Archdiocese of San Francisco CA - BishopAccountability.org

49 Accused in This Diocese

Fr. Peter Gomez Armstrong

Ordained: 1954
Status: Accused

Died: 11/17/2009
Diocese: Archdiocese of San Francisco CA

Monsignor. Parish priest, longtime director of boys' homes, CYO director. Held numerous chancery positions. Chaplain for the San Francisco 49ers. At some point between 1992 and 2002 a teenage Marin County boy accused Armstrong of having improper contact with him. Died 11/17/2009.

Assignments:

BA.org Assignment Record

Sources:

Fr. James W. Aylward

Ordained: 1964
Status: Settled

Diocese: Archdiocese of San Francisco CA

Accused of abuse of a boy in 1997. Another priest saw them "wrestling" and notified authorities. The boy denied the abuse but his parents sued. Settled for $750K in 2000. Aylward was supported by the archbishop until Aylward admitted in a 1999 deposition that he inappropriately touched numerous boys over a 12-year period. Placed on leave in 2000. Retired in 2005.

Assignments:

BA.org Assignment Record

Sources:

Fr. Theodore Baquedano Pech

Status: Accused

Diocese: Archdiocese of San Francisco CA

Priest of the Archdiocese of Yucatan, Mexico, assigned in the Archdiocese of San Francisco CA 1967-1975. In 1993 a 30-year-old woman reported to San Francisco that Baquedano Pech sexually abused her for several years, beginning when she was 11; the Archdiocese said it was not responsible because he was a visiting priest. She repeatedly warned Mexico church officials, but was kept in ministry there. The woman sued the San Francisco Archdiocese and received a settlement in 2006. He was suspended 4/26/2010 by the Yucatan archdiocese, just after the allegations appeared in a Washington Post news article.

Sources:

Br. Salvatore Billante

Order: SDB
Status: Guilty plea

Diocese: Archdiocese of San Francisco CA

Abused as many as 25 boys 1969-1989. Pled guilty to abuse of one; sentenced to eight years' prison in 1989. Released in 1994. Registered sex offender. Left the Salesians. Arrested again in 2002 for abuse of one; charges dropped after CA Supreme Court decision. Named in 2003 civil suit. On Oakland diocese's list in 2019. More suits with claims against Billante were filed under the CA Child Victims Act between 2020-2022.

Sources:

Fr. Jean-Pierre Bongila

Order: OSB
Ordained: 1991
Status: Settled

Diocese: Archdiocese of San Francisco CA

Accused in a lawsuit filed in 11/2004 of sexually abusing a girl 1996-2000, starting when she was ages 16-17. Bongila was working in the Archdiocese of San Francisco during the time in question. He denied the allegations. The suit settled in 2006. The archdiocese investigated and reportedly "cleared" Bongila. In 2013 a second lawsuit reportedly was filed, claiming Bongila sexually abused a male under age 18. It was dismissed in 7/2019 because of lack of participation from the plaintiff in the case. Bongila began work in 2006 as the founding director of the International Leadership Program at the University of St. Thomas in Minneapolis MN, where he remained as of 1/2022.

Sources:

Fr. Roberto Bravo

Order: OP
Ordained: 1998
Status: Accused

Diocese: Archdiocese of San Francisco CA

Accused of abuse of six teenage girls in 1999 in Antioch. He was reported to police but the girls refused to testify and the charges were dropped. He was transferred to Utah and had "similar problems" there. Transferred to San Francisco and then to St. Albert's Seminary in Oakland in 2002, to live with several other admitted sex offenders. Bravo was allowed to come and go freely. He left St. Albert's in 2/2005 when restrictions were placed on him. Included on the Oakland diocese's list in 2019. On the Holy Name Province Domincans' list in 10/2021; noted to have died in 2014.

