22 Accused in This Diocese
- KFGO 12.13.09
- Hawaii Reporter 08.03.07
- Honolulu Star Advertiser 10.01.11
- SNAP Statement 06.07.12
- Las Vegas Review-Journal 06.20.12
- San Antonio Express News 06.21.12
- Garden Island 10.04.12
- KHON 2 10.04.12
- SNAP Statement 10.04.12
- Hawaii Reporter 10.15.12
- Dickinson Press 01.06.13
- SNAP Letter to Archbishop Vigneron 01.30.13
- Dickinson Press 05.04.13
- SNAP Statement 05.06.13
- Bismarck Tribune Obituary 10.06.17
- Diocese of Bismarck List 01.02.20
- BA.org Assignment Record
- Archdiocese of St Paul Statement 10.23.14
- MN SNAP Statement 10.23.14
- Bismarck Tribune 10.23.14
- Minnesota Public Radio News 10.23.14
- Anderson & Assoc Press Release 10.23.14
- Archdiocese of St Paul and Minneapolis 10.23.14
- Pioneer Press 10.23.14
- Star Tribune 10.23.14
- SafeCatholicSMP 10.23.14
- ND–SNAP Statement 10.23.14
- Diocese of Bismarck List 01.02.20
- AM 1100 01.04.21
- Grand Forks Herald 01.04.21
- Bismarck Tribune 02.20.21
- KFYR 04.05.21
Fr. Earl J. Becwar
Named publicly as accused by the diocese on its list 1/2/20. Allegations substantiated. Died 9/5/91.
Fr. Norman J. Dukart
Transferred to Crosby ND in 1999; told Parish then of his history of sexual abuse. Parish council met with Bishop Zipfel. Bishop would not remove him. Seemed to be saying Dukart had been in therapy and had been cured. Many parishioners left the parish, returning only after Dukart was removed in 3/02. Sexually abused three boys decades prior. No criminal charges due to the statute of limitations. On the diocese's list 1/2/20. Allegations substantiated. Included in the ND A.G.'s report in 1/21. Abuse allegedly occurred in the 1970s, involving two children. Living in 2021 in Dickinson, near a preschool.
Fr. Father Frank
A man filed suit in 12/09 in federal court alleging that "Father Frank," a priest assigned to St. Joseph Church and School in Mandan, ND, abused and raped him on multiple occasions between 1955-1957, when he was an altar boy.
Sources:
Fr. Theodore F. Gustin
Parish priest. Held chancery positions, including as long-time Tribunal official. Named publicly as accused by the diocese on its list 1/2/20. Allegations substantiated. Faculties permanently removed 6/18/02. Died 12/27/06.
Fr. Eugene J. Haspert
Named publicly as accused by the diocese on its list 1/2/20. Died 7/3/79. Allegations reported after his death. Substantiated.
Fr. Victor J. Heinen
Named publicly as accused by the Bismarck diocese on its list 1/2/20. Allegations reported after his death. Substantiated. Died 6/24/53. Added to the Conception Abbey Benedictines list in 4/20.
Fr. Donald W. Hill
Named publicly as accused by the diocese on its list 1/2/20. Allegations substantiated. Faculties permanently removed 1/6/03. Died 11/21/04.
Fr. Michael T. Krank
Named publicly as accused by the diocese on its list 1/2/20. Allegations substantiated. Faculties permanently removed 3/11/04. Died 11/28/10.
Fr. John Herman Kuhn
Named publicly as accused by the diocese on its list 1/2/20. Allegations substantiated. Died 3/15/06.
Fr. Hugh C. McGovern
Named publicly as accused by the diocese on its list 1/2/20. Allegations reported after McGovern's death. Substantiated. Died 7/22/88.
Fr. Maurice G. McNeely
Ordained for the Diocese of Bismarck. Military chaplain at Ft. Shafter in HI 1974-77. A man filed suit fall 2011 in HI against McNeely and the Bismarck diocese alleging abuse in 1976 while McNeely was chaplain and he was an altar boy. Suit said he forced the boy to perform oral sex on him. Settled in 4/13. Worked at Holy Family Catholic Academy in Honolulu 1987-2001 and then in Las Vegas. Retired and living in MI in 2012. A woman claimed he abused her late husband in ND in the 1960s. New suit in HI 10/12. On Bismarck diocese's list 1/2/20. Allegations substantiated. Died 7/29/17.
