promisebanner

 

Archdiocesan Clergy with Substantiated Allegations of Sexual Abuse of a Minor

 


 

Content Layout

Video ABC

Message ABC

I am grateful to my predecessor Archbishop-Emeritus Robert Carlson for the work he has done in addressing allegations of sexual abuse within the Archdiocese of St. Louis. It is important work in supporting those impacted by abuse, to offer healing to the victims and families, and to ensure to the best of the Church’s ability that our parishes, schools, and ministries are providing a safe environment for the faithful of the Archdiocese of St. Louis. This work will continue to be a priority that I fully support in my ministry as Archbishop of St. Louis.

                            -   Most Reverend Mitchell T. Rozanski

                                Archbishop of St. Louis

 

Substantiated Claims List Release

July 26, 2019

Dear Friends in Christ,

Last September, I promised to publish the names of clergy who have had substantiated claims of sexual abuse of minors against them. Today, I am fulfilling that promise.

It will be painful for all of us to see the names of clergy accused of behavior we can barely allow ourselves to imagine. But publishing their names is the right thing to do.

For years, victims have carried the burden of the crimes committed against them. In talking with many of them, I have witnessed the devastating impact on their lives and the lives of their loved ones.

Publishing these names will not change the past. Nothing will. But it is an important step in the long process of healing. And we are committed to that healing.

This list, which is published below, is the result of a long and extensive investigation conducted by a third-party agency staffed with skilled investigators, formerly of the FBI and state law enforcement. The results were provided to the Archdiocesan Review Board—a board composed of a majority of lay members who are not employed by the Archdiocese of St. Louis. The Review Board produced the list and shared it with me for final review. I have accepted the results of this investigative process.

Please be assured that no priest or deacon of the Archdiocese of St. Louis against whom there has been a substantiated claim of sexual abuse of a minor is currently serving in ministry. Important facts regarding each member of the clergy who is named, including their status within the Church, are detailed on this list.

The list is also published in a special edition of our archdiocesan newspaper, St. Louis Review, and a copy of this edition is being circulated to most Catholic households in the Archdiocese of St. Louis, regardless of whether that household has a subscription. Additionally, the list is being shared with the Missouri Attorney General. The Archdiocese of St. Louis will continue to work in full transparency with the Attorney General’s office throughout its review of clergy personnel records, which is ongoing, to ensure that any new information regarding allegations of sexual abuse of minors by clergy is considered and handled appropriately.

I strongly encourage anyone who has yet to share their story of abuse to please come forward to the local and state authorities. I also ask that anyone who has knowledge of sexual abuse of minors or misconduct by a member of the clergy, an employee or volunteer of the Archdiocese of St. Louis, call the Office of Child and Youth Protection at 314-792-7704. The names of any additional clergy who are found to have substantiated claims of sexual abuse of minors against them, based on new information, will be added to this list.

The archdiocese has many resources in place to support victims. Numerous steps have also been taken to strengthen and enhance procedures to ensure that our children are protected.  More information about these initiatives and resources can be found on the Promise to Protect webpage.

I pray, and I ask you to pray with me, to our blessed Mother Mary: Mother of mercy, help us by your prayers. Help victims to heal. Help the Church to be purified. Help bishops and priests to repent, to return to Jesus with a purified faith, and become instruments of His salvation.

God continues to call all of us to Him through His Church. I ask all of you to join me in heartfelt prayer, with the Eucharist in mind, that this work will help bring peace to the victims and their families. I pray that He will help us all remain vigilant in righting past wrongs, fulfilling our Promise to Protect, and restoring trust in His Church, its leadership and His divine plan for salvation.

I pray that, in this moment, we will be rich in the healing power of Jesus, rise out of the darkness of this tomb, grow stronger in the light of His love and mercy, and praise Him unceasingly for His promise of eternal life.