Assignments:

BA.org Assignment Record

Sources:

Fr. Daniel E. Carter

Ordained: 1979
Status: Sued

Diocese: Archdiocese of San Francisco CA

A woman filed a police report in 2002 accusing Carter of sexually abusing her when she was an 8-year-old student at Notre Dame des Victoires School in the late 1970s. Carter was then a Marist brother. The archdiocese investigated, found the allegations inconclusive and allowed Carter to remain active. The woman filed a civil suit in 8/2002 and Carter was placed on leave. In 4/2008 the archdiocese allowed him to return to active ministry, saying again that the charges were inconclusive. Carter retired in 7/2021. In lawsuits filed under the CA Child Victims Act between 2020 and 2022, six other people - male and female - claimed abuse as children by Carter.

Assignments:

BA.org Assignment Record

Sources:

Fr. Edmond G. Cloutier

Ordained: 1946
Status: Sued

Died: 04/9/2003
Diocese: Archdiocese of San Francisco CA

Ordained for the Diocese of Portland, ME. Accused in lawsuits of sexually abusing four boys at Star of the Sea in San Francisco late 1940s-1957. Became a priest of the Oakland diocese when it was created in 1962. Removed/retired 12/31/1980. Died 4/9/2003. Included on the Oakland diocese's list in 2019, abuse noted to have occurred in the 1950s-1960s. On the Stockton diocese's list, which notes he was a supply priest in approximately the mid-1980s, and that his faculties were revoked there 12/20/1990.

Assignments:

Sources:

Fr. Arthur Manuel Cunha

Ordained: 1984
Status: Convicted

Diocese: Archdiocese of San Francisco CA

Prior to ordination Cunha was a teacher in the Fremont CA school system. Arrested in 6/1986 in Novato CA after a waitress in a restaurant reported suspicious behavior involving a man and a boy, age 11. Cunha was in his first assignment after ordination. Pleaded guilty to molesting two boys. Sentenced to 60 days in jail and 4 months at a counseling center. At least three civil suits were been filed claiming abuse by Cunha of boys in 1986. One suit settled for $640K. May have left the priesthood.

Assignments:

BA.org Assignment Record

Sources:

Fr. Bernard Dabbene

Order: SDB
Ordained: 1966
Status: Convicted

Died: 09/9/2010
Diocese: Archdiocese of San Francisco CA

In 1959 a 9th grade boy at Salesian High School in Richmond CA reported to Dabbene's superior that Dabbene had molested him twice. Dabenne was then a lay brother and a teacher at the school. Dabbene then "left [the boy] alone" and went on to become principal at Salesian schools, and an official with the San Francisco archdiocese. In 1971 allegations were reported to the Diocese of Oakland (formerly part of the SF archdiocese). In 11/2000 Dabbene was arrested after he was found in a car with 17-year-old boy, both with their pants unzipped. Found guilty. Sentenced to three years probation and community service. Sent to St. John Vianney in Philadelphia for treatment. Named in a 2003 civil suit which alleged he was part of a ring of child molesters at Salesian High School 1969-1973. Lived at the Salesian provincial headquarters for years. Died 9/9/2010. Included on the Oakland diocese's list in 2019.

Assignments:

BA.org Assignment Record

Sources:

Fr. Harold Danielson

Order: SDB
Ordained: 1966
Status: Sued

Diocese: Archdiocese of San Francisco CA

Associate pastor at Saints Peter and Paul parish in 2005 when accused in a lawsuit of child sex abuse. Denied the allegations. Claims may have been investigated in 2004 by the archdiocesan review board and deemed unsubstantiated, which corroborated the Salesians' findings that the claims were "unsubstantiated." Still active priest at same parish per website accessed 7/11/2011.

Assignments:

BA.org Assignment Record

Sources:

Fr. Paul E. Duggan

Ordained: 1948
Status: Accused

Died: 03/30/2007
Diocese: Archdiocese of San Francisco CA

Named publicly as credibly accused by the Diocese of San Jose on its list updated 4/5/2019. It notes that Duggan was removed from public ministry by the San Francisco archdiocese in 2002 due to a recent report of "sexual misconduct with a child at St. Patrick School during the 1950s." Duggan retired in 1983 and died 3/30/2007.

