Diocese of Santa Rosa CA - BishopAccountability.org

25 Accused in This Diocese

Fr. Anthony Bolger

Ordained: 1969
Status: Sued

Died: 01/7/2015
Diocese: Diocese of Santa Rosa CA

Ordained for Diocese of Santa Rosa. Reportedly placed on leave in 1978. Assigned the same year to St. Anthony's in Kailua, HI. Incardinated into the Diocese of Honolulu 6/18/1984. Accused of abusing a boy at St. Anthony's 1978-1981. Bolger was teacher at the school. Allowed to retire for 'medical' reasons in 2002. Civil suit filed 5/8/2013. Same plaintiff says he was abused by Bishop Ferrario while Ferrario was still a priest at St. Anthony's. Possibly named as accused (but not defendant) in original suit against Ferrario. Died 1/7/2015 in Tijuana, Mexico, where he had been living. On Santa Rosa diocese's list 1/12/2019. It notes he was accused in 1994 of abuse of a minor 1972-1973, and that Honolulu was notified in 1994. Accused in one or more lawsuits sometime between 2019-2022.

Assignments:

Hawaii Catholic Herald Obituary 01.30.15

Sources:

BishopAccountability Nature & Scope Article
Honolulu Star Advertiser 05.09.13
Worthy Adversary 05.09.13
Hawaii Catholic Herald Obituary 01.15.30
Honolulu Civil Beat 06.15.17
Diocese of Santa Rosa List 01.12.19
North Coast Journal 02.07.19
Press Democrat 12.16.22

Fr. John J. Brenkle

Ordained: 1958
Status: Cleared

Diocese: Diocese of Santa Rosa CA

Per 9/08 article, Brenkle was placed on leave in 2005 after a man complained that he had molested his 7th grade son in about 1995. Brenkle denied the allegation. He was investigated and exonerated by the diocese, then returned to ministry. Brenkle said he had a letter from the youth saying that nothing happened. Brenkle was chairman of the diocese's Lay Review Board.

Sources:

Fr. James F. Corley

Ordained: 1966
Status: Sued

Died: 10/5/1990
Diocese: Diocese of Santa Rosa CA

Accused in a lawsuit sometime between 2020-2022 of the sexual abuse of a minor. Plaintiff claimed Corley sexually assaulted him twice at age 7 in 1977 at Our Lady of Guadalupe in Windsor. Died of AIDS in 1990. Per his obituary, Corley was assigned to St. Eugene's 1966-67, St. Bernard's in Eureka 1967-71, Holy Spirit in Santa Rosa 1971-74. He was pastor of St. Anthony's in Mendocino 1974-77, administrator of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Windsor (1977-83) and pastor until 1989 of Our Lady, Queen of Peace in Clearlake.

Sources:

Fr. John S. Crews

Ordained: 1971
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Santa Rosa CA

Executive Director of Hanna Boys Center in Sebastopol beginning 1984. Resigned 2/6/13 after report of an inappropriate relationship with a minor male 1971-75. Prior to Hanna Boys Center, Crews was assigned to St. Sebastian's in Sebastopol and St. Joseph's in Cotati. Alleged victim is deceased; matter reported by his widow to Sheriff's office prior to notification to diocese. On diocese's list 1/12/19. It notes "no assignment" and that he retired in 2013. In 4/17 two men stated publicly that Crews sexually abused them when they were teenage Hanna Boys Center residents, one 1999-2001, the other 1984-1985. In 4/19 Crews was living in SC. Accused in new lawsuit(s) in 2022. Settlement in 2022 with a man who claimed abuse by Crews and other Hannah Center staff over three years, beginning when he was age 11.

Sources:

Fr. Patrick Gleeson

Donate Photo

Ordained: 1943
Status: Settled

Died: 04/15/1991
Diocese: Diocese of Santa Rosa CA

From Ireland. Ordained for Diocese of Sacramento. Incardinated into the Santa Rosa diocese when it was created in 1962. Retired 8/21/89. Died 4/15/91. A man filed civil suit 11/02 against diocese alleging abuse as a boy by Gleeson 1968-72, when Gleeson was pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Calistoga. Diocese said there were no previous accusations against Gleeson. Two cases settled in 6/05 as part of $7.3M deal with 8 people. On diocese's list 1/12/19. Suits filed by five men in 12/19 under the CA Child Victims Act, claiming abuse as altar boys.

