Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend IN

26 Accused in This Diocese

Seminarian Randall Blum

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Order: CSC
Status: Guilty plea

Diocese: Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend IN

Seminarian. Named publicly as accused by the Congregation of Holy Cross on its list 6/12/2019. First vows in 1983. The list notes that Blum was dismissed from seminary. Multiple allegations in 1986, after his dismissal, of abuse in IN in the 1980s. Blum reportedly was charged in 1986 after accusation he molested two boys, ages 13 and 16, at Christ the King School. Pleaded guilty to one of the charges; he had admitted to police to touching "several" teenage boys.

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Fr. James R. Blume

Ordained: 1980
Status: Convicted

Diocese: Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend IN

Professed final vows in 1971 for the Brothers of the Holy Cross. He had been assigned for several years to the St. Charles Boys Home in Milwaukee, in charge of a dorm. Blume worked at the Home until 1978. He was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend in 1980. In 1991 a man filed suit, alleging sexual abuse as a boy by Blume 1982-1985, starting when he was 14. The man had first came forward in 1988 or 1989; Bishop D'Arcy forced Blume to resign in 1989 after he completed therapy. The suit settled in 11/1992. A second man filed suit in 1992 claiming Blume sexually abused him 1985-1987, beginning when he was 14. Blume was laicized 6/23/2007. Criminal charges were filed in 8/2009. In 1/2010 Blume pleaded guilty to the sexual abuse in Milwaukee of two boys, one in 1979 and the other 1982-1984. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison. An appeal was denied in 11/2012. His name is included on the Ft. Wayne diocese 9/18/2018 list of credibly accused, which notes five credible allegations. On the WI sex offender registry.

Fr. Michael J. Buescher

Ordained: 1979
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend IN

First named publicly as accused on the Diocese's 9/18/2018 list. Noted to have six credible allegations against him. Removed from parish ministry in 11/1989. One accuser said he was age 12 when the abuse occurred in 1980 at St. Charles Borromeo in Fort Wayne. Buescher was laicized 5/14/1991 and, at some point, moved to Indianapolis. Beginning in 2001 he worked as a vocational rehabilitation counselor for the Department of Veterans Affairs. Retired 9/28/2018, ten days after the allegations were made public.

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Diocese of Ft Wayne-South Bend list 09.18.18

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Fr. James T. Burtchaell

Order: CSC
Ordained: 1960
Status: Accused

Died: 04/10/2015
Diocese: Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend IN

Notre Dame professor, former head of the Theology Department. Resigned his tenured position and position as Provost in 1991 after allegations by male students that he subjected them to sexual advances while counseling them. At least one allegation was received in 1991 and another was received "considerably before 1991." Living as of 2003 in a Holy Cross priests' residence in Phoenix, without privileges. Died 4/10/2015.

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Fr. Brian Carsten

Ordained: 1970
Status: Accused

Died: 03/27/2009
Diocese: Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend IN

"Fr. Skip." First named publicly as accused on the Diocese's 9/18/2018 list. One known credible allegation. "Terminated as Pastor and Resigned as Member of the Roman Catholic Church" 5/9/1987. Laicized 6/23/2007. In 1991 Carsten became pastor of a St. Mary Magdala Spiritual Center in Fort Wayne, part of a non-Roman Catholic "Orthodox-Catholic Church of America." He died 3/27/2009.

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Diocese of Ft. Wayne-South Bend list 09.18.18

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Diocese of Ft. Wayne-South Bend list 09.18.18

Fr. William J. Ehrman

Ordained: 1922
Status: Accused

Died: 08/7/1983
Diocese: Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend IN

In 2002, a woman alleged abuse by Ehrman as a girl beginning in 1953 or 1954. Her son said he reported the abuse in 1998 but diocesan officials claimed they never received it. Both mother and son met with officials again in 2002 but received no official response. Another woman said Ehrman exposed himself to her in 1968 and kissed her while another woman says he fondled her. In 11/2002, Bishop D'Arcy stated that the allegations of abuse against Ehrman "appear to be credible." Ehrman retired in 1970 and died 8/7/1983. Included on the Diocese's 9/18/2018 list, which notes eight credible allegations against Ehrman, received after his death.

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Ft. Wayne-South Bend list 09.18.18

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Fr. Joseph W. Gaughan

Ordained: 1994
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend IN

Pastor of Most Precious Blood in Fort Wayne. The Diocese announced on 12/14/2019 that it had received a credible allegation that Gaughan sexually abused a minor over 20 years prior, while assigned to St. Anthony de Padua in South Bend. Placed on leave. Case referred to the Vatican. Added to diocese's list of credibly accused 1/18/2020.