Sources:

Fr. Charles J. Durkin

Ordained: 1955
Status: Accused

Died: 04/18/2006
Diocese: Archdiocese of San Francisco CA

Durkin retired in 4/2002, just after the San Francisco D.A.'s office requested church records related to years of allegations of abuse. He was the subject of a "recent child molestation complaint" stemming from conduct that allegedly occurred more than 30 years prior. Received treatment at Southdown in Toronto in 2002. Died 4/18/2006.

Assignments:

BA.org Assignment Record

Sources:

Br. Hal Ellis

Donate Photo

Order: SJ
Status: Settled

Diocese: Archdiocese of San Francisco CA

Accused in a lawsuit filed on behalf of two mentally disabled men living at Sacred Heart Jesuit Center, a retirement home for priests. The men were abused for many years by at least two priests. Settled in 9/2003 for $7.5M. At the time of the settlement, Ellis was ill and unable to communicate.

Sources:

Fr. Linh Tien Nguyen

Ordained: 2004
Status: Sued

Diocese: Archdiocese of San Francisco CA

Accused in a lawsuit filed in 11/2022 of sexually abusing a boy, ages 10-13, from about 2005-2008. The boy was a student and altar boy at St. Pius in Redwood City. Nguyen was assigned to St. Pius 2005-2009. He was placed on leave in 10/2022 and reinstated two months later. The Archdiocese denied the allegations.

Sources:

KQED 11.16.23

Fr. Elwood F. Geary

Ordained: 1943
Status: Sued

Died: 04/18/1981
Diocese: Archdiocese of San Francisco CA

Accused in a lawsuit sometime between 2020-2022 of sexually abusing a boy, age 11, in 1968 at Our Lady Queen of Apostles in San Jose. Geary allegedly fondled the boy's genitals and forced oral sex on him. Geary was the parish's founding pastor in 1960, remaining in that role until 1979. The parish was part of the Archdiocese of San Francisco until the Diocese of San Jose was established in 1981, the year Geary died.

Sources:

Fr. Robert J. Gemmet

Ordained: 1964
Status: Sued

Diocese: Archdiocese of San Francisco CA

Accused in a 3/2020 lawsuit of repeatedly sexually abusing an altar boy, beginning with grooming when the boy was age 10 in 1967. Gemmet allegedly told boy that God would kill him and that he would "have to watch his parents and siblings die" if he told anyone about the abuse. After ordination Gemmet was assigned to St. Timothy in San Mateo. Per the San Jose diocese, in the 1960s and 1970s he was assigned to St. Christopher in San Jose and St. Mary in Gilroy. He reportedly worked as a seminarian at day camps in San Francisco and Redwood City. Prior to that he taught CCD at St. Simon in Los Altos. His name last appears in the 1980 Official Catholic Directory. He died in 1985 at age 46.

Sources:

Fr. David A. Ghiorso

Ordained: 1981
Status: Sued

Diocese: Archdiocese of San Francisco CA

In a 10/20/2021 letter to his parishioners, the Archdiocese announced that Ghiorso had been accused in a civil claim of the sexual abuse of a minor 30-40 years previously. Placed on leave pending investigation. Returned to ministry in 12/2021. Three suits reportedly were filed by 6/23/2022. One claims Ghiorso plied an altar boy with wine and raped him at St. Vincents School for Boys for a year beginning in 1989. Another suit, filed in 4/2022, claims Ghiorso raped a boy multiple times at St. Vincents 1988-1991, beginning when the boy was age 10. One accuser said he reported the abuse at the time to the school and was then placed in a foster home. Ghiorso's attorney denied the allegations.

Sources:

Fr. Martin F. Greenlaw

Ordained: 1968
Status: Sued

Died: 02/28/2018
Diocese: Archdiocese of San Francisco CA

Accused in a 2022 lawsuit of sexually abusing a boy, age 8, in the 1980s. Greenlaw pleaded guilty in the mid-1990s to embezzling from the church. He died in 2018.

