Archdiocese of Kansas City KS - BishopAccountability.org

28 Accused in This Diocese

Fr. Robert Aiduk

Ordained: 1957
Status: Accused

Died: 01/4/2019
Diocese: Archdiocese of Kansas City KS

Named publicly as the subject of substantiated allegations by the Archdiocese on its list in 10/2023, received in 12/2022. Aiduk allegedly sexually abused two minors while assigned to Sacred Heart in Mound City, KS 1963-1967. He left the priesthood in 9/1967 and went on to marry and raise a child. He had a long career as a doctor of clinical psychology. He was voluntarily laicized in 2016. Aiduk died in 2019.

Assignments:

Archdiocese of Kansas City KS 10.14.23

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Fr. John Brayley

Ordained: 1950
Status: Accused

Died: 12/28/1990
Diocese: Archdiocese of Kansas City KS

Appears on the Archdiocese of Kansas City KS list in 3/20 as the subject of substantiated allegations of the sexual abuse of a minor. Noted to have been a priest of the Archdiocese of Montreal visiting friends in Roeland Park KS in 1980, when the abuse is estimated to have occurred. Appears to be the Fr. John Brayley who founded the Christophers, a movement for which he recruited youth in Canada and the U.S. to live and work among the poor "without chaperone." Brayley died in 1990.

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Fr. William Bruning

Ordained: 1993
Status: Accused

Diocese: Archdiocese of Kansas City KS

Suspended in 6/15 after an allegation from a woman in her early thirties that Bruning sexually abused her as a girl when she attended Most Pure Heart of Mary School in Topeka. The Review Board determined that it could not substantiate the claims and he was returned to ministry. His accuser again contacted the archdiocese in 10/18 with new information and the case was reopened. The Review Board found the allegations not credible. Allegation not made public until 2/19, when Bruning announced it at mass. He denied the allegation. Bruning had resigned from an Olathe parish in 6/13 for an allegation that did not involve minors of "behaviors in violation of his promise of celibate chastity."

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Fr. Thomas F. Cawley

Order: CM
Ordained: 1957
Status: Accused

Diocese: Archdiocese of Kansas City KS

Spent 16 yrs in Hong Kong and next 15 in Rome. Working in Kansas City KS when man recognized him and came forward 8/04 with allegation that he had been molested by Cawley for 2 years in 1979 in Hong Kong. Cawley placed on leave and the Order began an investigation. Civil suit filed 8/05 in St. Louis, the home of the Order. Assigned to Vincentian Parish Mission Center in Independence MO 6/07.

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Fr. Lambert Dannenfelser

Order: OFM
Ordained: 1940
Status: Accused

Died: 10/30/2006
Diocese: Archdiocese of Kansas City KS

Entered the Cincinnati-based Province of St. John the Baptist Franciscans in 1931. Named publicly as accused by the Kansas City KS archdiocese on its list 1/25/2019. Multiple allegations of abuse around 1989. Died 10/30/2006. Added to Las Cruces diocese's list in 2020, where he was assigned to St. Peter's in Roswell 1962-1968. Included on the Gallup diocese's list of credibly accused in 11/2021. On the Cincinnati archdiocese's list in 2/2022. Included in 6/2022 on the St. John the Baptist Province Franciscans list; noted to have been removed from ministry.

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Fr. William A. Finnerty

Ordained: 1955
Status: Accused

Died: 10/7/2009
Diocese: Archdiocese of Kansas City KS

Graduate of Conception Abbey. Accused at some point of abusing a girl more than 30 years prior. Archdiocese recommended that he remain at a care facility due to his poor health, with restrictions. Died in 10/09 at age 82. On the archdiocese's list 1/35/19. It notes multiple allegations of abuse, occurring in the early- to mid-1960s.

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Fr. James A. Forsythe

Ordained: 1983
Status: Convicted

Diocese: Archdiocese of Kansas City KS

Pled guilty 12/89 to having "sexual relations" with a teenage boy over a 2-year period. Sentenced to 1-5 years in jail; served 3-4 months, then released on probation. Sent to treatment in NM for 7 months. Victim received settlement from archdiocese. On leave per 1990 Directory. Reportedly left the priesthood that year. Became minister for a protestant sect in SD until forced to resign in 2002 after community learned of past. Moved to FL. Hired in 2005 at an alternative Catholic church in Wilton Manors. Living in FL and Costa Rica as of 2009, per FL Sex Offender Registry. On the Kansas City KS archdiocese's list 1/25/19. It notes multiple allegations, and that Forsythe was laicized in 2005.

