31 Accused in This Diocese
- Boston Globe 06.06.02
- Boston Herald 06.06.02
- Boston Herald 06.07.02
- Clarion-Ledger 06.13.02
- Deposition of Cardinal Bernard Law 08.14.02
- Boston Herald 08.21.02
- Clarion Ledger 03.12.03
- Go Memphis 03.26.03
- The Jackson Channel 05.07.03
- WLBT 05.28.03
- WLOX 05.05.05
- Clarion Ledger 05.09.05
- Clarion Ledger 03.17.06
- Diocese of Jackson List 03.19.19
- Diocese of Jackson List 03.19.19
- Official Catholic Directory Entries
- Boston Herald 06.10.02
- Associated Press 06.11.02
- Associated Press 06.14.02
- Associated Press 07.18.02
- Boston Globe 07.18.02
- Boston Herald 08.21.02
- Boston Herald 08.26.02
- GoMemphis 03.26.03
- Associated Press 05.08.05
- AL website 11.19.18
- Mississippi Clarion Ledger 01.22.19
- Diocese of Jackson List 03.19.19
- Daily Mississippian 03.28.19
- Associated Press 12.19.19
- Diocese of Jackson List 03.19.19
- Diocese of Jackson List 03.19.19
- Diocese of Jackson List 03.19.19
- Associated Press 08.27.19
- Associated Press 08.27.19
- Black Entertainment Tonight 08.28.19
- Assumption of the BVM Franciscans Statement 08.28.19
- Associated Press 08.29.19
- Post Standard 11.22.19
- Associated Press 02.06.20
- Clarion Ledger 02.24.20
- Our Lady of Guadalupe Province Franciscans List 01.16.24
- Boston Herald 06.10.02
- Associated Press 07.18.02
- Boston Globe 07.18.02
- Dallas Morning News 03.16.05
- Associated Press 05.08.05
- Tribune 02.07.10
- SNAP Statement 12.12.13
- Global Post 09.17.15
- Public Radio International 09.18.15
- Clarion Ledger 09.21.15
- Diocese of Jackson 09.21.15
- Diocese of Jackson List 03.19.19
- Clarion Ledger 03.26.19
- Diocese of Jackson List 03.19.19
- Diocese of Jackson List 03.19.19
- Diocese of Jackson List 03.19.19
- Diocese of Jackson List 03.19.19
- Diocese of Jackson List 03.19.19
- Diocese of Jackson List 03.19.19
- Diocese of Jackson Statement 07.29.18
- AP via Clarion Ledger 08.01.18
- Diocese of Jackson List 03.19.19
- Associated Press 08.27.19
- Associated Press 08.27.19
- Assumption of BVM Franciscans Statement 08.28.19
- Black Entertainment Tonight 08.28.19
- WLUK 08.28.19
- Green Bay Press Gazette 08.29.19
- Associated Press 08.29.19
- Clarion Ledger 10.04.19
- Clarion Ledger 10.11.19
- Post Standard 11.22.19
- The Clarion Ledger 02.24.20
- Associated Press 02.26.20
- Associated Press via WJTV 11.23.20
- Associated Press 02.07.21
- WDJT 06.08.21
- Associated Press 04.13.22
- WTOK 04.14.22
- Diocese of Jackson Statement 04.14.22
- SNAP 04.15.22
- Charlotte Observer 04.15.22
- Scott County Times 04.15.22
- Associated Press 05.12.22
- Associated Press 08.02.23
- Our Lady of Guadalupe Province Franciscans List 01.16.24
- Associated Press 01.26.24
- Diocese of Jackson List 03.19.19
Fr. Edward Balser
Retired in 2003. Removed from public ministry as announced by the diocese in 7/19, due to a credible accusation that he sexually abused a girl in the 1950s. The abuse allegedly began in 1953 when Balser was a seminarian, and continued beyond his 1956 ordination.