Sources:

Fr. Michael D. Harriman

Ordained: 1968
Status: Sued

Diocese: Archdiocese of San Francisco CA

Monsignor. Sued under the CA Child Victims Act which took effect 1/1/2020. Accused of sexually abusing boy(s) at St. Vincent's Boys Home and CYO Camp in the early 1980s. Denied the allegation(s). The review board did not substantiate the claim(s). In active ministry in 6/2022.

Sources:

KNTV 06.23.22

Fr. John P. Heaney

Ordained: 1953
Status: Indicted

Died: 01/29/2010
Diocese: Archdiocese of San Francisco CA

Retired in 1999. Placed on leave in 8/2002 when allegations arose that he abused two brothers in the early 1960s. In 2003 Heaney, a former senior chaplain for the San Francisco Police Department, was charged with molesting one of the brothers; charges dropped in 7/2003 after a Supreme Court ruling that the statute of limitations was unconstitutional. Died 1/29/2010.

Assignments:

BA.org Assignment Record

Sources:

Fr. Gregory G. Ingels

Ordained: 1974
Status: Charged

Diocese: Archdiocese of San Francisco CA

Widely known church legal scholar and former Vicar of Priests for the SF Archdiocese. Accused in 1996 of having oral sex with a 15-year-old boy. Archbishop Levada allowed Ingels to remain in public ministry and flourish for years as a force in church legal matters. Ingels continued as a church official even after a second charge by a woman. Placed on leave in 2002. Criminally charged in 5/2003; charges dropped in 7/2003 due to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling. Included in a 6/2005 settlement.

Assignments:

BA.org Assignment Record

Sources:

Fr. Frank Ivey

Donate Photo

Order: OFM
Ordained: 1976
Status: Accused

Diocese: Archdiocese of San Francisco CA

Named publicly as credibly accused by the St. Barbara Province Franciscans on its list in 9/2020. Accused in 2002 of abuse occurring in 1978 and 1979, while assigned to St. Boniface in San Francisco. He is noted to have lived outside of the order beginning in 1988, and to have been formally dismissed in 2016.

Sources:

St. Barbara Province Franciscans List 09.08.20

Fr. John P. Kavanaugh

Donate Photo

Ordained: 1948
Status: Sued

Died: 06/28/2013
Diocese: Archdiocese of San Francisco CA

Named in a lawsuit filed 11/27/2019 by a 53-year-old who claimed Kavanaugh sexually abused him over three years, beginning when he was age 7 and Kavanaugh was assigned to St. Finn Barr. The boy allegedly told two nuns and his teacher of the abuse at the time, but there was no action. His accuser said he reported the abuse to the archdiocese in 2004, but it was not reported to police and Kavanaugh was kept in ministry. He died 6/28/2013.

Assignments:

BishopAccountability Assignment Record

Sources:

Fr. Austin Peter Keegan

Ordained: 1962
Status: Settled

Died: 10/22/2021
Diocese: Archdiocese of San Francisco CA

Ordained for San Francisco. Complaints of abuse of children to the Archdiocese as early as 1965. May have abused at least 80 children in CA. Was moved to the Santa Rosa diocese, where he was assigned 1976-1981. Stripped of duties by the San Francisco Archdiocese in 1982. Moved to Baja Mexico, found there by a news crew in 1994. Civil suit in 1994 alleged abuse of a boy at St. Eugene's in the Santa Rosa diocese. Settled in 1995 for $450K. Living in Oceanside, CA when indicted in 9/2002, charged with the molestation and sodomy of two boys, ages 10 and 14, in the late 1960s. Fled to Mexico, where he was working at an orphanage. Arrested in Puerta Vallarta in 3/2003, charged with 75 counts of abuse of three Sonoma County children. Charges dropped in 2003 due to Supreme Court ruling on statutes of limitation. On Santa Rosa diocese's list of accused 1/12/2019. On Las Cruces diocese's list of credibly accused 6/24/2019, where he worked in 1991. Died 10/22/2021. Named in new lawsuit(s) in 2022.

