Diocese of Gallup NM - BishopAccountability.org

31 Accused in This Diocese

Fr. Michael J. Aten

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Ordained: 1977
Status: Accused

Died: 06/24/2001
Diocese: Diocese of Gallup NM

Professed vows as a Marianist brother in 1964, Province of St. Louis. Worked in MO and WI. Withdrew from the Marianists in 1971. Graduated from Holy Trinity Seminary in Dallas. Ordained in 1977. Worked in AZ for many years. Named as abuser by Gallup diocese in 5/1993. Incidents occurred in about 1988. Sent for treatment. Multiple allegations. Removed from ministry in 5/1991. Died 6/24/2001. Included on the Marianists list of accused 6/24/2020.

Assignments:

Gallup Diocese List 11.05.21

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Fr. Michael Baca

Order: OFM
Ordained: 1953
Status: Settled

Died: 09/8/1997
Diocese: Diocese of Gallup NM

Michael or Miguel. Name incuded the Gallup diocese's 12/16/2014 list of credibly accused. Assigned to St Joseph the Worker in San Fidel NM in 1961. Per the Official Catholic Directory was there as Retreat Director 1961-1970. Missionary for 18 years throughout the US, and among the Otomi Indians of Central Mexico. Also worked in the Peoria IL diocese and the Santa Fe and Louisville archdioceses. Wrote the "Life Is for Living" column for 12 years for the national magazine St. Anthony Messenger. On Gallup diocese's list in 12/2018. Died 9/8/1997. Accused in 2009, along with Rev. Conran Runnebaum OFM, of abuse of a boy, age 8, in 1961 in NM. Diocese settled. Attorney said there had been previous complaints about both priests. On Wichita diocese's list 9/20/2019. On Peoria list by 1/2020.

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Fr. George Baz

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Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Gallup NM

Name included on Gallup diocese's 12/2014 list of credibly accused clerics. Assigned to St. Joseph Parish, Winslow AZ 07/1968-09/1968. Deceased.

Assignments:

Diocese of Gallup LIst downloaded 02.28.15

Sources:

Diocese of Gallup List downloaded 02.28.15

Fr. Ephrem Beltramea

Order: OFM
Ordained: 1961
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Gallup NM

Name among Franciscan alleged clergy perpetrators of sexual abuse in 12/2014 court document related to Gallup NM diocese's bankruptcy case. Assigned to St. Francis of Assisi Parish 6/1970-05/1973. Believed to be deceased. Diocese announced it added Beltramea's name to its list of credibly accused in 5/2017.

Assignments:

Diocese of Gallup Credibly Accused List

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Fr. John Boland

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Ordained: 1975
Status: Charged

Diocese: Diocese of Gallup NM

Accused of sexually abusing 14-year-old boy 2/1983 in Winslow AZ. Arrested; charged with 4 misdemeanors/1 felony. Plea agreement 6/1993; 3 misdemeanors dropped. Sentenced 9/1983 to probation on misdemeanor; felony dropped. Boy and family never testified and were not informed of results, except that charges were being dismissed and Boland would be transferred. Name given to diocese in 2005 but information "discovered" in 2009 file review. Removed 2/2009. Returned to Ireland in 2010. Settlements pending.

Assignments:

Diocese of Gallup List downloaded 02.28.15

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Fr. Eugene Botello

Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Gallup NM

Botello's name is among Franciscan alleged clergy perpetrators of sexual abuse in 12/2014 court documents related to the Gallup NM diocese's bankruptcy case. Believed to be deceased.

Sources:

Gallup Independent 12.03.14

Fr. James M. Burns

Ordained: 1962
Status: Convicted

Died: 08/6/2010
Diocese: Diocese of Gallup NM

In 2003 the diocese released names of Burns and four other priests accused of sexual abuse over the previous 20 years. Burns was accused "several times" of sexual abuse, sent for therapy, then reassigned. Another allegation made; removed from ministry and "retired" in 1993. Accused of abuse in AZ and CA by one person in 2003 CA suit. This claim included in 7/2007 $660M settlement with L.A. archdiocese. Pleaded guilty in 2004 and received two 1.5 year sentences. Also accused of abuse of a girl. Died 8/6/2010 in AZ.