Fr. Cuthbert Bender
Named publicly as accused by the diocese on its list 3/19/19. Died in 1968. Alleged abuse in the late 1950s in the Aberdeen area reported to the diocese in 2008.
Sources:
Fr. Thomas Boyce
Removed from ministry in 2002, died the same year. Woman filed civil suit in 2002 alleging that Boyce abused her for several years in 1970s-1980s. She was ages 13-18 during the time of the abuse. Suit dismissed by MS Appeals Court on SOL 6/06. Diocese acknowledged abuse in 2003. In 1/07 MS Supreme Court declined to hear Plaintiff's appeal. On diocese's list 3/19/19.
Fr. George Broussard
Sued 2002, accused of sexual abuse of 3 brothers over a 4-year period. One plaintiff signed affidavit that his father met with then- Vicar General of Diocese, Bernard Law, in 1973 to report the abuse but Law did nothing. In 6/02 deposition in another case Law admitted that he failed to keep Broussard, his seminary friend and classmate, away from children after being warned that he was molesting them. Suit settled 3/06. Died in 2007. On diocese's list 3/19/19. It notes alleged abuse 1969-74 and that he left ministry in 1975.
Sources:
Deacon Richard Caldwell
Permanent Deacon. Named publicly as accused by the diocese on its list 3/19/19. Allegations of abuse in 1981 reported in 2018. Removed from ministry.
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Fr. Paul Victor Canonici
Diocesan superintendent of education, assistant principal then principal of St. Joseph High School in Madison, parish priest. Named publicly as accused by the diocese on its list 3/19/19. It notes report in 1997 of alleged abuse in 1983, in the Madison area. Retired 1998. Removed from ministry in 2002. Died 2/15/20, age 92.
Fr. Tim Crowley
Named publicly as accused by the Jackson diocese on its list 3/19/19. Deceased. Diocese received a report in 2018 of alleged abuse in 1968 in Chatawa.
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Fr. Nelius Downing
Named publicly as accused by the diocese on its list 3/19/2019. It notes report in 2002 of alleged abuse in 1939 in Meridian. Died in 1953, prior to accusation. Included on the Santa Fe archdiocese's list 5/19/2021.
Fr. Thomas Dullard
Named publicly as accused by the diocese on its list 3/19/19. Alleged abuse in 1973 reported to the diocese in 1973. Removed from ministry in 1974. Deceased.
Sources:
Fr. Joseph Israel Guidry
Worked in MS, LA, IL. Named publicly as accused by the Jackson diocese on its list 3/19/2019. Report to the Diocese in 2004 of alleged abuse in 1980 in Greenville. Removed from ministry. Died in 2019. Added to Baton Rouge's list in 7/2019, due to allegations elsewhere. Assigned at some point to St. John the Apostle in Baton Rouge. Included on the Order's Chicago Province list 4/18/2021. Included in the 5/23/2023 IL Attorney General's Report. Included on the Order's Southern Province list as of 2/26/2024. Accused in a lawsuit in 2024 of sexually abusing a boy, who was a student at IHM 1966-1976. The plaintiff also claims abuse at the parish and its school by Raymond Jones and Alvin Dixon.
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Sources:
Fr. Bernard Haddican
Two accusers came forward, one in 1998 and another in 2002, alleging abuse 1964-84. A man claimed abuse by Haddican over a three-year period, beginning when he was age 12. Case settled in 2000 for $44K. Haddican died in 1996. In 2002 the original plaintiff and a man abused by another priest filed suit against the diocese and Cardinal Law (former VG of Diocese) alleging the diocese covered up their abuse and lied to them about other cases. The mother of the first complainant reportedly had asked Law for his help in 1970s, but he did nothing. Suit dismissed in 9/03. On Jackson diocese's list 3/19/19.
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Fr. Michael Irwin
Named publicly as accused by the diocese on its list 3/19/19. Died 1993. Alleged abuse in 1975 in Vicksburg, reported to the diocese in 2005.