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Fr. Roderic Giller

Order: OSB
Ordained: 1962
Status: Accused

Diocese: Archdiocese of Kansas City KS

The Archdiocese and St. Benedict's Abbey announced on 5/31/2024 that Giller was the subject of substantiated allegations of child sexual abuse, occurring while assigned to Sts. Peter and Paul in Seneca. Allegations were first received in 7/2004 and treated as "boundary violations." Retired in 2013. Per the announcement, there was further investigation recently due to new information. Added to the Archdiocese's list of those with substantiated allegations.

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Fr. Lawrence Ginzkey

Ordained: 1972
Status: Accused

Diocese: Archdiocese of Kansas City KS

Named publicly as accused by the archdiocese on its list 1/25/19. It notes multiple allegations of abuse, occurring in 1985. Laicized in 2005.

Sources:

Archdiocese of Kansas City KS List 01.25.19

Fr. William Mark Haegelin

Ordained: 1976
Status: Accused

Diocese: Archdiocese of Kansas City KS

Removed in 9/02 after a man accused Haegelin of inappropriate sexual relations with him as a minor in the 1980s. Haegelin denied the allegation. He later admitted to having a sexual relationship with the man, but only when the man was an adult. In 11/02 the archdiocesan review board cleared him of allegations of sexual misconduct with a minor. No criminal investigation because Haegelin's accuser did not want one. Review board recommended he return to ministry after spiritual counseling. On the archdiocese's list 1/25/19. It notes that it could not determine if the "sexual relationship" began while Haegelin's accuser was still a minor. Laicized in 2004. In 6/21 the archdiocese announced that allegation that the victim was a minor during the time in question was substantiated.

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Fr. John J. Harrington

Donate Photo

Ordained: 1947
Status: Accused

Diocese: Archdiocese of Kansas City KS

Named publicly as accused by the archdiocese on its list 1/25/19. Multiple allegations of abuse, occurring 1940s and 1960s. Died 1986.

Sources:

Archdiocese of Kansas City KS List 01.25.19

Fr. Martin Juarez

Ordained: 1981
Status: Sued

Diocese: Archdiocese of Kansas City KS

Accused in a lawsuit filed in 8/2017 of sexually abusing an altar boy at St. Matthew's in Topeka over a three-year period, beginning when the boy was age 9 in the early 1980s. Juarez's accuser said the abuse occurred multiple times in various places, including the parish rectory, and it included fondling, oral and forced anal sex. Per the archdiocese, Juarez left priestly ministry there in 1994 and was laicized in 2005. On the archdiocese's list 1/25/2019. It notes multiple allegations of abuse, occurring in the early- to mid-1980s.

Assignments:

BishopAccountability.org Assignment Record

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Fr. Scott James Kallal

Order: AVI
Ordained: 2011
Status: Indicted

Diocese: Archdiocese of Kansas City KS

Member of the Apostles of the Interior Life. Assistant at Holy Spirit in Overland Park when suspended 7/17 after two people complained of inappropriate conduct by Kallal, one toward an 11-year-old girl. Per the girl's father, the priest tickled her and touched her breast at a St. Patrick's gathering in the summer of 2015. Kallal denied "moral misconduct or malicious intent." Arrested in MD 7/24/17, where he had been sent for treatment. Charged with two felony counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child. Pled not guilty. Judge ordered trial. On archdiocese's list 1/25/19. Trial in 9/19 ended in a hung jury. To remain on leave of absence. In 9/21 the District Attorney's Office dismissed the case after determining that a retrial was not in the best interest of the alleged victim. Kallal was to remain on leave pending an investigation by the archdiocese.

Fr. Steven Lamping

Order: OFM
Ordained: 1929
Status: Accused

Died: 12/7/1995
Diocese: Archdiocese of Kansas City KS

Priest of the Order of St. Francis, Province of St. John the Baptist. Named publicly as accused by the Kansas City KS archdiocese on its list 1/25/2019. It notes multiple allegations of abuse, occurring in the 1950s. Retired in 1973. Died 12/7/1995. (Twin of accused Franciscan Fr. Severin Lamping). Added to the Jefferson City diocese's list in 10/2020. Included on the Cincinnati archdiocese's list in 2/2022. Noted to have left the order and been secularized. Included in 6/2022 on the Franciscans' St. John the Baptist Province list.