Fr. Crispin Butz

Order: OFM
Ordained: 1950
Status: Accused

Died: 01/7/2011
Diocese: Diocese of Gallup NM

Name among Franciscan alleged clergy perpetrators of sexual abuse in 12/2014 court documents related to Gallup NM diocese's bankruptcy case. Early in career worked in Batesville, IN and Louisville, KY; moved to Sacred Heart Parish, Gallup NM 1954. Abuse allegedly occurred 1960-1963, while at St. Francis of Assisi, Gallup. Other assignments: Basilica Cathedral of St. Francis, Santa Fe, rector 1984-1994. Pastored parishes in Albuquerque, Bloomfield, Cuba and Grants NM. Last assignment was St. Paschal Friary, Santa Fe. Died 11/7/2011 at Casa Guadalupe Friary, Albuquerque.

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Fr. Charles Cichanowicz

Order: OFM
Ordained: 1980
Status: Settled

Diocese: Diocese of Gallup NM

A man filed suit in 11/2007 in Navaho Nation District Court alleging Cichanowicz had given him alcohol and sexually abused him twice 1984-1985, when he was teen and Cichanowicz was assigned to Shiprock, NM. Shown in the Lafayette, IN diocese per 1989 OCD. Left Order in 1991; laicized in 1994. Worked as a counselor at Alpine Counseling in Lafayette, IN. Two more suits filed in 2009. Judge dismissed the 2007 suit; Navajo Superior Court reinstated it in 9/2011. All Plaintiffs settled in 7/2012. Agreed never to work with or around minors. Included on the Gallup diocese's list in 2015. On Lafayette IN list 9/28/2018 which notes, "Chuck Cichanowicz credible and substantiated in Gallup NM." Included in 6/2022 on the St. John the Baptist Province Franciscans list.

Fr. David Joseph Clark

Order: CMF
Ordained: 1954
Status: Sued

Diocese: Diocese of Gallup NM

Worked in Los Angeles, CA; Prescott, AZ; Ft. Worth, TX; Yuma, AZ; Alexandria, Monroe, Cottonport and Marksville, LA. Accused in 1994 lawsuit of abusing two brothers in Prescott, AZ in 1959 and 1960. Case dismissed on statute of limitations and affirmed by US Court of Appeals in 12/1996. Included on the Gallup diocese's list of credibly accused. Included on the Santa Fe archdiocese list 9/12/2017. On Baton Rouge diocese's list in early 2019. It notes a report to diocese 12/15/2018 of abuse 1964-1965 while assigned to St. Thomas More. Clark left the diocese in 1965. Died in the 2000s.

Assignments:

Archdiocese of Santa Fe List 03.08.19

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Fr. Finian Connolly

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Order: OFM
Ordained: 1941
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Gallup NM

Name among Franciscan alleged clergy perpetrators of sexual abuse in a 12/2014 court document related to Gallup NM diocese's bankruptcy case. Assigned to Immaculate Conception Parish in Cuba, NM 1960-1963. Believed to be deceased.

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Fr. Joseph Coutu

Ordained: 1981
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Gallup NM

Name included on Gallup diocese's 12/2014 list of credibly accused clerics. Assignments include St. Mary's, Farmington NM 05/1981 - 12/1981; Our Lady of Guadalupe, Holbrook AZ, 12/1981 - 1983; Sacred Heart Cathedral, Gallup NM 1983 - 06/1984.

Assignments:

Diocese of Gallup List downloaded 02.28.15

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Br. Claude Daly

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Order: OFM
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Gallup NM

Named publicly as accused by the Diocese of Gallup on its list in 11/2021. Assigned there to Sacred Heart Cathedral 1962-1968 and St. Francis Parish 1970-1973. Included in 6/2022 on the St. John the Baptist Province Franciscans list. Noted to be deceased.