Sources:

Fr. Patrick A. Hannon

Donate Photo

Ordained: 1949
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Santa Rosa CA

Named as accused on the Diocese of Santa Rosa's list 1/12/19. Noted to have been an order priest, without specifying. Accused in 2000 of abuse in 1981. Worked in the diocese 1980-81. Died in 1993.

Sources:

Diocese of Santa Rosa List 01.12.19

Fr. Michael Emmet Kelly

Ordained: 1971
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Santa Rosa CA

Named publicly as accused by the diocese on its list 1/12/19. Accused in 1999 of abuse occurring 1971-99. Suspended 10/24/99. Laicized 10/15/04.

Sources:

Diocese of Santa Rosa List 01.12.19

Fr. Donald Wren Kimball

Ordained: 1969
Status: Convicted

Died: 08/15/2006
Diocese: Diocese of Santa Rosa CA

Placed on leave 1990, accused of abuse of boys and girls. Civil suit settled 2000 for $1.6M. Other suits also settled. Convicted of child molestation in June 2002; sentenced to 7 years in prison for abuse of a 13 year-old-girl in 1981. Same trial found him innocent of raping another girl. Supreme Court overturned law under which he was criminally convicted. Laicized in 2002; died 9/15/06. Several settlements in 2005 and 2006. On diocese's list 1/12/19, noting allegations in 1990 of abuse in the 1980s. Suits filed in 12/19 under the CA Child Victims Act claiming abuse of two minors, ages 16 and 17.

Fr. Patrick Joseph McCabe

Donate Photo

Ordained: 1961
Status: Convicted

Diocese: Diocese of Santa Rosa CA

From the Diocese of Dublin, Ireland; abused there. Arrived in CA in 1983 (Santa Rosa, Sacramento and Stockton). Removed when parents complained of children sitting on his lap during confession. Faculties removed in 1987. Laicized in 1988. Found by Interpol in Alameda, CA in 2003; interviewed by Gardai in 2007. Arrested in 8/2010 for abuse of 6 boys in Ireland 1973-1981. Four US suits were filed in 9/2010. Three men settled in 3/2012 for $550K. Extradited to Ireland 6/5/2011. Sentenced in Ireland 3/2013 to 18 months in jail; released for time served. Subject of 21 complaints, per the Murphy Report. Included on the Santa Rosa diocese's list 1/12/2019, where he was assigned 1983 until his removal 2/27/1986. On the Santa Fe archdiocese's list 5/19/21, which notes he was at Via Coeli in 1982 and 1983, and at an Albuquerque parish in 1982.

Sources:

Fr. John A. Meenan

Donate Photo

Ordained: 1965
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Santa Rosa CA

Named publicly as accused by the diocese on its list 1/12/19. Accused in the 1960s, on leave 1971, laicized 5/23/75. Died 4/21/09.

Sources:

Diocese of Santa Rosa List 01.12.19

Fr. Francis E. Neville

Donate Photo

Ordained: 1973
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Santa Rosa CA

Named publicly as accused on the Santa Rosa diocese's list 1/12/19. Ordained of the Diocese of Colombo, Sri Lanka. Worked in Santa Rosa 1983-84. Accused in 1993 of abuse in 1983. Died in 10/02.

Sources:

Diocese of Santa Rosa List 01.12.19

Fr. Vincent O’Neill

Donate Photo

Ordained: 1972
Status: Settled

Died: 11/12/1998
Diocese: Diocese of Santa Rosa CA

In 9/96 five former altar boys accused O'Neill of abusing them when they were age 13 in the 1970s. O'Neill resigned two months later. Charges were leveled and church officials suspended him during investigation. Diocese settled with the five in 1/97 for an undisclosed sum. In 3/97 it was announced that O'Neill had a brain tumor and had only weeks to live. He died 11/12/98. On diocese's list 1/12/19. Accused in one or more lawsuits between 2019-2022.

