Database of Publicly Accused

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Total Individuals: 37

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Fr. John F. Bench

Donate Photo
Ordained: 1964
Status: Accused

Died: 06/6/2009
Diocese: Diocese of Charleston SC

Ordained for the Pittsburgh diocese. Relocated to Charleston diocese in 1980. Resigned from Holy Cross Parish in Pickens at request of Bishop in 12/93 after accusations that he had molested a girl. In 2000 he asked to be reinstated and transferred to FL. Child's parents were consulted and strenuously objected. Bishop then denied request. Died 6/6/09 in FL. On diocese's list 3/29/19.

Fr. Juan Carlos Castano-Mejia

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Order: CO
Ordained: 1991
Status: Convicted

Diocese: Diocese of Charleston SC

Priest of The Congregation of the Oratory of St. Philip Neri in Ipiales, Colombia. Arrived in the U.S. in 1999; investigated before being granted visiting priest status. Arrested and indicted in 4/02 on charges that he abused a 4-year-old girl in 2000. She told her brother who told another relative. Incident was not reported to the diocese until 2002. In 4/03, he admitted fondling the child and was sentenced to 2 years in jail, 2 years probation, and required to pay restitution. There may have been similar allegations in South America. On Charleston diocese's list 3/29/19. Deported after release from prison. On the Charlotte diocese's list 12/29/19.

Fr. Eugene L. Condon

Ordained: 1956
Status: Convicted

Died: 05/24/2014
Diocese: Diocese of Charleston SC

Indicted in 7/96 on charges of 1970s abuse of minor. Resigned immediately after Diocese learned of charges and allowed "early retirement" without privileges. Ordered not to be alone with minors. Police also found child porn in his possession. In 4/98 he received 5 years probation for committing lewd acts with boys in 1970s. Arrested again in 1/06 on similar charges. Retired in 2006. Charges dropped in 2/09 because victim's extensive legal, mental and sobriety issues did not allow him to testify. Died 5/24/14. Buried 05/28/14. On diocese's list 3/29/19.

Fr. Raymond DuMouchel

Ordained: 1956
Status: Charged

Died: 09/10/2006
Diocese: Diocese of Charleston SC

Retired in 1999. In 11/02, Charleston police charged the 78-year-old with sexually molesting two girls while working at city churches and a local hospital in the1950s. Third accuser came forward 2/03. Charges dropped in 2005 because of DuMouchel's dementia and inability to contribute to his own defense. Died 9/10/06. On diocese's list 3/29/19. Named in a lawsuit against the diocese filed by a man who claimed that the diocese knew DuMouchel was abusing children. A judge ruled against the plaintiff, who was also a victim of convicted priest Wayland Brown, in 12/21.

Fr. Thomas A. Evatt

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Ordained: 1976
Status: Charged

Died: 07/18/2003
Diocese: Diocese of Charleston SC

Placed on leave in 5/02 after accused of performing a lewd act on a boy, age 9, during a rectory overnight stay in 1977. The alleged victim told his father in 1991 and informed police and Diocese in 2002. Evatt said the 1977 incident was a "singular horrible event" that never happened again. Trial pending in 7/03 when Evatt was found dead in his home 7/18/03. Death ruled accidental, due to massive blood loss when Evatt cut his leg on a piece of furniture. Alcohol abuse contributed to his death. On diocese's list 3/29/19.

Fr. Jaime A. Gonzalez-Farias

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Ordained: 1990
Status: Guilty plea

Diocese: Diocese of Charleston SC

Visiting priest from the Diocese of San Bernardo in Chile. Arrived in the U.S. in 2001 and in SC in 2015. Worked also in FL and NJ. In 2017 a parishioner sent diocesan officials a photo of Gonzalez-Farias taking a boy to Walmart, and in 2018 a woman told the Diocese she was concerned about the priest's relationship with her young nephews. In 12/2020, while he was visiting Chile, the Diocese received a report that Gonazalez-Farias had recently sexually abused a boy, age 11, including during a trip to FL. He had been placed on leave in late 11/2020 after the boy's family reported inappropriate conduct, but not sexual abuse. Named publicly as credibly accused by the Diocese of Charleston SC on its list in 8/2021. Gonzalez-Farias was arrested in Miami FL 11/29/2022 by the U.S. Marshall Service. He admitted to showering with the boy, touching his genitals and showing him pornography. Pleaded not guilty in 1/2023. Pleaded guilty in 8/2023. Sentenced in 2/2024 to 21 years and 10 months in federal prison. Ordered to pay the family $14,240 in restitution and to be supervised for the rest of life upon his release from prison.

Fr. Justin L. Goodwin

Ordained: 1940
Status: Convicted

Died: 12/25/1995
Diocese: Diocese of Charleston SC

Arrested 1994 on charges of abusing four brothers in the late 1970s. Released on personal recognizance. In 1995 he entered an Alford plea (did not admit to wrongdoing but felt evidence would result in conviction) and was sentenced to 10 years prison, suspended upon service of 5 years probation. Died 12/25/95. Plaintiffs settled for $200K total but were denied permission to participate in 2007 settlement.