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Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend Updated List 01.18.20

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Fr. William Gieranowski

Ordained: 1949
Status: Accused

Died: 04/24/2000
Diocese: Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend IN

First named publicly as accused by the Diocese on its 9/18/2018 list. Noted to have three credible allegations against him, all received after his death. The Diocese's list in 9/2021 shows five credible allegations. Retired in 7/1982. Died 4/24/2000.

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Fr. John E. Gillig

Ordained: 1957
Status: Accused

Died: 07/27/2011
Diocese: Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend IN

First accused publicly on the Diocese's 9/18/2018 list. Noted to have nine credible allegations against him. The Diocese's list in 9/2021 shows 12 allegations. Retired in 4/1988. Suspended from public ministry 3/25/2002. Laicized 2/8/2008. Died 7/27/2011.

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Diocese of Ft. Wayne-South Bend list 09.18.18

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Diocese of Ft. Wayne-South Bend list 09.18.18

Deacon Gabriel Hernandez

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Ordained: 2008
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend IN

Ordained for the diaconate in 2008. First named publicly as accused by the Diocese on its 9/18/18 list. One known credible allegation. Dismissed from seminary 4/22/2009. Laicized 2/25/2010. Included on the Columbus Diocese's list 3/1/2019.

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Diocese of Ft. Wayne-South Bend list 09.18.18

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Fr. Martin A. Horvath

Ordained: 1943
Status: Accused

Died: 09/20/2000
Diocese: Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend IN

Named in a news report in 9/2018 as having "possible" allegations against him. Not included on the diocese's list of "diocesan priests and members of religious orders who have been credibly accused of abuse by the diocese, after the cases were vetted by the diocesan review board." Horvath died 9/20/2000.

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Fr. David Huneck

Ordained: 2018
Status: Guilty plea

Diocese: Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend IN

The Diocese announced on 9/27/2021 that on 9/19/2021 it had received notice of an allegation that Huneck "was engaging in sexual and other misconduct, including that with a minor." He resigned from his position as pastor of St. Paul of the Cross in Columbia City and as chaplain of Bishop Dwenger High School in Fort Wayne, and was suspended from all ministry by the Diocese. His name was added to the Diocese's list of credibly accused. He was criminally charged 10/8/2021 with sexual abuse involving two female teenagers, one a minor. The two knew him from his role at Bishop Dwenger. Huneck allegedly invited them on two occasions to his parish home, gave them alcohol, groped them after he became intoxicated and, on the second occasion, exposed himself. In a 12/2021 plea deal, Huneck agreed to plead guilty to the felony charges of child solicitation and sexual battery if the misdemeanor charges against him were dropped. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced in 3/2022 to 180 days' home detention and two years' probation.

Fr. Edward Krason

Ordained: 1958
Status: Accused

Died: 03/25/2013
Diocese: Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend IN

Former principal of Bishop Dwenger High School in Fort Wayne. First named publicly as accused on the Diocese's 9/18/2018 list. Two known credible allegations noted. Per the Diocese's list updated in 9/2021, there were three credible allegations. Resigned as pastor 7/8/1998. Ordered to cease all ministry 4/16/1999. Retired 5/1/1999. Faculties removed 3/21/2003. Ordered to live Life of Prayer and Penance 11/8/2005. Died 3/25/2013.

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Diocese of Ft. Wayne-South Bend list 09.18.18

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Fr. Paul Francis LeBrun

Order: CSC
Ordained: 1983
Status: Convicted

Diocese: Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend IN

Arrested in 2002. Accused of sexually abusing boys in the Ft. Wayne-South Bend IN diocese and the Phoenix AZ diocese. Denied the allegations. Documents show that LeBrun's order knew of his abuse of children as early as 1987, the year he was transferred to AZ. Returned to IN in 1993. Resigned from his parish in 1999, sent to Southdown in Toronto for treatment. Convicted in 2005 in AZ; sentenced in 2006 to 111 years in prison. Laicized in 2008. Five lawsuits which name LeBrun as an abuser were settled by the Phoenix Diocese for a total of $75K. Conviction upheld by AZ Court of Appeals in 7/2009. Included on Ft. Wayne-South Bend diocese's 9/18/2018 list. One known allegation there. On order's list 6/12/2019.

