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Update on the Sexual Abuse Crisis

List of Archdiocesan Clergy Credibly Accused of Sexual Abuse of a Minor or the Subject of Eligible IRCP Compensation Claims

Set forth below is a list of clergy of the Archdiocese of New York who have been credibly accused of sexually abusing a minor or possessing child pornography, or who were the subject of a claim made to the Independent Reconciliation and Compensation Program (IRCP) that was deemed eligible for compensation.  This list includes only archdiocesan clergy, which consists of bishops, priests, and deacons who were incardinated in the Archdiocese of New York.  It does not include priests belonging to religious orders or institutes, many of which have already released their own lists of accused priests, nor “extern” priests who were ordained in other dioceses. 

The inclusion of a cleric’s name on the list does not state or imply that he is guilty of a crime or liable for any civil claim.  The criminal justice system presumes that a person who has been indicted by a grand jury, or otherwise accused of or charged with a crime, is innocent until proven guilty. Similarly, a defendant in a civil action is not liable unless a plaintiff proves otherwise.  Where an allegation involving an archdiocesan cleric resulted in a civil settlement, there was not a finding of liability against the archdiocese or the cleric, as is typically the case with civil settlements.

The archdiocese has created a Review Board to assist it in determining whether allegations of sexual abuse of a minor are credible and substantiated, and whether or not accused clergy should be removed from ministry as a result.  A determination by the Review Board that an allegation is credible and substantiated, however, 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.  Likewise, the IRCP is a compensatory program and not an adjudicatory body.  As such, it is not required to adhere to the same standards as a court of law. 

The list below was first published on April 26, 2019, and was last updated as of May 28, 2021.  The Archdiocese of New York intends to update this list in the event that additional information is discovered or brought to its attention, or if additional allegations of sexual abuse of a minor are determined to be credible within the parameters set forth above.   In the event that any changes are made to the list, the revised, modified or updated list will be posted on the archdiocesan website.

Steps We Have Taken To Protect Children

In 2002, the Catholic Bishops of the United States adopted the Charter on the Protection of Children and Young People. The Charter led to a fundamental and comprehensive change in the way that the Church addresses sexual abuse of minors. The Charter requires that: all allegations of child sexual abuse be reported to law enforcement; every diocese have an independent review board to evaluate the legitimacy of these allegations; any priest who is found to have abused a child must be permanently removed from ministry; and every diocese must establish a safe environment program to implement preventive measures. It also requires that pastoral assistance be offered to all victims of abuse and that dioceses cannot demand that settlements of lawsuits be kept confidential.

The Archdiocese of New York has vigorously implemented the requirements of the Charter and, in fact, has adopted policies that are above and beyond the Charter.  When the archdiocese receives an allegation of child sexual abuse by archdiocesan clergy, the allegation is reported to law enforcement and the archdiocese fully cooperates with their investigation.  The archdiocese also conducts its own investigation, relying on outside investigators. The results of the investigation are presented to the archdiocese’s Review Board, which the archdiocese established to determine the credibility of sexual abuse allegations and make recommendations to the Archbishop as to the appropriate course of action. 

In keeping with the requirements of the Charter, anyone (clergy or lay) who is found to have committed sexual abuse of a minor is removed permanently from ministry and/or employment.  Cases involving priests are also sent to the Vatican so that the person can be removed from the clerical state (often called “laicized”).

How We Have Helped Survivors of Abuse

All victims of abuse who come forward are offered help.  In accordance with the Charter, the archdiocese has appointed a Victim Assistance Coordinator who provides pastoral care to victims of abuse. All victims are also offered professional counseling by a counselor of his or her choosing. The archdiocese pays for this counseling. Any victim, no matter how old the offense, is offered help.

In addition, in 2016 the archdiocese instituted the Independent Reconciliation and Compensation Program (IRCP), administered by Kenneth R. Feinberg, a highly regarded mediator who administered the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund, and his associate, Camille Biros.  The administrators of the fund have complete autonomy to determine compensation for victims who come forward with claims.  The IRCP is designed to help bring healing and reconciliation to victims of sexual abuse, no matter how long ago their abuse occurred. The IRCP has served as a model program to provide victims swift compensation, avoiding endless and costly litigation. To date, the IRCP has awarded compensation to over 350 individuals whom the administrators have determined are eligible under the program.