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Fr. Adrian D. Lickteig

Order: OCarm
Ordained: 1932
Status: Accused

Died: 08/19/1968
Diocese: Archdiocese of Kansas City KS

Also known as Peter Lickteig. Named publicly as accused by the Kansas City KS archdiocese on its list 1/25/2019. It notes one allegation of abuse, occurring in 1959. He died in 1968, at age 68. Name included in 10/2022 on the Chicago archdiocese's list of credibly accused. Included in the 4/23/2023 IL Attorney General's Report.

Assignments:

Carmelites Assignments

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Fr. Finian Meis

Order: OFM Cap
Ordained: 1964
Status: Accused

Died: 06/23/1997
Diocese: Archdiocese of Kansas City KS

Worked in Dioceses of Salina and Archdiocese of Kansas City KS. Allegations made in 2003 to Review Board. A woman said he abused her when she was 18 and he was part of the Salina diocese. Also, a man alleged abuse as a boy in the 1970s at Church of the Good Shepherd in Shawnee. Three claims settled alleging abuse of one girl and two boys. Meis was "dismissed from the church" in 1986 and later laicized. He died in 1997. In 2013 a man claimed abuse at age 11 in 1972 by Meis during counseling sessions. The Review Board determined that the man's claims could not be validated. He was barred from suing due to the statute of limitations. Meis was named as credibly accused on the KCK diocese's list in 1/2019. Included on the Capuchin Province of Mid-America list 3/1/2019. Per the Salina diocese, abuse occurred in the 1960s-1970s.

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Fr. John Pilcher

Ordained: 1999
Status: Reinstated

Diocese: Archdiocese of Kansas City KS

Pastor of Mater Dei in Topeka when suspended in 9/2021 due to an allegation that he had sexually abused a boy. Pilcher denied the allegation. In 4/2022 the Shawnee Co. District Attorney announced that he would not file charges. The Archdiocese announced on 4/29/2022 that Pilcher would be returned to ministry. Sent to Rome for a sabbatical. Assigned in 1/2024 to a parish in Lenexa, resulting in an outcry from parishioners who demanded Pilcher's resignation.

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Fr. Anthony Putti

Ordained: 2001
Status: Accused

Diocese: Archdiocese of Kansas City KS

Priest of the Diocese of Guntur, India. Worked in the archdiocese for several years while pursuing graduate studies in theology. Left his assignments at St. Gregory's in Marysville and St. Malachy 's in Beattie in 2010 and returned to India, after admitting to sexual relations with an adult. On 4/2/13 the archdiocese received an allegation that Putti had abused a minor. He denied the allegation. On the archdiocese's list 1/25/19.

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Fr. Barry Richardson

Donate Photo

Ordained: 1997
Status: Accused

Diocese: Archdiocese of Kansas City KS

Named publicly as accused by the archdiocese on its list 1/25/19. It notes multiple allegations of abuse, occurring in 1999. Laicized 2005.

Sources:

Archdiocese of Kansas City KS List 01.25.19

Fr. Edward F. Roberts

Ordained: 1941
Status: Accused

Diocese: Archdiocese of Kansas City KS

The archdiocese announced in 9/15 that it had recently received credible allegations of abuse of minors against Roberts. Assigned to St. Peter Cathedral in KC, St Teresa in Westphalia, Sacred Heart in Baileville, St. Gregory in Marysville, St. Joseph in Nortonville, Holy Name in Topeka. Died in 9/18/97. On the archdiocese's list 1/25/19. It notes allegations of abuse occurring 1949 to the early 1990s.

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Fr. Christopher Rossman

Ordained: 2007
Status: Convicted

Diocese: Archdiocese of Kansas City KS

Pastor of Annunciation parish in Baldwin City and St. Francis of Assisi in Lapeer when suspended 9/16 after reports to the archdiocese that he had visited "inappropriate websites, including those depicting minors." Archdiocese said it notified the FBI immediately. On the archdiocese's list 1/25/19. It notes ongoing law enforcement investigation. Charged in federal court in 7/19 with child porn possession. Pled guilty. Per investigators, Rossman's sister tried to destroy his computer by running it over. Archdiocese deemed allegations substantiated and laicization was pending as of 3/6/20. Sentenced in 7/20 to 37 months in federal prison.

Assignments:

BA.org Assignment Record

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Fr. Frank Schepers

Donate Photo

Ordained: 1955
Status: Accused

Diocese: Archdiocese of Kansas City KS

Named publicly as accused by the archdiocese on its list 1/25/19. It notes multiple allegations of abuse, occurring 1975-76. Died in 2002.

