10 Accused in This Diocese
- Orlando Sentinel 12.11.03
- Boston com 12.12.03
- Bulletin of St Stanislaus Kostka Parish 07.15.07
- News Dispatch 07.25.07
- Bulletin of St Monica’s Church, Kalamazoo, MI 07.25.07
- The Times 12.20.08
- Post-Tribune 08.29.18
- Diocese of Gary List updated 09.25.18
- Archdiocese of Chicago List 10.14.22
- MI A.G. Attorney General’s Kalamazoo Report 05.22.24
Fr. Joseph Buczyna
First named as accused publicly by the Gary diocese on its list released 8/27/2018. Noted to have one allegation against him. Died 1/12/1976.
Fr. Terrence R. Chase
Placed on leave 4/15/2010 after recent allegations that he had engaged in sexual misconduct with a minor in around 1991 while he was an associate priest at St. Patrick's in Chesterton. Chase denied the allegations in a written letter to parishioners. The diocesan response team said the allegation appeared to have merit. Chase was laicized 1/4/2016. His name is included on the Diocese's list released 8/27/2018.
Fr. Donald C. Grass
In 12/2003, Grass admitted to molesting a preteen girl at Holy Angels Cathedral in the late 1960s. Placed on leave. She told the Diocese in 11/2003 and the review board investigated. Grass was in the hospital for cancer treatment when the news broke. He was no longer allowed to live in his parish residence. The bishop said he believed that the girl was Grass's only victim. Grass had Monsignor status when he died 7/2/2010. Included on The Diocese's list of credibly accused released 8/27/2018.
Fr. Basil Hutsko
Priest of the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Parma. Assigned to St. Michael Byzantine Catholic Church in Merrillville when placed on leave in 10/2018. Had been accused in 2004 of sexually abusing a girl between 1979 and 1983. Church investigated in 2004, said not enough evidence. Deemed credible in 2018. In 8/2018 Hutsko claimed he was attacked by an unknown person inside his church and that the assailant yelled, "This is for all the kids!" The FBI investigated it as a potential hate crime. The 'incident' was found to be fabricated by Hutsko. The Eparchy of Parma announced in 8/2020 that Hutsko was permanently banned from public ministry. He was ordered to live a life of prayer and penance.
Fr. Julian Jercha
First named publicly as credibly accused on the Gary diocese's list released 8/27/2018. Noted to have three allegations against him. Died 6/27/1987.
Fr. Louis A. Jeziorski
First named publicly as credibly accused by Gary diocese on list released 8/27/2018. Noted to have three allegations against him. Died 4/6/1973.
Fr. George Kavungal
From India. Arrived in Gary as a visiting priest in 1978. First named publicly as credibly accused by the Gary diocese on its list released 8/27/2018, with six allegations. In 3/2002 the Diocese received a report of abuse by Kavungal in 1982. He was assigned 1981-1984 to Ss. Peter and Paul in Merrillville. He reportedly returned to India by 11/1985, working at schools until 1998. In 9/2000 he went to Sweden, where a woman accused him of sexual harassment; he left Sweden in 1/2004. From 2004-2005 Kavungal was director of a school in Kenya. He returned to India in 2005, where he was Superior of a school until 2008 in Chalakudy, and had the same position until 2001 in New Mumbai.
Fr. Ambrose T. McGinnity
Parish priest. Navy chaplain 1949-1954. First named publicly as accused by the Gary diocese on its list released 8/27/2018. Noted to have six allegations against him and removed from public ministry in 1993. Died 2/27/2000.
Fr. Stanley Staniszewski
Ordained for the Diocese of Warsaw, Poland. Worked in the Gary IN diocese 1974-1983, the Chicago archdiocese 1990-1993, the Kalamazoo diocese 1994-1998, and in the Sioux Falls diocese 1998-2002. Accused in 7/2007 of sexual abuse while in Gary IN. Allegations then surfaced that he had abused two boys in the 1990s in Kalamazoo; deemed credible. Staniszewski reportedly was living in FL, no longer in active ministry. Accused in a civil suit in Gary of abuse of a boy at Casimir Catholic Church's grade school 1979-1981. Included on the Gary diocese's list released 8/27/2018. Noted to have died 4/2/2016. Per his obituary, Staniszewski had been living in Glen Ellyn, IL. Included in 10/2022 on the Chicago archdiocese's list of credibly accused. Included in the 5/23/2023 IL Attorney General's Report. Included in the MI Attorney General's report on Kalamazoo 5/22/24 .
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Fr. Stephen V. Varga
From Hungary, where he was ordained and first assigned. Arrived in the U.S. in 1950. Worked that year in Cleveland, OH and McKeesport, PA. Assigned in 1956 to a Gary parish. Taught at Bishop Noll High School in Hammond, IN. Incardinated into the Diocese of Gary 9/28/1967. Named as credibly accused on the Gary diocese's list released 8/29/2018. Noted to have one allegation against him. Laicized 7/28/1971. Went on to marry and have children. Longtime resident of Cedar Lake, IN. Died at age 82 on 7/12/2006.