Fr. Daniel T. Keohane

Ordained: 1978
Status: Accused

Diocese: Archdiocese of San Francisco CA

Koehane was placed on administrative leave in 3/2011 after an old allegation surfaced during a review of his personnel file. He was accused of abusing a 17-year-old girl in the late 1970s, while assigned to Church of the Epiphany. The Archdiocese said the allegation was credible and needed further investigation. D.A. was informed. Keohane denied the allegation.

Assignments:

BA.org Assignment Record

Sources:

Fr. Jerome Leach

Donate Photo

Ordained: 1976
Status: Arrested

Died: 10/15/2017
Diocese: Archdiocese of San Francisco CA

Leach was accused in 1993 of molesting an altar boy in 1976, when he was a deacon. Placed on leave. Incident not reported to police until 5/2002. Arrested in 2002 and charged with molestation of a separate altar boy in 1979. Those charges dropped because of a U.S. Supreme Court ruling declaring the CA law invalid. Other allegations have also surfaced. Leach died 10/15/2017.

Assignments:

BA.org Assignment Record

Sources:

Fr. Epiphanius Lewis

Donate Photo

Order: OFM
Status: Accused

Diocese: Archdiocese of San Francisco CA

Named publicly as accused by the Santa Barbara Province Franciscans on its list 5/31/2019. It notes reports of the sexual abuse of minors 1964-1968 received 1993, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005. Assigned at some point to St. Paul Shipwreck in San Francisco. Left the Province in 1965.

Assignments:

Santa Barbara Province Franciscans List 05.31.19

Sources:

Santa Barbara Province Franciscans List 05.31.19

Fr. John A. Lynch

Donate Photo

Ordained: 1925
Status: Sued

Died: 10/14/1961
Diocese: Archdiocese of San Francisco CA

Accused in a lawsuit[s] between 2020-2022 of child sexual abuse. Died in 1961. Longtime pastor of St. Teresa's in San Francisco.

Sources:

Fr. Philip E. McCrillis

Ordained: 1961
Status: Settled

Died: 02/2/2007
Diocese: Archdiocese of San Francisco CA

Two sisters filed suit in 2004 alleging that McCrillis had abused them and had a sexual relationship with their divorced mother in the 1960s, while he was at St. Albert the Great in Palo Alto. The women won a low six-figure settlement with SF Archdiocese (the parish was part of the Archdiocese at the time). The San Jose diocese acknowledged that it found the allegations credible. McCrillis retired in 7/2003. Privileges removed in 2004. Died 2/2/2007. On the diocese's list 10/18/2018.

Assignments:

BA.org Assignment Record

Sources:

Br. John Moriarty

Order: FSC
Status: Settled

Died: 05/9/2013
Diocese: Archdiocese of San Francisco CA

Joined the Christian Brothers in 1951. Accused in a 2003 lawsuit of abusing a 17-year-old boy 1975-1976 at Christian Brothers Retreat House at St. Helena CA, where he was assigned 1974-1978. Plaintiff settled in late 2004 for $1.2M. Moriarty was at Wounded Brothers Project treatment center in MO as of 1/2005. Per a 5/2006 newsletter by the San Francisco District of Christian Brothers, he was based at Mont La Salle in Napa. He died 5/9/2013 at Mt. La Salle. Included on the Santa Rosa diocese's list 1/12/2019. Included on the Diocese of Oakland's list in 6/2019. Suit filed in 11/2019 by a man claiming abuse in the 1970s as a Moreau Catholic High student in Hayward, by both Moriarty and principal Rev. Gordon Wilcox.