Sources:

Archdiocese of Kansas City KS List 01.25.19

Fr. Dennis E. Schmitz

Ordained: 1989
Status: Guilty plea

Diocese: Archdiocese of Kansas City KS

Placed on leave in 5/2002 and charged in 6/2002 with improperly touching a teenage youth several times 6/1998-5/1999. Pleaded guilty in 2002. Received a 32-month sentence. Also convicted in another county and sentenced in 1/2003 to 32 months probation. Served as vocations director for the Archdiocese 1994-7/2001. A civil suit against the Archdiocese was settled in 2003. Suit against Schmitz was ongoing. Schmitz agreed to seek laicization. Included on the KS sex offender registry 1/3/2010. On the Archdiocese's list 1/25/2019. Noted to have been laicized in 2005. In 7/2024 the Archdiocese announced that there were additional substantiated allegations against Schmitz of the sexual abuse of minors and adults, occurring in the late 1990s and 2000s.

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Fr. Michael Scully

Order: OFM Cap
Ordained: 1965
Status: Unsubstantiated

Diocese: Archdiocese of Kansas City KS

Former Provincial of the Capuchins' St. Conrad Province. Assigned in Colorado and Kansas. Worked most of his priesthood with youth. Named publicly by the Archdiocese of Kansas City in 3/22 as accused of the sexual abuse of a minor. The abuse allegedly occurred during Scully's time outside of the archdiocese. Placed on leave pending investigation. Scully denied the allegation. Allegation deemed unsubstantiated by the diocese in 4/22.

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Fr. Francis “Lery” Wendling

Order: OFM
Ordained: 1962
Status: Accused

Died: 10/16/2017
Diocese: Archdiocese of Kansas City KS

Priest of the St. John the Baptist Province Franciscans. Named publicly as accused by the the Archdiocese of Kansas City on 6/29/2023, with two substantiated allegations. Assigned in the archdiocese 1978-1983. Also worked in IN, NM, MI, MO, IL, TX, and Juarez, Mexico. Died 10/16/2017. Included on the Santa Fe archdiocese's list in 8/2023, which notes he was assigned to the House of Prayer in Jemez Springs in 1977. Included on the Our Lady of Guadalupe Province Franciscans list of credibly accused as of 1/2024.

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Fr. John H. Wisner, Jr.

Ordained: 1972
Status: Accused

Diocese: Archdiocese of Kansas City KS

Suspended 5/12 after a man reported Wisner touched him inappropriately at age 15 in 1982. Wisner denied sexual misconduct but confirmed time, location and circumstances surrounding the allegation. Wisner, a psychiatrist, had been parochial vicar at St. Agnes Parish in Roeland Park, KS since 1985. Also a full-time associate professor. Three claims sent to Vatican 11/12. Suit filed in 12/15 claimed Wisner of sexually abused a boy, ages 15-17, in the mid-1980s. Claimant said WIsner, who was also his doctor, held parties at a lake house, gave minors liquor, and sexually abused them. He said the priest/doctor took him on trips to CA, HI and the Cayman Islands. Laicization affirmed by the Vatican 3/12/18. In 10/18 still held MD licenses in KS and MO. As of 3/19 his medical licenses in MO and KS were no longer active.

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Fr. Norman Charles Wolfe

Order: OFM Cap
Ordained: 1979
Status: Sued

Diocese: Archdiocese of Kansas City KS

"Chuck." Accused in 2005 of abusing a 14-year-old boy while assigned to Church of the Good Shepherd in Shawnee in 1976 and 1977. Order's review board found allegations "believable." Accuser also filed civil suit which was later dismissed on SOL. He later received payment of $25K. On the archdiocese's list 1/25/19. On the Capuchin Province of Mid-America's list 3/1/19. Per Salina diocese, dismissed from Order 1987.

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Fr. Camillus Wurtz

Order: OSB
Ordained: 1953
Status: Accused

Died: 08/16/2013
Diocese: Archdiocese of Kansas City KS

In 2004 a man complained to St. Benedict's Abbey that Wurtz had molested him when the man was a boarding student at Maur Hill-Mount Academy during the 1960s. The abbot kept Wurtz in ministry until 2/04, after the Review Board deemed the allegation credible and recommended Wurtz's removal. Still a priest at St. Benedict's Abbey in Atchison as of a 2/06 website post. Died 8/16/13.

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