 

Sincerely yours in Christ,

 

Most Reverend Robert J. Carlson

Archbishop of St. Louis

 Video Message from Archbishop Carlson


 

Important Highlights

No archdiocesan clergy member against whom there has been a substantiated allegation of sexual abuse of a minor is currently in ministry.

There have been no substantiated allegations of sexual abuse of a minor alleged to have occurred after 2002.

 

In keeping with the requirements of the Charter, any archdiocesan employee or volunteer (clergy or lay) who is found to have a substantiated allegation of sexual abuse of a minor is removed permanently from ministry and/or employment.

 


 

Content Layout

Text/HTML

ListRelease_BarGraph

Text/HTML

ListRelease_LineGraph

Text/HTML


 

List of Archdiocesan Clergy with Substantiated Allegations of Abuse

The archdiocesan clergy listed below have been found to have substantiated allegations, regarding either sexual abuse of a minor or child pornography, against them. For the purposes of this list, a “substantiated allegation” is an allegation that is determined to be more likely true than not true, based on all facts and data related to the case that are available and accessible. 

A characterization of an allegation in this list by the archdiocese as “substantiated” is not equivalent to a finding by a judge or jury that a cleric is liable or guilty for sexual abuse of a minor under civil or criminal law.

This list is a result of a long and extensive investigation conducted by a third-party agency staffed with skilled investigators, formerly of the FBI and state law enforcement. The results were provided to the Archdiocesan Review Board—a board composed of a majority of lay professionals who are not employed by the Archdiocese of St. Louis—which produced the list. The results of the investigation were accepted by Archbishop Robert Carlson.

The list is divided into four categories:

  • Clergy of the Archdiocese of St. Louis with substantiated allegations of sexual abuse of a minor
  • Clergy of the Archdiocese of St. Louis with substantiated allegations of sexual abuse of a minor, first allegation made after clergy death
  • Clergy from other dioceses (extern clergy1) who served in the Archdiocese of St. Louis and have substantiated allegations of sexual abuse of a minor
  • Clergy with substantiated allegations of possession of child pornography

 


 

List of Archdiocesan Clergy with Substantiated Allegations of Sexual Abuse of a Minor

No.   Last Name   First Name   Year of Ordination   Date of Death   Status 
1 Babka Robert H. 1968 2013 Removed from ministry; deceased
2 Beckman Dcn. Carl 1986   Removed from ministry
3 Beine James A. 1967   Removed from ministry; laicized
4 Brinkman Don G. 1967   Removed from ministry
5 Byrne Maurice 1943 1993 Deceased
6 Campbell John R. 1958   Removed from ministry
7 Campbell Michael A. 1979   Removed from ministry
8 Christian Norman H. 1961 2004 Removed from ministry; deceased
9 Cooper Thomas T. 1955 2003 Removed from ministry; deceased
10 Creason Hubert E. 1958 2006 Removed from ministry; deceased
11 Fitzgerald Alfred J. 1966   Removed from ministry
12 Funke James A. 1974   Removed from ministry; laicized
13 Ghio John J. 1980 2020 Removed from ministry, deceased
14 Goellner Glennon J. 1950 2007 Removed from ministry; deceased
15 Graham Thomas J. 1960 2019 Removed from ministry; deceased
16 Gummersbach James L. 1954 2014 Removed from ministry; deceased
17 Heck Donald H. 1963 2015 Removed from ministry; deceased
18 Hederman Kevin F. 1975   Removed from ministry
19 Heier Vincent A. 1977   Removed from ministry; retired
20 Huhn Bernard 1952 2000 Ministry restricted; deceased
21 Hummel Dcn. Fred 1986   Removed from ministry; laicized
22 Johnston Robert F. 1962  2021 Removed from ministry; deceased
23 Kaske John J. 1956   Removed from ministry; laicized
24 Keaty Jerome 1962 1999 Deceased
25 Kelley William A. 1977 2013 Removed from ministry; deceased
26 Kertz Louis 1948 1985 Deceased
27 Kopff Marvin C. 1963 2006 Removed from ministry; deceased
28 Kuchar Bryan M. 1993   Removed from ministry; laicized
29 Lessard Joseph P. 1952 2014 Removed from ministry; deceased
30 Lippert Alexander W. 1956 2000 Removed from ministry; deceased
31 Marquitz Robert 1964   Removed from ministry; laicized
32 McClintock Dennis J. 1973   Removed from ministry; laicized
33 McDonough Roger 1965 1985 Deceased
34 McGrath Michael 1974   Removed from ministry; laicized
35 Marschner Aloysius J. 1936 2004 Ministry restricted; deceased
36 Obmann Russell 1951 2000 Removed from ministry; deceased
37 O'Brien Joseph M. 1957 2012 Removed from ministry; deceased
38 Pavlik James J. 1963 2015 Removed from ministry; deceased
39 Rehme Albert A. 1956 2012 Removed from ministry; deceased
40 Ross Joseph D. 1969   Removed from ministry; laicized
41 Schierhoff Lawrence C. 1952 2008 Removed from ministry; laicized
42 Seidel Michael L. 1987   Removed from ministry; laicized
43 Straub Donald J. 1975   Removed from ministry; laicized
44 Toohey Michael W. 1967   Removed from ministry; laicized
45 Valentine Leroy 1977  2020 Removed from ministry; deceased
46 Westrich Keith M. 1981   Removed from ministry; laicized 
47 Wolken Gary P. 1993   Removed from ministry; laicized
48 Yim Robert J. 1974   Removed from ministry; laicized
49 Zacheis Dennis B. 1975   Removed from ministry