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Fr. James Kircher
Removed in 1987 for misconduct. Retired in 1991. Four men alleged in a 2/02 suit that they were abused as boys by Kircher beginning in the mid-1970s and continuing through 1984. Two plaintiffs had previously settled with the diocese in 1994. Judge dismissed portion of suit invovling two who had previously settled but allowed two new plaintiffs' case to go forward. On New Orleans archdiocese's list 11/2/18. Noted to have received allegation in 2010 of abuse in the 1970s. In residence in the 1970s at St. Julian Eymard in Algiers LA. Died in 2007. On Jackson diocese's list 3/19/19. Diocese received reports in 1986 and 2002 of abuse 1978-82.
Fr. Patrick Lee
From Ireland. Ordained in Techny IL in 1967, worked in England then in the order's US Southern Province 1968-1988. Named publicly as accused by the Jackson diocese on its list 3/19/2019. Alleged abuse in 1988 in Vicksburg was reported the same year to the Diocese. Removed from ministry. Returned to Ireland where he died in 4/2020. Included on the Divine Word Missionaries Southern Province list of credibly accused.
Br. William Leimbach
Civil suit filed in 7/07 in federal court alleged abuse of a 15-year-old boy in 1983-84 at Saint Stanislaus College/Saint Stanislaus High School by a "Brother William." School was run by the Sacred Heart Order. Leimbach was removed from ministry with students in 1991 after complaints by two students; he was allowed to continue work with adults and within the order. Was living since 2005 in Burrillville, RI
Fr. John Leonard
Named publicly as accused by the diocese on its list 3/19/19. Died in 2003. Diocese received allegations in 2004 of abuse in Bay St. Louis 1952-56.
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Br. Donald Lucas
Named publicly as accused by the Jackson diocese on its list 3/19/2019. Died by suicide in 1999. Abuse alleged in 1998 in at St. Francis School in Greenwood, reported in 2018. Accused, along with Br. Paul West OFM, of abuse of a boy, beginning when he was ages 9 and 10 and a student at St. Francis in the mid- to late 1990s. The Franciscans settled with Lucas' accuser for $15K. He and his cousin, also alleging abuse by West, filed a federal suit in 11/2019 claiming the Order pressured them into a small settlement which required their silence. Included on the Franciscans' Our Lady of Guadalupe Province's list as of 1/2024. (Member of the Assumption Province.)
Sources:
Fr. Vincent MacDonald
Named publicly as accused by the Jackson diocese on its list 3/19/19. Alleged abuse in the early 1970s in Walls reported to the diocese in 2002. Removed from ministry 2002. Died 2017.
Sources:
Fr. Paul Madden
From Ireland. Ordained for the Diocese of Jackson, MS. Accused in 1993 of abuse, including rape, of 13-year-old boy on a trip to Ireland in 1973. Plaintiff settled for $50K. In a separate 2002 lawsuit plaintiff alleged church lied, telling him there was no previous knowledge of abuse by priests. Attached to the petition was a letter signed by a Paul Madden who said he "feels remorse and guilt for the molestation." Judge ruled in favor of the defense in in 9/2003 and the case was dismissed. Faculties in Jackson were suspended in 7/2002. Madden was 'on duty outside the diocese' in the Diocese of Saltillo, Mexico 1977-1979. Worked as a missionary of the Society of St. James the Apostle in Peru 1991-1993 and 1994-2002. Incardinated into the Chimbota diocese in Peru in 2003, despite warnings to the diocese by Diocese of Jackson officials. Still active there in 8/2015. Retired and living in Peru in 3/2019. Included on the Jackson diocese's list of credibly accused 3/19/2019.
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Fr. Aeden Manning
Named publicly as accused by the Jackson diocese on its list 3/19/19. It notes report received in 1991 of abuse in 1967 in New Jersey. Retired in 2002. Died in 2008. Added to Richmond diocese's list 10/4/19 of those with abuse alleged to have occurred in the diocese.