Assignments:

BA.org Assignment Record

Sources:

Fr. Guy Anthony Murnig

Ordained: 1970
Status: Settled

Died: 10/18/2021
Diocese: Archdiocese of San Francisco CA

Accused by two women of sexually abusing them when they were high school students in Marin County. Accused in a lawsuit of abuse of one of them 1970-1974. Claim included in a 6/2005 settlement with the archdiocese. Left the priesthood in 1978 to marry. Laicized by Pope John Paul II. Arrested and charged in 10/2002. Charges dropped in 7/2003 due to Supreme Court ruling regarding the statute of limitations. Died in 10/2021.

Assignments:

BA.org Assignment Record

Sources:

Fr. William S. Myers

Ordained: 1988
Status: Accused

Diocese: Archdiocese of San Francisco CA

Assigned to St. Raymond's in Menlo Park when removed in 5/2011 after allegations of "boundary violations" with a 17-year-old boy. He had followed the boy into a store's dressing room. The boy's father made original complaint to police in 4/2011. Archdiocese learned of charges in 5/2011. No physical contact involved. No criminal charges. In the mid-1990s he sought treatment for sexual identity issues. In 2011 was in treatment for sexual addiction to adults. Privileges removed in 12/2011 after Board evaluated his case.

Assignments:

BA.org Assignment Record

Sources:

Fr. John J. O’Connor

Ordained: 1960
Status: Accused

Died: 03/15/2013
Diocese: Archdiocese of San Francisco CA

In 8/2002 O'Connor was quietly placed on leave by the San Francisco archdiocese after a recent allegation that he had had improper contact with a boy more than 30 years prior. O'Connor told parishioners at St. Mary's Cathedral that he was going on leave of absence for health and personal reasons. Absent on leave until his death 03/15/2013.

Assignments:

BA.org Assignment Record

Sources:

Fr. Patrick J. O’Shea

Ordained: 1958
Status: Charged

Diocese: Archdiocese of San Francisco CA

Monsignor. Criminally charged in 1994 for abuse of at least nine boys in the 1960-1980. Charges dismissed. Two civil suits were filed in 1994 by four. The Archdiocese settled with two plaintiffs in 8/1995 for $500K and in 6/1996. The Archdiocese paid out $2.5M to 15 men abused as minors by O'Shea and two other priests. Arrested in 2002 on charges that he abused a boy, beginning at age 11 in 1968, when the boy was a Mission Dolores altar server and school student. Charges added in 2003 that he abused two boys, ages 11-13, at Lake Berryessa in the 1970s. Spent two years in jail waiting for trial; charges withdrawn after 2003 Supreme Court ruling regarding the statute of limitations. Convicted in 2004 of theft of over $200K from the Archdiocese. Laicized in 2005. On the Stockton diocese's list 11/12/2020, where worked 1/31/1970-9/17/1971.

Br. Danilo Pacheco

Order: SDB
Status: Accused

Died: 07/25/2005
Diocese: Archdiocese of San Francisco CA

Pacheco was accused of molestation at two different Catholic high schools in Southern California. He also worked in the Oakland diocese. Died 7/25/2005.

Sources:

Fr. Richard P. Presenti

Order: SDB
Ordained: 1968
Status: Sued

Diocese: Archdiocese of San Francisco CA

Admitted in 2003 that he abused a 14-year-old boy in 1973. The boy immediately told his parents and the Archdiocese; Presenti was kept in active ministry. Sued by three men alleging abuse as teenagers. Remained the provincial treasurer, entrusted with directing the Order's financial affairs until 7/2005, when he stepped aside. Sued by another in 6/2007. Appeals court ruled in 1/2008 that the Salesians didn't know he presented a risk of sexual abuse prior to his assault of the victims. Included on the Oakland diocese's list in 2019.

Assignments:

BA.org Assignment Record

Sources:

Fr. Miles O’Brien Riley

Donate Photo

Ordained: 1963
Status: Accused

Diocese: Archdiocese of San Francisco CA

Author, actor, and former spokesman for the church. Well-known for his radio ministry and as a fixture on the old God Squad TV show. Target of a complaint by a female parishioner who accused him of having consensual contact short of intercourse with her in the early 1970s, beginning when she was 16. Matter referred to DA's office 8/2002 and Riley was allowed to "resign."