Fr. Thomas C. Lombardi

Ordained: 1975
Status: Accused

Died: 12/28/2017
Diocese: Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend IN

Former principal of Huntington Catholic High School. Placed on leave in 12/2011 from his assignment at St. Joseph Hessen Cassel parish in Fort Wayne after a recent allegation that he had had "contact with a minor," about age 16, in approximately 1997. Lombardi was assigned to St. Louis Besancon from 1986 to July 1997. Police were unable to investigate because no victim had come forward. His accuser wanted to remain anonymous. Included on the Diocese's 9/18/2018 list. Noted to have been removed from public ministry 8/9/2015, with one credible allegation against him. Died 12/28/2017.

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Diocese of Ft. Wayne-South Bend list 09.18.18

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Fr. Ralph G. Luczak

Order: CSC
Ordained: 1958
Status: Accused

Died: 02/22/1970
Diocese: Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend IN

A woman said in 2003 that Luczak molested her at age 10 on several occasions in the summer of 1969, at her grandmother's lake house near a Holy Cross retreat house. She told her mom, who told a doctor and the police. Nothing was done. The mom then told a priest; Luczak was sent to CA. The alleged victim thought Luczak was going to a monastery, but he was placed at a high school. Luczak died at age 38 in 1970 in San Francisco, CA. The Order said there was nothing in his personnel file regarding abuse. Included on the Order's list 6/12/2019. Added to the Fort Wayne-South Bend diocese's list 1/18/2020. Included in the IL Attorney General's 5/23/2023 IL Attorney General's Report (with an incorrect death year).

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Diocese of Fort Wayne List updated 01.18.20

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Fr. Robert J. Mahoney

Ordained: 1967
Status: Sued

Diocese: Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend IN

Two men filed civil suits in 1992 and 1993 against the Diocese and Mahoney. The first plaintiff claimed Mahoney "assaulted, battered and raped" him 1981-1983 as a child at an elementary school in South Bend; the second claimed abuse 1970-1972 at a school in Mishawaka. The suits were dismissed in 12/1993 and 2/1994 "with prejudice." No reasons were provided. Resigned from ministry 6/15/1993. Laicized 7/25/2006. Included on the Diocese's 9/18/2018 list, which notes four credible allegations.

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Diocese of Ft. Wayne-South Bend list 09.18.18

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Fr. Elden Joseph Miller

Ordained: 1954
Status: Accused

Died: 07/26/2008
Diocese: Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend IN

Retired in 7/2003. Removed from public ministry 12/18/2006. Died in 7/26/2008. Name released in 8/2018 by Bishop Rhoades as accused. In 2015 a 60-year-old woman told the Diocese that Miller sexually abused her over a 5-year period in the 1960s, beginning when she was age 6. Her grandmother was a housekeeper in the the St. Joseph rectory in Mishawaka. Per the Diocese, there are credible allegations against Miller from three other people. Included on the Diocese's 9/18/2018 list, which notes two credible allegations. The Diocese's updated list in 9/2021 shows four credible allegations.

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Fr. John J. Powell

Order: SJ
Ordained: 1956
Status: Settled

Died: 09/24/2009
Diocese: Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend IN

Professor of psychology and theology. Wrote self-help books popular with adolescent girls. Sued in 2003. Accused of abuse of 7 girls in the 1960s and 1970s. Settlement with 6 (2 suits) in 10/2005. Named in another suit filed in 10/2006. A woman claimed he abused her in 1975 or 1976 when she was a Loyola University student. A civil suit filed in 11/2008 alleged that Powell fondled and abused a girl, age 16-17, at Rosarian Academy in West Palm Beach, FL when he conducted a seminar there. Per the Province's list revised 1/21/2020, abuse is alleged to have occurred in 1963 while Powell was a visiting retreat director at St. Mary's College of Notre Dame University. Died 9/24/2009. Included on the Detroit archdiocese's list of credibly accused 6/10/2019. On Ft. Wayne-South Bend's list in 12/2020. Included in the 5/23/2023 IL Attorney General's Report, which notes at least 4 "reported survivors," of abuse in 1963 in IN, 1966-1967 in IL, 1967 in IL, and 1967 in FL. The Order's list updated 10/30/2023 reflects this.

Fr. Cornelius J. Ryan

Order: CSC
Ordained: 1966
Status: Accused

Died: 12/29/2021
Diocese: Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend IN

Worked in Uganda and Kenya 1967-2002, where he was a well-known soccer coach. Returned to Provincial House in South Bend in 2001. Removed without privileges 6/10/2013 from Saint Joseph's in Hessen Cassel after recent credible allegation that he had sexually abused a boy in Africa about 20 years previously. When confronted by the Diocese, Ryan admitted the allegations were true. Included on the Order's list 6/12/2019, which notes multiple allegations received in 2013 of sex abuse occurring in the 1980s in Africa. It also said that Ryan was in a long-term treatment facility without access to minors. He died 12/29/2021 at Holy Cross House in Notre Dame, IN.

