17 Accused in This Diocese
- Evansville Courier & Press 05.05.02
- Courier & Press 05.05.02
- Courier & Press 05.06.02
- Courier & Press 05.06.02
- Courier & Press 05.07.02
- Courier & Press 05.07.02
- Indianapolis Star 05.08.02
- Star Press 05.30.02
- Courier & Press 06.08.02
- Kokomo Tribune 06.08.02
- Dallas Morning News 06.12.02
- Courier & Press 06.15.02
- Courier & Press 07.02.02
- Kokomo Tribune 07.02.02
- Courier & Press 11.14.02
- Courier & Press 12.19.03
- Courier & Press 03.21.04
- Diocese of Evansville List 02.22.19
- Courier and Press 03.08.19
- Bishop Gettelfinger Statement 08.18.07
- Boeglin Letter 08.18.07
- ABC7 (AP) 08.20.07
- Courier Journal (AP) 08.21.07
- WFIE 08.21.07
- Courier & Press 08.22.07
- Courier & Press 08.29.07
- WEHT 08.30.07
- NY Times 08.30.07
- Associated Press 08.31.07
- Courier & Press 08.31.07
- Tri-State Home Page 09.02.07
- WFIE 11.15.07
- Courier & Press 11.19.07
- WFIE 11.19.07
- Sun-Commercial 03.21.14
- Indianapolis Star 04.20.14
- Catholic Philly 01.13.17
- Diocese of Evansville List 02.22.19
- South Bend Tribune 03.13.96
- National Catholic Reporter 05.03.96
- South Bend Tribune 06.28.96
- Evansville Courier & Press 10.13.99
- ABC 04.03.02
- Indianapolis Star 04.04.02
- Courier & Press 04.07.02
- NY Times 04.15.02
- Beliefnet 06.01.02
- Associated Press 06.10.02
- Evansville Courier & Press 06.15.02
- Associated Press 06.20.02
- Diocese of Evansville List 02.22.19
- Courier & Press 02.22.19
- Evansville Courier & Press 03.02.19
Fr. Michael E. Allen
Parish priest, teacher, Army chaplain. Worked at the diocesan youth camp. Accused in a 1993 letter to Bishop Gettelfinger of sexually abusing a 16-year-old boy in 1976. The boy had been hospitalized for depression after his father died, and Allen became his counselor. Allen admitted the abuse in 1994, was sent for treatment, then returned to ministry. His accuser came forward again 5/5/2002; Allen was not removed until 6/2002. Working in 2004 in a civilian commissary in Kuwait, on contract with the U.S. Military. He was seen saying mass but the Archdiocese of Military Services said he had no privileges. Included on the Diocese's 2/22/2019 list of credibly accused.
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Fr. John Breidenbach
Parish priest. Worked at the diocesan youth camp where he was co-director in 1992. Named publicly as credibly accused by the Diocese on its list 2/22/2019. One credible allegation noted. Admitted to having sexually abused minors prior to his ordination as a deacon. Removed from public ministry 3/14/2014.
Fr. Joseph (Mark) Ciganovich
Arrested in a nationwide child pornography sting in 5/1996. Removed from public ministry and placed under supervision by his Order. Had been a moral theology professor at St. Meinrad School of Theology for 17 years before resigning in 8/1996. Pleaded guilty in 12/1996 to a federal charge of receiving child pornography in the mail. Sentenced to one year and one day in a federal penitentiary, a $3000 fine, and two years' supervised release. Name appears on the Carmelites' 11/22/2020 list of accused. Separated from the Order in 1996. From 1997-2011 he had no ministry, chose exclaustration and was a Federal Facility Prisoner in KY. He died 1/13/2011. Included in the 5/23/2023 IL Attorney General's Report, which shows at least one "reported survivor," of abuse.
Fr. Joseph L. Clauss
Removed in 1990 after allegations that he sexually abused a boy in OH. Had been living for 11 years at the Servants of the Paraclete treatment facility in Jemez Springs, NM; not allowed to leave without supervision. Per one source in 2002, Clauss was an "incurable pedophile" and had recently been soliciting money from former parishioners who believed he was doing mission work on Indian reservations. Placed on administrative leave in 12/1990. Removed from public ministry in 7/1992. Another allegation surfaced in 5/2002. Clauss died 10/11/2003. Name included on the Diocese's list 2/22/2019, which notes 10 credible allegations and that he admitted to at least 1.
Fr. James Clements
Named publicly as accused by the Diocese on its list 2/22/2019, which notes one credible allegation, to which he admitted. Laicized 4/18/1977. Died 12/21/1996.
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Fr. Wilfred Englert
Arrested and then placed on leave 8/2005 after allegations he sexually molested a 19-year-old man who had the mental capacity of a 9-year-old. The abuse occurred numerous times in early 2005. Englert claimed the sex was consensual. He later pleaded guilty to 2 counts of abuse. Sentenced in 10/2006 to 2 terms of 1.5 years in the Dubois County Jail. Received another 3 years in 2/2007. Released in 1/2008. Registered sex offender. Not in compliance 2/2010. Listed as on "administrative leave" per the diocesan website 2/2/2009. Included on the Diocese's list of credibly accused 2/22/2019, which notes that Engert was laicized 10/1/2009.