Important Highlights

  • No archdiocesan clergy ordained since the Charter’s adoption in June 2002 have been the subject of a credible allegation of sexual abuse of a minor. (Fig. 1)
  • Approximately three-quarters of credibly accused clergy were ordained between 1908-1969.  Most were ordained in the 1950s and 1960s. (Fig. 1)
  • Since the Charter’s adoption in June 2002, only one case of sexual abuse of a minor involving an active archdiocesan cleric has occurred that has been determined to be credible. (Fig. 2)  This case was handled by law enforcement, referred to the archdiocesan Review Board, and resulted in the priest being removed from ministry.
  • No archdiocesan clergy member against whom there has been a credible claim of sexual abuse against a minor is currently in ministry. 

Fig. 1, which was compiled upon the initial release of this list in April 2019, shows the year of ordination for archdiocesan clergy who were credibly accused of sexual abuse of a minor or the subject of eligible IRCP compensation claims.

Fig. 2, which was compiled upon the initial release of this list in April 2019, shows the years in which alleged sexual abuse of a minor occurred by archdiocesan clergy who were credibly accused or the subject of eligible IRCP compensation claims.

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The following archdiocesan clergy have been credibly accused of sexual abuse of a minor. 1  For purposes of this list, “credibly accused” means that archdiocesan officials have determined, following a review of available and accessible files, that one or more of the following exists:

  • the archdiocesan Review Board found the allegation to be credible and substantiated;
  • the accused was laicized or permanently removed from ministry as a result of the allegation;
  • the accused admitted the allegation;
  • the accused was convicted of a crime in connection with the allegation; or
  • there was a civil settlement as a result of the allegation prior to the creation of the Independent Reconciliation and Compensation Program.
No. Last Name First Name Year of Ordination DOD Status
1 Adamo Joseph 1942 2003 Removed from ministry; deceased
2 Albino John 1990 N/A Removed from ministry; laicized
3 Barjacoba Peter 1960 2012 Removed from ministry; deceased
4 Barry Edward M. 1973 N/A Removed from ministry
5 Betances-Torres Martin 1987 N/A Removed from ministry
6 Brennan Robert J. 1949 2008 Removed from ministry; deceased
7 Calabrese Daniel 1987 N/A Removed from ministry; laicized
8 Carbo Richard 1975 N/A Removed from ministry; laicized
9 Carden Robert 1957 2008 Removed from ministry; deceased
10 Carson David 1984 N/A Removed from ministry; laicized
11 Carson John F. 1964 2011 Deceased
12 Coen Charles 1968 N/A Removed from ministry
13 Colleran Kevin 1972 2016 Removed from ministry; laicized; deceased
14 Dickson Donald (Deacon) 1979 2005 Removed from ministry
15 Duenas Jaime 1950 2014 Removed from ministry; deceased; laicization process pending at death
16 Dwyer John 1956 2020 Removed from ministry; deceased; laicization process pending at death
17 Eremito Anthony J. 1967 N/A Removed from ministry; laicized
18 Fennessy Keith 1984 N/A Removed from ministry; laicized
19 Flanagan John D. 1973 N/A Removed from ministry; laicized
20 Florez Andrew 1993 N/A Removed from ministry; laicized
21 Gallant Alfred 1962 N/A Removed from ministry; laicized
22 Gallant John P. 1960 N/A Removed from ministry; laicized
23 Gentile Gennaro 1971 N/A Removed from ministry; laicized
24 Giuliano Anthony 1984 N/A Removed from ministry; laicized
25 Gorman Richard 1982 2018 Removed from ministry; deceased; laicization process pending at death
26 Harris Wallace 1972 N/A Removed from ministry
27 Hyland Raymond 1947 1995 Deceased
28 Inzeo Lawrence 1978 N/A Removed from ministry; laicized
29 Jesselli Kenneth 1984 N/A Removed from ministry; laicized
30 Kavanagh Charles 1963 N/A Removed from ministry; laicized
31 Kihm Peter 1981 N/A Removed from ministry; laicized
32 Kuhl Morgan 1993 N/A Removed from ministry; laicized
33 LaBelle Ralph 1978 N/A Removed from ministry; laicized
34 Lennon John W. 1955 2012 Removed from ministry; laicized; deceased
35 Leone Arthur 1956 2018 Removed from ministry; deceased; laicization process pending at death
36 Lynch John J. 1965 N/A Removed from ministry
37 Maguire Stephen 1987 N/A Removed from ministry; laicization process pending
38 Malone Donald T. 1960 2012 Removed from ministry; laicized; deceased
39 Manzione Arthur (Deacon) 1979 N/A Removed from ministry; laicized
40 Mazza Albert (Deacon) 1996 N/A Removed from ministry; laicized
41 McCarrick Theodore (Cardinal) 1958 N/A Laicized
42 Mills Henry 1988 N/A Removed from ministry; laicized
43 O’Hare Daniel M. 1965 N/A Removed from ministry
44 O’Herlihy Michael 1961 2013 Removed from ministry; laicized; deceased
45 O’Keefe John 1972 N/A Removed from ministry; laicized
46 Parrakow Edmond 1968 N/A Removed from ministry; laicized
47 Pfeiffer James 1970 2002 Removed from ministry; deceased
48 Pipala Edward A. 1966 2013 Removed from ministry; laicized; deceased
49 Quigley Patrick 1981 2010 Removed from ministry; laicized; deceased
50 Sardy John 1980 N/A Removed from ministry; laicized
51 Stinner Francis 1967 2017 Removed from ministry; laicized; deceased
52 Theisen Joseph 1959 2013 Removed from ministry; laicized; deceased
53 Tos Aldo 1953 2014 Removed from ministry; deceased; laicization process pending at death
54 Voglio John 1987 N/A Removed from ministry; laicized
55 Walsh James 1936 1998 Deceased
56 White William T. 1958 N/A Removed from ministry; laicized
 

