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| Report Shows Credible Child Sexual Abuse Allegations against Multiple Boise Priests
By Kelsey Grey and Ruth Brown
Idaho Statesman
October 21, 2019
https://www.idahostatesman.com/news/local/crime/article236504968.html
Fifteen Catholic priests and one deacon who worked at or were associated with the Diocese of Boise have been credibly accused of sexual abuse of a minor since the 1950s, according to a report released Monday by the Diocese.
Those priests have since been removed from the ministry. The cases date back to 1950, and were reported as recently as 2018. Six of the 15 priests were clergy members of the Diocese of Boise, while nine were from other dioceses but were at one point assigned to Boise.
Since 1950, more than 300 priests have served in the Diocese of Boise.
The cases were presented to the Diocesan Review Board for Sexual Abuse of Minors in 2002. The Diocese of Boise informed law enforcement “in appropriate cases where the alleged perpetrator was known to be alive,” according to the report.
The list comes three weeks after The Associated Press published an investigation of clergy members nationwide who have been credibly accused of child sexual abuse. The Boise Diocese was one of just 10 dioceses nationwide that as of Sept. 28 had not said whether they would release lists of the names of priests and other church employees accused.
The list includes W. Thomas Faucher, the retired St. Mary’s Catholic Church priest who pleaded guilty last year to possessing child pornography. On Saturday, the Vatican formally cut its ties with Faucher and he was laicized, the Statesman reported.
The Statesman most recently received an updated list of abuse claims in 2018.
DIOCESE OF BOISE CLERGY (1950S TO CURRENT)
Simmons, Donald (Deceased)
Incidents, 1950, ‘56
Reported, 2002
Later, Morris (Deceased)
Incidents, 1960s and 70s
Reported, 2003
Kuiper, Michael (Deceased)
Incident, 1974
Reported, 1994
Worsley, James
Incidents, 1976-1981
Reported, 1992
Left Idaho, laicized. Diocese to where he relocated was informed.
Gould, William (Deceased)
Incident, 1981
Reported, 2010
Howell, Robert “Rap” (Deacon)
Incident, 2002
Reported, 2004
Possession of Child Pornography. Served prison sentence, Laicized
Faucher, W. Thomas
Incident, 2018
2018 Convicted of Possession and Distribution of Child Pornography. Imprisoned, Laicized.
RELIGIOUS ORDER PRIESTS (1960S TO CURRENT)
Cornelius (McKenna), John
Seminarian, Ordained for Seattle Archdiocese
Incidents, 1968, 1970, 1971, 1973
Reported, 2001
Left Diocese of Boise to be ordained elsewhere in 1970s. Seattle Archdiocese took action.
Meunier, Luke (Deceased)
Diocesan priest from Canada
Incident, 1971
Reported, 1993
Kuiper, Michael (Deceased)
Diocesan priest from Canada
Incidents: 1971
Reported: 1993
McSorley, James
Religious Order
Incident, 1972
Reported, 2004
Left Idaho in 1975. His religious order was notified, but his whereabouts are unknown.
Schuck, Martin (Deceased)
Diocesan priest from New York state.
Incidents, 1974-76
Reported, 2003
Baltazar, Carmelo Melchior (Mel)
Philippine Diocese of Metolos
Incidents, Late 1970s and 1985
Reported, 1985
Imprisoned, 1985
Garcia, Ruben
Incardinated in Diocese of Tijuana, Mexico
Incidents, 1980s
Reported, 1991
Imprisoned
Connolly, Thomas
Religious Order
Incidents, Early 1980s
Reported, 2012
Permanently removed from ministry, resides in another state. Incidents were reported to his home diocese and Religious Order.
O’Grady, Peter (Deceased)
Religious Order
Incidents: 1984 and 1985
Reported: 2003
Arockiam, Francis
Order from India
Incidents: 1996
Reported: 1996
Expelled from Diocese back to home in India.
Correction: A previous version of this story said that Boise’s Diocese was one of six nationwide that had not said whether they would release lists of accused priests and church employees. In fact, it was one of 10 nationwide.
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