Fr. Daniel O’Hanlon
Extern priest from the Diocese of Springfield, IL. Named publicly as accused by the diocese on its list 3/19/19. Died in 1969. Allegations reported 1993 and 2002 of abuse 1966-67 in Biloxi.
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Fr. Robert Olivier
Removed from active ministry in 12/06 after Diocese completed investigation of complaint that he had "sexual contact, but not intercourse, with a female teen over four years" in the 1950s. Woman wrote to the Diocese in 12/06. Olivier admitted the relationship. Abuse took place during his first assignment. On diocese's list 3/19/19.
Fr. Francis Reid
Named publicly as accused by the diocese on its list 3/19/19. It notes he left ministry in the 1970s and died in 1993. In 2014 the diocese received a report of abuse by Reid in 1963-65 in Leland.
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Fr. Kevin Reid
Named publicly as accused by the diocese on its list 3/19/19. Left ministry in 1976. Deceased. Report to diocese in 2002 of abuse 1961-66 in Bay St. Louis.
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Fr. Peter Raymond Richardson
Named publicly as accused by the Jackson diocese on its list 3/19/2019. Removed from ministry in 2010, died 3/26/2014. Per the list, abuse occurred 1987-1990 in Aberdeen, reported in 2014. Also accused of abuse of a minor in 2005 in West Liberty, KY. On Glenmary's list 10/11/2019. It notes that Richardson left the order in 2007. On the Charlotte diocese's list 12/29/2019. On the Lexington diocese's list in 8/2020. On Cincinnati's list in 1/2020. Included in 11/2021 on the Nashville diocese's list.
Fr. Ivan Siekman
Named publicly as accused by the diocese on its list 3/19/19. Left ministry in 1990. Diocese received report in 2003 of abuse in Bay St. Louis 1972-73. Faculties removed 2003.
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Fr. Jack Smith
Named publicly as accused by the diocese on its list 3/19/19. Deceased prior to accusations, which were reported in 2003. Abuse allegedly occurred 1972-80.
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Fr. Gerald Swift
Named publicly as accused by the Jackson diocese on its list 3/19/19. Report to the diocese in 2002 of alleged abuse in 1978 in Kosciusko. Died in 2007.
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Fr. James Taylor
Named publicly as accused by the diocese on its list 3/19/19. Died before accusations reported to diocese in 1998. Abuse allegedly occurred in 1962 in Woodville.
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Br. Paul West
On 7/29/2018 the Jackson diocese announced a credible allegation that West had sexually abused a minor while working at St. Francis of Assisi in Greenwood, where he was teacher and principal 6/1993-11/1998. Included on the diocese's list 3/19/2019. Abuse reported in 1998 and 2018. Accused of abusing two brothers and their cousins starting when they were ages 9 and 10 and St. Francis students in the mid- to late- 1990s. The abuse reportedly included rapes and beatings. One of the three also alleged abuse by Bro. Donald Lucas, OFM. One boy told church and police in 1998; West was sent for a psych evaluation. He taught 4th and 5th grades at St. John's in Little Chute, WI 1999-2010. Left the Order in 2002. The Franciscans settled with two accusers for $15K. The alleged victims filed a federal suit in 11/2019 claiming the Order pressured them into a small settlement requiring their silence. Indicted in 8/2020 in MS. Pleaded not guilty. Charged also in WI. Suit in 6/2021 claims racial discrimination. Convicted 4/13/2022. Sentenced to 30 years on one count and an additional 15 years on a second count. Included as of 1/2024 on the Our Lady of Guadalupe Province Franciscans list of credibly accused. (West was a member of the Assumption Province.) The MS Supreme Court denied an appeal by West in 1/2024.
Sources:
Fr. Thomas Williams
Named publicly as accused by the diocese on its list 3/19/19. Died in 1983. Diocese received accusations in 2002 and 2012 of abuse in 1958 in Gulfport.