Sources:

Fr. Francisco Xavier Ochoa

Ordained: 1969
Status: Indicted

Died: 11/30/2009
Diocese: Diocese of Santa Rosa CA

Full name Francisco Xavier Ochoa Perez. Ordained in Mexico for the Jesuits; began working in the Santa Rosa diocese in 1988, incardinated there 7/11/1991. Admitted in 4/2006 to a recent incident of sexual misconduct involving a boy; placed on leave in 5/2006. Admitted past history to bishop. Raped a 14-year-old boy when living in Carichi, Chihuahua, Mexico. Fled to Mexico before bishop reported to police. Others came forward to allege rape and molestation as children by Ochoa. Victims were former altar boys and girls. Two civil suits filed in 10/2006. Diocese and bishop settled with 10 plaintiffs in 9/2007 for a little over $5M. Federal arrest warrant issued 7/27/2008. Charged with 10 counts of forced sodomy and forced oral copulation. Never returned to the U.S. to face charges. Laicized 6/29/2009. Found dead in Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico 11/30/2009. On diocese's list 1/12/2019. Suit filed in 12/2019 under the CA Child Victims Act. Lawsuit(s) in 2022 allege abuse at the Hanna Boys Center.

Fr. Ted Oswald

Ordained: 1984
Status: Settled

Died: 07/4/2010
Diocese: Diocese of Santa Rosa CA

Oswald was a religious brother (Bro. John) of the Brothers of Our Lady of the Poor in Tucson 1976-1977 before entering seminary. He was ordained for the Diocese of Santa Rosa in 1984. In 6/1/2008, he said he was taking leave due to a 1/2/2008 civil suit which alleged he had sexually abused a teenage boy 1988-1995. Oswald denied the allegations. Permanently removed. Two plaintiffs settled in 3/2009 for $1.3M. A Vietnam vet, Oswald was a military and civilian policeman before becoming a priest. He testified in 1999 and 2000 that he had reported abuse by R. Trupia to his superiors in 1976 and provided written statements from his students. Died 7/4/2010. Included on the Diocese of Tucson's list of credibly accused. New suit in 8/2013. Suit settled 7/15/2014 for $3.5M. Included on the Santa Rosa diocese's list 1/12/2019. (It shows an erroneous death date.) Accused in one or more lawsuits between 2019-2022.

Fr. Xavier Pallathuparambil

Donate Photo

Ordained: 1952
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Santa Rosa CA

Named publicly as accused on the diocese's list 1/112/19. Ordained for the Diocese of Vijayapuram, India. Worked in Santa Rosa diocese 2/2/84 until he was dismissed 4/13/84. Died in India 5/29/04.

Sources:

Diocese of Santa Rosa List 01.12.19

Fr. Thomas G. Parker

Donate Photo

Ordained: 1985
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Santa Rosa CA

In 2007 a man told the diocese that he had been abused as a youth by Parker in 1988-89 at St. Apollinaris parish in Napa. In 9/07 Parker admitted to the abuse. Victim settled with the diocese for $215K in late 2008. Laicized 5/08. On diocese's list 1/12/19.

Sources:

SNAP Statement 12.23.08
Diocese of Santa Rosa List 02.08.19

Fr. John K. Rogers

Donate Photo

Ordained: 1976
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Santa Rosa CA

Rogers, noted religious scholar and former campus minister at Humboldt State University died by suicide 11/8/95 in Belgium upon being ordered back to the US to face accusations that he molested a 15-year-old boy in 1976. Suicide note declared innocence but said pain and embarrassment too much to handle. Accuser said he first complained in 1989 and again in 1995; he died of drug abuse about six years after Rogers' death.

Sources:

Fr. Jorge Hume Salas

Donate Photo

Ordained: 1994
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Santa Rosa CA

Placed on leave 1/99 after 4 men over 18 reported that they had been sexually accosted by Salas between 1996-1998. No criminal prosecution due to SOL. Later same year Salas himself filed suit alleging that he had been sexually abused and harassed by Bishop Ziemann of Santa Rosa. Suit settled for $535K 4/00 after Bishop admitted relationship and resigned. Salas remained priest but believed to have returned home to Costa Rica. Some doubt if Salas ever completed seminary.

Fr. Wilfred L. Sheehy

Ordained: 1960
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Santa Rosa CA

Ordained for the Pallotine Fathers in WI. Worked in Fargo ND until 1966. Taught for a year in Milwaukee, WI. Moved to the Diocese of Santa Rosa in Summer 1966. Retired 1989. Accused of sexually abusing a minor 1972-77. Died 10/21/14.