Sources:
Fr. Charles Meyer
Named publicly as accused by the Bismarck diocese on its list 1/2/2020. Died 12/16/1997. Added to the La Crosse diocese's list 2/5/2020, where was assigned at some point to St. Rose Convent. Included 2/7/2020 on the Diocese of Wichita's list, where he worked 1948-1951. Added in 6/2020 to the St. Cloud diocese's list, where he was pastor of St. Lawrence in Rush Lake 1966-1985. On the Cincinnati archdiocese's list in 2/2022. Meyer died 12/16/1997.
Assignments:
Sources:
Fr. Odo Muggli
Assumption Abbey Benedictine in Richardton. Included in the ND Attorney General's report in 1/21. Allegedly abused a minor, ages 13-17, beginning in 1971. A.G. found probable cause to prosecute, but not possible due to the statute of limitations. The investigation found that the Abbey and Diocese received a report in 1991 of the allegations against Muggli. Per the Abbey, Muggli has since been on a "safety plan," working in the Abbey's business office and not in ministry.
Fr. Frederic J. Nelson
Named publicly as accused by the diocese on its list 1/2/20. Allegations substantiated. Faculties permanently removed 2/20/84. Died 8/13/88.
Fr. John J. Owens
Ordained for Diocese of Bismarck, where he worked 1960-99. Fill-in for Archdiocese of St. Paul-Minneapolis near Forest Lake 1999-2004, despite Bismarck's removal of faculties in 2002. First named publicly as accused by the St. Paul- Minneapolis archdiocese on its list 10/23/14, for abuse in the Bismarck diocese. Living in Forest Lake, MN. Faculties removed in 2005 by St. Paul-Minneapolis. Ordered by Vatican to a life of prayer and penance. St. Paul-Minneapolis said it was not aware of any substantiated claim in the archdiocese. On the Bismarck diocese's list 1/2/20. It notes faculties permanently removed 4/13/10. Allegedly abused boys In the late 1960s or early '70s, along with Rev. Armour Roberts, after giving them alcohol. Owens had brought the three boys, who were high school freshmen, to visit Roberts in Leipzig. Died in 10/20.
Assignments:
Sources:
Fr. James W. Pommier
Personnel file showed numerous allegations in 1960s and 1970s. Pommier left the Bismarck diocese in 1977 without permission of the bishop. Began working in Seattle at some point until 1985 when his faculties were removed by the archbishop. His Bismarck faculties were removed in 1990. May have later worked in MT. The Diocese announced in 3/2008 that the Vatican had laicized Pommier for "ecclesiastical crimes against youth." Lived in WA until his death 1/28/2012. At least four settlements. Name included on the Seattle archdiocese's list 1/15/2016. On Bismarck's list of those with substantiated allegations 1/2/2020.
Fr. James E. Reardon
Named publicly as accused by the diocese on its list 1/2/20. Allegations substantiated. Faculties permanently removed 4/16/02. Died 3/11/07.
Fr. Aloysius P. Simon
Named publicly as accused by the Bismarck diocese on its list 1/2/20. Allegations substantiated. Faculties permanently removed 6/18/85. Included on the Diocese of Crookston's list, where he worked 1977-78. A news article in 1989 places Simon in San Luis Obispo, CA. Died 10/31/91 in CA.
Fr. Michael A. Spegele
Named publicly as accused by the Bismarck diocese on its list 1/2/20. Allegations made after his death. Substantiated. Died 3/16/98. Added to the La Crosse diocese's list 2/5/20, where he was assigned at some point to St. Francis Hospital. Added to KC-St Joseph list as of 4/21, one substantiated allegation in the diocese noted. Included on the Cincinnati archdiocese's list in 2/22.
Fr. Laurence R. Talty
Named publicly as accused by the Bismarck diocese on its list 1/2/20. Died 8/22/89.
Fr. Robert Wuest
Named publicly as accused by the Bismarck diocese on its list 1/2/20. Allegations made after his death. Substantiated. Died 3/26/88.
Sources:
Fr. Stephen R. Zastoupil
Removed 3/02 from parish assignment because of 'misconduct' involving two children 31 years prior. He received years of counseling and reconciled with the families and victims. Counseling discontinued when bishop determined it was no longer necessary. He was removed under the diocese's revised policy 3/20/02. No criminal charges filed. Died 7/2/18. Included on the diocese's list 1/2/20.