List of Archdiocesan Clergy with Substantiated Allegations of Sexual Abuse of a Minor that were first accused After Death 2

No.   Last Name   First Name   Year of Ordination   Date of Death   Status 
1 Blase' Francis 1941 1977 Deceased
2 Bockelmann Albert 1939 1975 Deceased
3 Condit John 1945 1994 Deceased
4 Craig Walter 1923 1971 Deceased
5 Duggan Vincent 1940 1984 Deceased
6 Galovich George W. 1971 2012 Deceased
7 McLain James 1957 1998 Deceased
8 O'Flynn Bernard 1917 1981 Deceased
9 Poepperling William 1934 1983 Deceased
10 Wieberg John 1918 1963 Deceased
11 Zimmer Ralph 1943 1981 Deceased

 

The clergy on this list had already passed away when the allegations against them were made. As such, these clergy did not have an opportunity to respond to the allegations or provide a defense.

 

List of Extern Clergy with Substantiated Allegations of Sexual Abuse of a Minor 3

 No.   Last Name   First Name   Year of Ordination   Date of Death   Status 
1 Ferraro Romano J. 1960   Removed from ministry; laicized
2 Frobas Victor A. 1966 1993 Removed from ministry; laicized; deceased
3 Fleming Mark 1980   Laicized
4 Lenczycki Frederick 1972   Removed from ministry; laicized
5 Roberts Kenneth J. 1966 2018 Removed from ministry; deceased
6 Stauber James F. 1959 2010 Removed from ministry; deceased

 

Extern clergy refers to clergy members that were not from the Archdiocese of St. Louis, but served in the Archdiocese of St. Louis for a period of time. 

The clergy on this list have substantiated allegations of sexual abuse of a minor that occurred in the Archdiocese of St. Louis or elsewhere.

 

List of Archdiocesan Clergy with Substantiated Allegations of Possession of Child Pornography 

 No.   Last Name   First Name   Year of Ordination   Date of Death   Status 
1 Grady James P. 1977   Removed from ministry; laicized
2 Hess John P. 1983   Removed from ministry
3 Vatterott William F. 2003   Removed from ministry; laicized

Promise To Protect

Visit the Promise to Protect homepage to learn more about the steps our archdiocese has taken and continues to take for the protection of children and vulnerable adults.

 

Promise To Protect Homepage Statements Resources FAQ 

Glossary of Terms Investigatory Process