Assignments:

BA.org Assignment Record

Sources:

Fr. Christian Sandholdt

Order: CPPS
Ordained: 1973
Status: Accused

Died: 01/30/1979
Diocese: Archdiocese of San Francisco CA

Accused in a lawsuit[s] between 2020-2022 of the sexual abuse of minor[s]. Died by suicide in 1979, at age 45. Per his obituary, Sandholdt had been an assistant at St. Francis of Assisi in East Palo Alto for five years, was involved with the charismatic movement and worked with teenagers. Prior to his priesthood, he was a teacher at John Muir and Encinal High Schools in Alameda.

Sources:

Fr. Francis Joseph Scanlon

Ordained: 1942
Status: Sued

Died: 04/30/1980
Diocese: Archdiocese of San Francisco CA

Accused in a lawsuit filed sometime between 2020-2022 of sexually abusing an altar boy at St. Andrew's in Oakland in about 1959-1964. The abuse allegedly included forced oral sex and sodomy and occurred numerous times. News accounts in 2022 refer to Scanlon as John Francis; per past news articles and the Official Catholic Directory, his name was Francis Joseph. The 1960 Directory shows him as Absent on Leave, after which he was transferred to a Mill Valley parish. Scanlon died in 1980.

Sources:

Fr. Carl Anthony Schipper

Ordained: 1968
Status: Convicted

Diocese: Archdiocese of San Francisco CA

Arrested in 3/2000 after he held a series of explicit sexual conversations with someone he thought was a 13-year-old boy in an internet chat room. He was immediately placed on leave from his position as academic dean at Menlo Park's St. Patrick's Seminary. Pled no contest in 8/2000. Sentenced to six months in jail and three years probation. Ordered to register as a sex offender. Retired in 2003.

Assignments:

BA.org Assignment Record

Sources:

Fr. Lawrence Gerard Smith

Status: Convicted

Diocese: Archdiocese of San Francisco CA

Member of an "old Catholic sect". Sentenced in 1/1984 to 8 months in jail for molesting Vietnamese boys who did not speak English. Abuse occurred in 1983. There may have been as many as six victims. Also convicted in 1977 of a sex offense involving a 10-year-old boy.

Sources:

Br. Wellington Joseph Stanislaus

Donate Photo

Order: SJ
Status: Indicted

Diocese: Archdiocese of San Francisco CA

Entered the Jesuits in 1965. Transferred from San Jose to Phoenix in 1971 after he was accused of molesting teenage boys at a boys' home. Allowed to work with youth programs in Phoenix while the Order was working to have him dismissed. Arrested in 2003 on two felony accounts of abusing a 16-year old-boy in 1969; the boy was a resident of a Los Gatos home for troubled boys. Charges dismissed in 6/2003 after a ruling by the Supreme Court regarding the statute of limitations. Name included on the Jesuits West Province list 12/7/2018. It notes the sexual abuse of a minor 1968-1970, reported in 2002. Assigned to Juvenile Hall in San Jose, CA at the time of the alleged abuse. Dismissed from the Jesuits in 1972.

Assignments:

Jesuits West Province List 12.07.18

Sources:

Fr. Jose Superiaso

Ordained: 1985
Status: Convicted

Diocese: Archdiocese of San Francisco CA

Ordained in the Philippines. Arrived in the US in 1989. Left San Francisco in 1998 to work on a Native American reservation in the Santa Fe Archdiocese. Arrested there in 2003 on charges of abuse of girl, ages 12-13, in CA 1994-1995. He acknowledged engaging in intercourse between 20-30 times with the young girl. Mistrial in 2004. Pleaded guilty 2005 and sentenced to 10 years in prison. Released in 1/12; deportation to Philippines pending.