Fr. Bernard T. Etienne
"Bernie." Parish priest, Teens Encounter Christ chaplain, diocesan vocations director, vicar general, diocesan administrator. Placed on administrative leave in 4/2022 due to an allegation of sexual misconduct dating back 20 years. Etienne denied the allegation. Returned to active ministry in 11/2022 after the diocesan Review Board determined that the allegation was unsubstantiated.
Fr. David Fleck
Suspended in 9/2018 after the Diocese received a report of sexual misconduct by Fleck occurring "decades ago." The Diocese notified Child Protective Services. Fleck worked in schools and parishes in Vincennes, Petersburg, Montgomery, Oakland City and Bicknell. Also, he resided in Haubstadt. He allegedly solicited two boys, who were students at Vincennes Rivet High School, in the 1980s. Fleck denied the allegations. His name is not included on the Diocese's 2/22/2019 list of accused. He remained on leave in 8/2019.
Fr. Kenneth L. Graehler
Removed in 6/2002 after an allegation of misconduct with a minor. In 9/2002 he was scheduled to return to ministry, per the Bishop, although the Review Board had not seen the psychological evaluation.The Board found that there was "reasonable cause" to believe Graehler took part in "inappropriate conduct," but that the conduct did not constitute sexual misconduct. Graehler retired in 11/2002 and died 2/19/2016.
Fr. Warren Heitz
Named publicly as accused by the Diocese on its list 2/22/2019. It notes two credible allegations. Removed from ministry by the Benedictines' St. Meinrad Archabbey in 2002, after St. Meinrad's review board deemed the allegations credible.
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Fr. Raymond L. Kuper
At a Senate hearing in 2/2019 a man testified that when he was age 9 and a student at Christ the King school, Kuper sexually abused him multiple times. The man's family reportedly informed the Diocese of the allegations in 8/2018. Kuper was pastor of Christ the King 1977-1987. Assignments also included St. Agnes and Holy Rosary, and St. Bernard in Rockport. He was also superintendent of Rex Mundi High School at some point and diocesan superintendent 1972-1977. Retired in 2006. Died 11/13/2012. Name not included on the Diocese's list of accused 2/22/2019. The Diocese announced in 6/20 that it could not substantiate the allegations.
Fr. Mark Kurzendoerfer
Accused of an "improper physical relationship" with a 14-year-old boy in 1981. In 1998 he admitted to soliciting sex from his own 17-year-old nephew. The Diocese did not tell authorities. Sent for treatment in 1998, reassigned in 1999. Info became public in 2002 when the nephew came forward after Kurzendoerfer was removed from his parish. Sent for therapy again 2002 after violating restrictions. Moved to Nashville in 2002; worked there until 2004 when Kurezendorfer's boss learned of his past. Included on the Diocese's list 2/22/2019, which notes four credible allegations and that he admitted to two. Laicized 11/1/2009.
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Fr. Othmar H. Schroeder
Died 2/16/1988. Allegations of abuse by Schroeder 1947-1975 at Holy Family parish were made public 8/18/2007. Bishop Gettelfinger stated that he knew of allegations in 1996 but recently learned that the "scope is greater than we knew." By 8/31/2007 there were claims of abuse of at least 10 boys and girls. Schroeder began as a priest of the then-Diocese of Indianapolis. His first parish was in Lawrence IN, near Cincinnati, now in the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. Included on the Diocese of Evansville's list 2/22/2019.
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Fr. Francis A. Schroering
Accused in 2002 of fondling two girls in the 1960s. Removed in 6/2002. Schroering's accusers were asked to meet with a psychologist who was to make a report to the Diocesan Review Board. In 9/2002 the Board considered one claim and recommended that Schroering be "immediately" reinstated. The other claim was not considered because the girl was 18 at the time of the alleged abuse. Retired in 6/2003 due to "illness." Died 6/1/2005. At one parish, admitted abuser Fr. Mark Kurzendoerfer was Schroering's assistant pastor.
Fr. Jean F. Vogler
Caught in a sting ordering child pornography for delivery to the Holy Rosary rectory, where he was pastor. Inspectors found 92 videos in a trunk in the rectory, many of them 'extremely graphic and explicit child porn.' Resigned 12/8/1995. Pleaded guilty and sent to prison for a year. As of 2008, Vogler was lead priest at Holy Trinity parish, director of the diocese's deacon program, and member of the priests' council. Retired 9/2/2011 per the diocese's website accessed 2/26/2012. Allowed active ministry until he was removed 2/19/2019, just before the Diocese released its list of credibly accused clerics. Included on the list.
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Fr. Richard J. Wildeman
Removed in 5/2002 after admitting to the bishop that allegations that he fondled a 16-year-old girl on several occasions over 20 years prior were "substantially true." Wildeman been working in Haiti for two years. He was recalled to Evansville after his victim notified the Diocese and left active ministry 5/28/2002. In 3/2004 he was living in Nashville, TN. Laicized 8/17/2007. Included on the Diocese's list of credibly accused 2/22/2019.
Fr. Robert K. Woerdeman
Named publicly as accused by the Diocese on its list 2/22/2019. One allegation noted, deemed credible by the St. Meinrad Archabbey Review Board. Air Force chaplain in 1962, remaining in that role until at least 1974. Laicized in 1975. Married, settled in Rancho Cordova CA. Died in 2005.