Priests Who Worked in Yakima County over Decades Listed As Potential Abusers

By Tammy Ayer
Yakima Herald
December 8, 2018

https://www.yakimaherald.com/news/local/priests-who-worked-in-yakima-county-over-decades-listed-as/article_54d91392-fab0-11e8-82f4-0fe1b68853c9.html

FILE - This Dec. 1, 2012 file photo shows a silhouette of a crucifix and a stained glass window inside a Catholic Church in New Orleans. As U.S. Catholic bishops gather for an important national assembly, the clergy sex abuse crisis dominates their agenda. But it's only one of several daunting challenges facing the nation's largest religious denomination. While federal and state law enforcement agencies widen their investigations of abuse, the church finds itself with ever fewer priests and nuns in service. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Several priests who served at Catholic churches in Yakima County appear on a list released Friday of Jesuits with credible claims of sexual abuse of a minor or vulnerable adults.

The list includes Jesuits who are or were members of Jesuits West Province, the former California and the former Oregon Provinces, against whom a credible claim of sexual abuse of someone under age 18 or a vulnerable adult has been made, according to a news release. Jesuits West takes in Arizona, Alaska, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Washington.

“This list of Jesuits with credible claims of sexual abuse of a minor or vulnerable adult, dating to 1950, is being published as part of our province’s ongoing commitment to transparency and accountability,” the news release said.

“Inclusion on this list does not imply that the claims are true or correct or that the accused individual has been found guilty of a crime or liable for civil claims,” it said.

“In many instances, the claims were made several years or decades after the alleged events and were not capable of an investigation and determination.”

Jesuits with credible claims of abuse who served in the Yakima Valley are:

• Arnold R. Beezer, accused of sexual abuse of a minor in the 1970s. Beezer served at St. Joseph Church in Yakima from 1980-87. Beezer has been removed from ministry and lives at a retirement home for clergy in California.

• Francis C. Burrus, accused of sexual abuse of a minor in 1944 or 1945. Burrus served at Marquette High School in Yakima in 1931 and 1932. His status was listed as “dismissed?” and “circa 1950.”

Francis W. Callan, accused of sexual abuse of a minor from 1950-53. Callan served at Marquette High School from 1939-42. He died April 19, 1991.

• Paul F. Corkery, accused of sexual abuse of a minor from 1948-53, 1954, 1955-59, 1957-58. He served at St. Joseph’s Church from 1943-48 and died May 10, 1959.

• Francis E. Duffy, accused of sexual abuse of a minor from 1949-50, 1967-69, 1977-78. He served at St. Joseph’s Church from 1970-79, St. Peter the Apostle Church in Cowiche from 1979-88 and Holy Family Church in Yakima from 1988-90. He died Dec. 1, 1992.

• Henry G. Hargreaves, accused of sexual abuse of a minor from 1958-64, 1965-66, 1967-69, 1974, 1985, 1990-92. He served at Marquette High School from 1941-44. Hargreaves died Feb. 22, 2013.

• David G. King, accused of sexual abuse of a minor from 1966-70 and 1968-71. He served at Marquette High School from 1950-52 and again from 1953-55. King died July 31, 2002.

• John J. Morse, accused of sexual abuse of a minor in 1957, 1958-59, 1962-76, 1963-74 and 1966-73. He served at St. Joseph’s Church from 1973-79 and 1994-95 and at St. Patrick’s Church in Granger from 1981-82. Morse died Aug. 9, 2015.

• Charles A. Saalfeld, accused of sexual abuse of a minor from 1974-78. He served at Marquette High School from 1949-56. Saalfeld died March 6, 1978.

• Arnold L. Custer, no years on when he was accused of sexual abuse of a minor provided. He served at Marquette High School from 1936-39. Custer died March 2, 1969.

Anyone who has felt victimized by a Jesuit should contact Mary Pat Panighetti, advocacy coordinator for Jesuits West, at 408-893-8398, along with law enforcement and child-protective agencies.

Also, the Catholic Diocese of Yakima operates a hotline for victims to report abuse. That number is 888-276-4490.