Fr. Henry J. Trainor

Ordained: 1973
Status: Accused

Diocese: Archdiocese of San Francisco CA

Trainor was placed on leave in summer 2002 from his position as chaplain at Lagunda Honda Hospital. He had previously taken a leave from the priesthood after earlier allegations of abuse. Archbishop Levada brought him back in 2000; suspended in 2002 after prosecutors were given information about the allegations, some of which were about 10 years old. Status was absent on leave 2002-07, after which the Catholic Directories show him as retired, until at least 2017.

Assignments:

BA.org Assignment Record

Sources:

San Francisco Chronicle 08.29.02

Fr. Leo Donald Tubbs

Order: OP
Ordained: 1966
Status: Accused

Diocese: Archdiocese of San Francisco CA

Accused of non-genital touching over clothing of a 14- to 17-year-old boy in the mid-1980s in Oregon. In 2005, because of some other instances of boundary violations with adults and because of disobedience issues since that time not relating to sexual misconduct, he was reportedly not permitted to leave the Dominican residence unattended or without permission. He had no public ministry, nor was he allowed contact with minors. Included on the Archdiocese of Los Angeles' updated list 12/6/2018; report in 2014 of incident(s) in 1983. On the Dominicans Holy Name Province in 10/2021. Noted to have been removed from public ministry in 1992, and to have died in 2021.

Assignments:

BA.org Assignment Record

Sources:

Fr. Robert M. Van Handel

Order: OFM
Ordained: 1975
Status: Convicted

Died: 06/2/2020
Diocese: Archdiocese of San Francisco CA

Founding director of Santa Barbara Boys' Choir and principal of St. Anthony's Seminary High School. Admitted to his pedophilic behavior to his Provincial in 1992; sent to treatment. May have sexually abused 150 boys, ages 8-12. Criminally charged 1994 with abuse of students. Convicted. Sentenced 8/1994 to eight years in prison for abuse of one. Released in 2002. Named in several civil suits. Reportedly abused six boys 1970-1982. Four claims settled in 2006. Personnel file released in 5/2012; may have been laicized 7/23/1997. On sex offender registry in 1/2012. Included on the Santa Barbara Province Franciscans' list 5/31/2019, which notes a report in 1992 of abuse of minors 1977-1984. On the Oakland diocese's list in 2019. Accused along with Msgr. Vincent McCabe in a 6/2022 lawsuit of abuse of a fifth-grade boy in 1989. Per the plaintiff's attorney, Van Handel told his superiors in the 1970s that he was attracted to young boys. Van Handel moved in 2013 to the Portland, OR area. In 2019 he was a resident of a senior living facility and had advanced Parkinson's disease. He died 6/2/2020.

Fr. Milton T. Walsh

Ordained: 1978
Status: Indicted

Diocese: Archdiocese of San Francisco CA

Accused in 1984 of abuse of a 13-year-old boy. Reported immediately to Archbishop Quinn, who convinced the parents not to go to the police. Cardinal Levada learned of Walsh's abuse of the boy in 1995; he allowed Walsh to remain in active ministry until 8/2002. Criminal charges filed 10/2002; dropped in 7/2003 after U.S. Supreme Court ruling regarding the statute of limitations. Walsh had admitted his behavior and apologized to his victim during a phone call secretly taped by police. Victim filed suit; settled in 2003. Walsh was discovered by news outlet in 9/2019 at a a celebration officiated by the archbishop of the opening of a proposed Benedictine monastery on the grounds of a parish in Taos NM. Walsh reportedly had been planning to move into the monastery, which is across the street from a public elementary school.

Assignments:

BA.org Assignment Record

Sources:

Br. Peter J. Yost

Order: OP
Status: Settled

Died: 10/13/2018
Diocese: Archdiocese of San Francisco CA

Accused in 2005 of inappropriate physical contact on one occasion with a boy, about age 12, in the early 1960s. The alleged victim received a settlement. No other victims were found by a private investigator. Yost, who in 2005 was elderly, in poor health, and unable to drive, was judged not to be a danger to children by a clinical professor of psychiatry. Included on the Dominicans Holy Name Province list in 10/2021. Noted to have been removed from public ministry in 2003, and to have died in 2018.

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.