Sources:

Press Democrat Obituary 10.26.14
Press Democrat 04.17.19

Fr. Alfredo Sobalvarro

Donate Photo

Ordained: 1971
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Santa Rosa CA

Ordained for the Archdiocese of Washington DC. Worked in the Santa Rosa diocese 1972-76. Named publicly as accused on the Santa Rosa diocese's list 1/12/19. It notes he has been "out of ministry since 2003."

Sources:

Diocese of Santa Rosa List 01.12.19

Fr. Jerome Stack

Order: CPPS
Ordained: 1972
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Santa Rosa CA

Parish priest, high school and college instructor, state psychiatric facility chaplain in CA, and secretary general for six years for his order in Rome. Retired in 2017 to Mesa, AZ, where he assisted at local parishes. Removed from active ministry in 2019 after the Cincinnati Province of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood received an allegation that Stack sexually abused a minor in 1979. The order's review board deemed the allegation credible. Assigned to the Diocese of Santa Rosa 1971-1981. Included on the Archdiocese of Los Angeles list of accused in 12/21.

Documents:

Letter from CPPS Cincinnati Provincial to Santa Rosa Bishop 06.10.20

Sources:

St. George Parish 11.11.18
Archdiocese of Los Angeles List 12.21.21

Fr. Gary Timmons

Ordained: 1967
Status: Convicted

Diocese: Diocese of Santa Rosa CA

Founded Camp St. Michael in Leggett. Two 1994 civil suits alleged abuse by Timmons of 8 boys. Arrested 10/31/95 on 17 counts involving two victims. There were 18 others known but dropped because of statute of limitations. Admitted in 1970 diary entry to being a child molester. Sentenced in 9/96 to two concurrent 8-year prison terms. Released from prison in 2000. Laicized 5/15/01. Other civil suits filed in 2003 and 2007. On Sex Offender Registry. On diocese's list 1/12/19, noting he worked in the diocese 6/67-3/94. Diocese and camp were sued in 12/19 under the CA Child Victims Act, in two cases of abuse by Timmons. Living in Sacramento in 2019. Accused in new lawsuit(s) in 2022 of abuse at Hanna Boys Center in Sonoma Valley.

Fr. James E. Walsh

Ordained: 1943
Status: Accused

Died: 12/3/1993
Diocese: Diocese of Santa Rosa CA

Monsignor. Ordained for the Archdiocese of San Francisco. Incardinated into the Santa Rosa diocese when it was established in 1962. Died 12/3/93. Named publicly as accused by the diocese on its list 1/12/19. It noted that he was accused in 2005 of abuse in 1965. Assigned during the time in question to St. Helena's in St. Helena CA.

Sources:

Fr. Bernard Ward

Order: CPPS
Ordained: 1977
Status: Convicted

Diocese: Diocese of Santa Rosa CA

Left priesthood in 1979 or 1980. Went on to marry and have children. Became a radio talk show host. Indicted in 12/07 on federal internet child porn charges. His attorney said the images were for a book Ward was researching three to four years prior. He reportedly emailed child porn images to a woman who immediately turned him over to police and the FBI. Originally pled not guilty. Pled guilty in 5/08 to one count. Per 5/08 articles, abuse was alleged when he was an active priest. Sentenced 8/08 to seven-plus years. Released from prison in 12/14. On Santa Rosa diocese's list 1/12/19.

Fr. Ron Wiecek

Order: CPPS
Ordained: 1971
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Santa Rosa CA

Allegations made public in 1/10. Placed on leave. Per news reports, Wiecek's privileges were removed after accused of having "overzealously spanked" a boy in the 1970s while working in the Santa Rosa diocese, and he attempted to pick up a gay man about 30 years prior. Had been in Monterey for 20 years. Order recalled him to Ohio immediately. On Santa Rosa diocese's list 1/12/19.

Sources:

Our Database of Publicly Accused does not state or imply that individuals facing allegations are guilty of a crime or liable for civil claims. The reports contained in the database are merely allegations. The U.S. legal system presumes that a person accused of or charged with a crime is innocent until proven guilty. Similarly, individuals who may be defendants in civil actions are presumed not to be liable for such claims unless a plaintiff proves otherwise. Admissions of guilt or liability are not typically a part of civil or private settlements. For more information, see our posting policy.