P. Rappl
Birth: 1952 | Death:
Ordination: 1978
1 or more Allegations: +
Status: Left priesthood 1999; married
Rev. Leo F. Reddy
Birth: 1893 | Death: 1976
Ordination: 1938
1 or more Allegations:
Status: Deceased
Rev. David V. Roche
Birth: 1915 | Death: 6/28/2004
Ordination: 1942
1 or more Allegations: +
Status: Deceased
Rev. Roy K. Ronald
Birth: 1935 | Death: 10/28/2013
Ordination: 1960
1 or more Allegations: +
Status: Removed from ministry 1995; Deceased
Msgr. Joseph E. Schieder
Birth: 1908 | Death: 6/12/1996
Ordination: 1935
1 or more Allegations: +
Status: Deceased
Msgr. Ronald P. Sciera
Birth: 1934 | Death:
Ordination: 1961
1 or more Allegations: +
Status: Life of Prayer and Penance
Rev. Joseph A. Schuster
Birth: 1939 | Death: 7/23/2007
Ordination: 1966
1 or more Allegations: +
Status: Deceased
Rev. Gerald Paul Sheehan
Birth: 1938 | Death: 6/12/2006
Ordination: 1964
1 or more Allegations: +
Status: Deceased
Rev. Ronald T. Silverio
Birth: 1944 | Death:
Ordination: 1970
1 or more Allegations: +
Status: Removed from ministry; left the priesthood
Rev. Howard Bernard Slack
Birth: 1917 | Death: 8/18/1976
Ordination: 1959
1 or more Allegations: 1
Status: Laicized 1976; Deceased
Rev. Arthur J. Smith
Birth: 1945 | Death: 10/17/23
Ordination: 1971
1 or more Allegations: +
Status: Life of Prayer and Penance
Rev. Gerard A. Smyczynski
Birth: 1953 | Death: 8/12/1999
Ordination: 1980
1 or more Allegations: +
Status: Deceased
Rev. Clatus E. Snyder
Birth: 1907 | Death: 3/6/2001
Ordination: 1934
1 or more Allegations: +
Status: Deceased
Rev. James A. Spielman
Birth: 1944 | Death:
Ordination: 1970
1 or more Allegations: +
Status: Removed from clerical state; Removed from ministry 1993
Rev. Chester S. Stachewicz
Birth: 1940 | Death: 4/8/2010
Ordination: 1971
1 or more Allegations: +
Status: Removed from ministry 1982; Deceased
Msgr. William G. Stanton
Birth: 1924 | Death: 1/7/2004
Ordination: 1949
1 or more Allegations: +
Status: Deceased
Rev. Harry Richard Strassberger
Birth: 1917 | Death: 12/16/1999
Ordination: 1950
1 or more Allegations: +
Status: Deceased
Rev. Joseph E. Vatter
Birth: 1952 | Death:
Ordination: 1978
1 or more Allegations: 1
Status: Removed from ministry 2023; case sent to Rome (8/23)
Rev. Samuel James Venne
Birth: 1942 | Death:
Ordination: 1978
1 or more Allegations: +
Status: Life of Prayer and Penance; Removed from ministry 2018
Rev. Edward John Walker
Birth: 1906 | Death: 2/28/2002
Ordination: 1936
1 or more Allegations: +
Status: Deceased
Rev. William G. Ward
Birth: 1924 | Death: 12/2/2008
Ordination: 1950
1 or more Allegations: +
Status: Deceased
Rev. Charles J. Werth
Birth: 1928 | Death: 12/9/2017
Ordination: 1953
1 or more Allegations: +
Status: Removed from ministry 2004; Deceased
Rev. William F. J. White
Birth: 1942 | Death: 5/27/2016
Ordination: 1968
1 or more Allegations: +
Status: Removed from ministry 1993; Deceased
Rev. Mark James Wolski
Birth: 1942 | Death:
Ordination: 1967
1 or more Allegations: 1
Status: Removed from ministry 2018; awaiting judicial process
Rev. Robert W. Wood
Birth: 1947 | Death: 6/24/2019
Ordination: 1974
1 or more Allegations: +
Status: Deceased; Removed from ministry 2003
Recommendations from the Independent Review Board (IRB) from 2023 to present:
Rev. Daniel Palys | The IRB recommends that 3 allegations are substantiated and 2 are unsubstantiated.
Rev. Louis Dolinic | The IRB recommends that 1 allegation is substantiated and 1 is unsubstantiated.
Rev. Msgr. Peter Popadick | The IRB did not find the complaint against Fr. Popadick to have any merit whatsorever.
Rev. Joseph Vatter | The IRB recommends 1 allegation to be not substantiated and 3 to be credible but only 1 to constitute as sexual abuse of a child.
Rev. Patryk Sobczyk | The IRB recommends that there are no substantiated allegations of child sex abuse.