1 Father Christopher Pliauplis was accused of sexually abusing a minor but was later found not guilty in a canonical judicial process mandated by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, or “CDF,” at the Holy See.  Monsignor William Williams, Monsignor Francis V. Boyle, and Father Robert Jeffers were accused of sexually abusing minors in claims that were determined to be credible and substantiated by the Review Board and deemed eligible for compensation by the IRCP. Subsequently, Monsignor Williams was found not guilty in a canonical judicial process mandated by the CDF; the claims against Monsignor Boyle were determined not to have a semblance of truth by the CDF; and the claims against Father Jeffers were found “not proven” by a canonical administrative penal process mandated by the CDF.  Two archdiocesan clergy, Father James McLucas and Deacon James Rush, were accused of inappropriate sexual conduct following assignments in the Diocese of Harrisburg in Pennsylvania and were suspended by the Archdiocese.  In Father McLucas’ case, the victim stated in a court filing that she was not a minor when the sexual activity occurred.

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The following archdiocesan clergy are awaiting final canonical or archdiocesan disposition of allegations against them.

No. Last Name First Name Year of Ordination DOD Status
57 Jenik John (Bishop) 1970 N/A Removed from ministry; allegation found credible and substantiated by archdiocesan Review Board; canonical process pending
58 McCarthy James F. (Bishop) 1968 N/A Removed from ministry; canonical process pending
59 McDonagh John 1981 N/A Removed from ministry; allegation found credible and substantiated by archdiocesan Review Board; canonical process pending
60 Meehan John 1964 N/A Removed from ministry; allegation found credible and substantiated by archdiocesan Review Board; canonical process pending
61 Taylor Samuel 1982 N/A Removed from ministry; allegation found credible and substantiated by archdiocesan Review Board; laicized; appeal of laicization pending
62 Timone Donald 1960 N/A Removed from ministry; allegation found credible and substantiated by archdiocesan Review Board; canonical process pending
 

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The following archdiocesan clergy do not meet the criteria set forth above, but the IRCP’s independent administrators have determined that claims against them were eligible for compensation. 2  In reviewing this list, it is important to note:

  • The clergy on the following list had already died or left ministry when the claims about them were made to the IRCP.  As such, these clergy did not have an opportunity to respond to the allegations made about them or provide a defense. 
  • While the IRCP is a widely praised program which is being emulated across the country, it is a compensatory program and not an adjudicatory body.  As such, it is not required to adhere to the same standards as a court of law.
  • A determination by the IRCP that a claim is eligible for compensation is not equivalent to a finding by a judge or jury that a clergy member is liable for sexual abuse of a minor under civil or criminal law.
  • Certain archdiocesan clergy members who are on the above lists were also the subject of eligible IRCP compensation claims.
No. Last Name First Name Year of Ordination DOD Status
63 Ansaldi Joseph 1962 2015 Deceased
64 Brady John J. 1908 1950 Deceased
65 Brennan Charles B. 1936 1986 Deceased
66 Carroll Maurice 1956 1998 Deceased
67 Cassiero Daniel 1968 2009 Deceased
68 Clyne Vincent 1945 2013 Deceased
69 Connolly Eugene 1954 1995 Deceased
70 Croston Daniel 1968 1994 Deceased
71 Cullen Bernard 1930 1960 Deceased
72 Cunningham Thomas 1935 1956 Deceased
73 D’Argenio Herbert 1959 1996 Deceased
74 Dobransky Edward 1959 2017 Left ministry; deceased
75 Dougherty Daniel M. 1927 1978 Deceased
76 Fitzgerald Joseph 1923 1977 Deceased
77 Flaherty John 1945 1971 Deceased
78 Fox Vincent 1954 1994 Deceased
79 Gaffney Thomas 1950 2004 Deceased
80 Gerathy Kenneth 1954 2013 Deceased
81 Gibbons Thomas 1955 2017 Left ministry; deceased
82 Golden Matthew 1936 1987 Deceased
83 Greene William 1929 1976 Deceased
84 Harrington John M. 1945 2009 Deceased
85 Haverty John 1936 1980 Deceased
86 Heide Herman 1941 1997 Deceased
87 Hickey Joseph 1956 2014 Deceased
88 Hicks Eugene 1952 1986 Deceased
89 Kearns Walter 1961 1985 Deceased
90 Kelly Kevin 1956 2008 Left ministry; deceased
91 Kelly Stephen 1977 1993 Deceased
92 LeBar James 1962 2008 Deceased
93 Logue Francis 1968 1981 Deceased
94 Lott Robert 1965 2002 Deceased 
95 Mangan Eugene 1958 1997 Deceased
96 Marino Umberto 1954 2004 Deceased
97 Martin Patrick H. 1937 1983 Deceased
98 Mathews Stanley 1946 1993 Deceased
99 McDonagh Charles 1963 1999 Deceased
100 McGirr Charles 1930 1949 Deceased
101 McNeill Lawrence (Deacon) 1973 2006 Deceased
102 Melican Mortimer 1951 2002 Left ministry; deceased
103 Murdock George 1917 1961 Deceased
104 Murphy Arthur E. 1919 1959 Deceased 
105 Netter Edmund 1951 1998 Deceased 
106 O’Brien Edward J. 1962 2002 Deceased
107 O’Brien William B. 1951 2014 Deceased 
108 O’Connell Kenneth 1956 1984 Deceased 
109 Parsons Harold 1929 2002 Deceased 
110 Phillips Thomas 1942 2000 Deceased 
111 Quinn Lawrence T. 1967 2004 Deceased 
112 Reinheimer George 1950 2010 Deceased 
113 Roos Edward 1966 2015 Deceased
114 Ryan Joseph 1938 1968 Deceased 
115 Shine Raymond 1953 1991 Deceased 
116 Sullivan Daniel J. L. 1933 1977 Deceased 
117 Sullivan Paul 1950 2005 Deceased 
118 Taglienti Vincent 1953 1990 Deceased 
119 Weckbach Joseph (Deacon) 1977 1995 Deceased 
120 Whelan Donald 1957 1987 Deceased 
121 Wilkinson John 1948 2005 Deceased 
122 Wolf Casper 1938 1972 Deceased
 

2 In six situations, the IRCP awarded compensation to victims who were unable to identify accused priests by name, where the identity of accused priests could not be conclusively determined, or where the IRCP determined that it could not assign culpability to the accused priest.

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