Fr. Frederick J. Hopwood

Ordained: 1951
Status: Convicted

Died: 04/30/2017
Diocese: Diocese of Charleston SC

Accused of abusing multiple people. Resigned in 12/93 after accusations became public. Criminal charges filed in 1994. Pled guilty. Sentenced to three years probation, treatment and 250 hours public service. Hopwood's roommate at seminary and later was future Cardinal Bernardin. Ordained by Bishop Russell of Charleston who made him Chancellor immediately after ordination. Died 4/30/17. On diocese's list 3/29/19. Lawsuit filed in 1/21 claims abuse of a boy for two years in the mid-1970s, beginning when the boy was age 13 and a St. John's Church and Cathedral School student.

Fr. Robert J. Kelly

Ordained: 1953
Status: Sued

Died: 09/6/2004
Diocese: Diocese of Charleston SC

Ordained for the Archdiocese of Hartford. Transferred to the Diocese of Charleston in 1958, incardinated in 1959. Parish priest. Bishop England High School faculty member, rector of the school 1964-1990. Superintendent of Catholic Schools. Elevated to monsignor in 1991. Died in 2004. Accused in a lawsuit filed in 11/3/2021 of sexually abusing a young altar boy in the early 1990s, at St. Andrew's in Myrtle Beach. Kelly's accuser said the priest also abused other altar boys. A second man field suit in 1/2024, alleging abuse by Kelly as a St. Andrew's altar boy, also in the early 1990s.

Fr. Frederick Austin McLean

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Ordained: 1944
Status: Sued

Died: 08/26/2010
Diocese: Diocese of Charleston SC

Named publicly as credibly accused by the Charleston diocese on its list 3/29/19. Died 8/26/10. Included in a 10/19 report commissioned by the Diocese of Bridgeport, with an allegation deemed not credible. McLean was accused of sexually abusing a 17-year-old girl in 1962. He had been transferred to the Charleston diocese in 1956 from Bridgeport, and incardinated into the Charleston diocese in 1959. He is thought to have left ministry in 1964. Accused in a lawsuit filed in 1/21 of abusing a girl and her sister 1961-66 while assigned to St. John's Church and School.

Fr. James Robert Owens-Howard

Ordained: 1957
Status: Convicted

Died: 12/1/2015
Diocese: Diocese of Charleston SC

Former Bishop England High School teacher. Retired. Arrested on charges related to fondling an 8-year-old boy in a pool. Convicted in 2/93. Apparently sentenced to 5 years prison. Released in 4/98. Absent on sick leave per 1993 and 1998 Catholic Directories. Not indexed in the 2002 Directory. Registered sex offender in SC as of 6/10. Conviction information found on that website. On diocese's list 3/29/19. Died 12/01/15.

Fr. Gerald J. Ryfinski

Ordained: 1990
Status: Convicted

Diocese: Diocese of Charleston SC

Arrested in 6/01 after a computer repairman found child pornography on Ryfinski's computer. Pleaded guilty in 3/02 to one count of third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor. Received a five year suspended sentence with three years probation. Laicized in 4/07. On SC Sex Offender Registry as of 1/3/10. On diocese's list 3/29/19.

Fr. Paul F. Seitz

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Ordained: 1958
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Charleston SC

Removed in 11/94 after allegations that he was involved in sexual misconduct with a minor 30 years prior. Denied allegations. Allowed to return to work prior to 2002. Assigned to a smaller parish and ordered not to be alone with children. Per a 6/02 article, Seitz resigned "for health reasons." On diocese's list 3/29/19. Noted to have retired 6/1/02 and to be "under restrictions."

Fr. Lawrence Sheedy

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Status: Settled

Diocese: Diocese of Charleston SC

A man filed a civil suit in 2004 naming Sheedy as his abuser. The man said the abuse occurred at a Catholic orphanage in 1967-68 until the Mother Superior found out. Sheedy was transferred to Arizona and later died. The suit settled in 6/06 at mediation. The man and others accusing Rev. James Nyhan filed another suit against the church for loss of consortium.

Fr. Hayden Vaverek

Ordained: 1994
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Charleston SC

Privileges removed in 3/13 after allegations of sexual misconduct involving a minor more than 15 years prior, when he was pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes in Greenwood. In 1/11, with permission of the bishop, he began working for Catholic Near East Welfare Association, a papal agency based in NY City. Apparently in Rome when allegations were made public. As of 4/23/13 accuser waived further criminal investigation, saying church punishment was enough. Diocese was continuing investigation. Laicized in 5/16. In 2017 Vaverek created a nonprofit for supporting priests "at a vocational crossroads" called Pax Bonum. Included on the diocese's 3/19 list of credibly accused.

Fr. Freddy Washington

Order: CSSp
Ordained: 1992
Status: Indicted

Diocese: Diocese of Charleston SC

Pastor of St. Mark the Evangelist Parish in Harlem in the NY archdiocese when arrested in 6/2017 for sexual abuse in 1982-1984 of two boys, ages 10 and 11-14, at St. Patrick's church in Charleston. Washington was an 18-year-old lay person and volunteer at the time of the alleged abuse. The boys were in training to be altar servers. Abuse was said to have included fondling and oral copulation. The Charleston diocese learned of the allegations in 2/2016 and contacted the Rockville Centre diocese. The Charleston diocese contacted Charleston police in 9/2016. Former pastor of two Chicago parishes. Listed on Xavier University in New Orleans' website in 6/2017 as associate professor of pastoral theology. Included in 10/2022 on the Chicago Archdiocese's list of credibly accused. Included in the 5/23/2023 IL Attorney General's Report.