Fr. Bruce A. Schutt

Ordained: 1965
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend IN

First publicly accused by the Diocese on its list in 10/2018, which notes two credible allegations of the sexual abuse of minors, occurring in 1965 and 1974. Schutt was assigned to St. Monica in Mishawaka 1965-4/1968, St. John the Baptist in Fort Wayne 4/1968 then moving in 6/1968 to St. Patrick's in Fort Wayne. He joined the Army National Guard as chaplain in 6/1971 and was assigned 7/1/1971 to Sacred Heart in Fort Wayne. From 4/15 to 12/31/1974 Schutt worked in the Diocese of LaCross WI. He was laicized 5/9/1975.

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Fr. James F. Seculoff

Ordained: 1962
Status: Accused

Died: 02/2/2025
Diocese: Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend IN

High school principal. Head of Catholic Schools beginning in 1970. Resigned and retired in 1/2014 after the Diocese received an allegation that Seculoff of sexually abused a minor about 44 years prior. The Review Board deemed the allegation credible. Matter referred to Rome. As of 1/27/2014 three more accusers had come forward with credible allegations. Seculoff was removed from public ministry 10/13/2015. His name is included on the Diocese's 9/18/2018 list, which notes five credible allegations. The Diocese's list in 9/2021 shows six credible allegations. In 1/2025 it shows that Seculoff had been sentenced in 11/2022 to a Life of Prayer and Penance. In its judgment, the Vatican stated "he was found guilty of sexual abuse of minors on many occasions and solicitation to violations of the sixth commandment in the Sacrament of Confession on many occasions." He died 2/2/2025.

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Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend list 09.18.18

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Fr. Richard Stieglitz

Ordained: 1973
Status: Sued

Died: 11/6/2024
Diocese: Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend IN

Bishop D'Arcy forced Stieglitz to resign from Queen of Angels Parish in 12/1993 after he adopted four Haitian youths in 1992. Accused in a 1994 lawsuit of sexual battery against a 7th- or 8th-grade boy in 1980 while assigned to St. Jude Catholic School. The suit was later dismissed due to the statute of limitations. Accused in 2010 of abuse in 1975 while at South Bend Holy Family. Laicized on 7/7/2007. Included on the Diocese's 9/18/2018 list; five credible allegations noted. Stieglitz died 11/06/2024.

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Diocese of Ft Wayne-South Bend list 09.18.18

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Fr. Richard F. Thompson

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Ordained: 1978
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend IN

First named publicly as accused on the Indianapolis-Fort Wayne Diocese's 9/18/2018 list, one credible allegation noted. Resigned from active ministry 10/24/1989. Laicized 7/25/2006. Died in 2015. Assigned to parishes in new Haven, Mishawaka and Geneva. Worked at Covenant House for runaway children in New York in 1982.

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Diocese of Ft. Wayne-South Bend list 09.18.18

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Diocese of Ft. Wayne-South Bend list 09.18.18

Fr. James R. Trepanier

Order: CSC
Ordained: 1955
Status: Accused

Died: 11/3/2021
Diocese: Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend IN

First named publicly as accused on Ft. Wayne-South Bend's 9/18/2018 list. One known credible allegation. Faculties in the diocese removed 10/18/2002. Assignments included University of Portland OR, Holy Cross Mission House (Fatima), South Bend and Granger parishes, St. Mary's Convent in Notre Dame. On Order's list 6/12/2019. It notes an allegation received in 1991 of abuse in the 1980s in IL. Ministry restricted in 1991. Permanently removed from ministry in 2002. Living in a nursing facility without access to minors. Died 11/3/2021 at Holy Cross House, Notre Dame, IN. Included in the 5/23/2023 IL Attorney General's Report.

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Diocese of Ft Wayne-South Bend list 09.18.18

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Sr. Susan Whitten

Order: PHJC
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend IN

Member of the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ. (PHJC). Taught at Bishop Dwenger High School in Fort Wayne 1963-1967. Dispensed from vows in 1967. Deceased. Named by the diocese in 9/2011 as credibly accused of the sexual abuse of a minor. Her accuser was a 1967 graduate of Dwenger.

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Journal Gazette 09.11.19

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.

26 Accused in This Diocese

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