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Br. Dennis Duffy

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Order: OFM
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Gallup NM

Named publicly as accused by the Santa Barbara Province Franciscans on its list in 5/31/2019. Added to Gallup NM list in 8/2019. First assignment in 1968. Allegations in 1990 of sexual abuse of minors in 1975 in Whiteriver, AZ. Removed from ministry, put on a safety plan. Also on the Oakland diocese's list in 2019. On Stockton diocese's list 11/12/2020, which notes he was assigned there 1968-1971. Included on the Diocese of Fresno's list of credibly accused in 8/2021, where he worked 1973-1975.

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Fr. Julian Hartig

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Order: OFM
Ordained: 1926
Status: Accused

Died: 10/14/1987
Diocese: Diocese of Gallup NM

Originally from the Franciscan Province of St. John the Baptist in Cincinnati OH. Worked in TX, MO, KS, KY and NM. Assigned to China missions 1929-1936. In NM worked in Gallup and Lumberton and its missions. Assignments included St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Gallup NM (1955), St. Francis of Assisi Mission, Lumberton NM (1961-1964). Died 10/14/1987 in Albuquerque. Accused of sexually abusing a young girl near the Jicarilla Apache Reservation in the early 1960s. Allegation found to be credible by the Diocese and Order. Included on the Gallup diocese's 12/2014 list of clerics credibly accused of sexual abuse of minor(s).

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Fr. Marcan Hetteberg

Order: OFM
Ordained: 1954
Status: Accused

Died: 04/15/2004
Diocese: Diocese of Gallup NM

Named publicly by the Province of St. John the Baptist Franciscans in 1/2021 as having substantiated allegations against him of child sexual abuse; noted to have been removed from ministry. Included on the Archdiocese of Detroit's list in 1/2021. Hetteberg died 4/15/2004 in Cincinnati. Added to the Diocese of Gallup's list in 11/2021, where he spent the bulk of his priesthood. Included on the Archdiocese of Cincinnati's list in 2/2022.

Sources:

Archdiocese of Detroit List 01.14.21
Detroit News 01.15.21
Diocese of Gallup List 11.05.21
Voice of the Southwest 11.10.21
Archdiocese of Cincinnati List 02.14.22
St. John the Baptist Province Franciscans List 06.18.22

Fr. James Lindenmeyer

Ordained: 1948
Status: Sued

Died: 05/8/2007
Diocese: Diocese of Gallup NM

Monsignor. Named in a 6/2013 civil suit by a former student who alleged abuse at St. Joseph's Catholic School in Winslow AZ. Lindenmeyer worked as Vicar General of the diocese in the 1960s. Retired in 1996; died in 2007. The Diocese denies any other allegations against him. Lindenmeyer had knowledge of other abusers in the diocese, including Clement Hageman and William Allison.

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Fr. Douglas A. McNeill

Ordained: 1970
Status: Settled

Died: 07/3/2018
Diocese: Diocese of Gallup NM

Entered religious life with Mission of Sacred Heart in 1962. Dispensation granted 1967. Ordained for the Gallup diocese. Assigned to Winslow and Holbrook, AZ and Thoreau, NM. Removed in 3/1994 after accused in a civil suit of abusing a youth in 1978 while the youth stayed with him at St. Bonaventure Indian Mission to finish the school year. In 1993 McNeill admitted to the abuse when his accuser confronted him. Offered to pay the man $15K from school funds. Man refused. Suit settled in 9/1995 for $135K. Also accused of abuse of two in AZ in 1971. McNeill still "on leave" per 2002 OCD. Died 7/16/2018 at his home in MD.

Assignments:

Diocese of Gallup List downloaded 02.28.15

Sources:

Fr. Rene D. Messier

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Ordained: 1945
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Gallup NM

Ordained for the Diocese of Hartford. Transferred by 1961 to the Diocese of Gallup. Per the Official Catholic Directory, Messier was Absent on Leave 1963-1975. Name included on Gallup diocese's 12/15/14 list of credibly accused. Assignments included St. Mary Mediatrix of all Graces, Yarnell AZ 1961-1963 and St. Anne, Ashfork AZ 1963. Deceased.

Assignments:

Diocese of Gallup List downloaded 02.28.15

Sources:

Fr. John Ambrose Newton

Order: CPPS
Ordained: 1932
Status: Accused

Died: 09/22/1966
Diocese: Diocese of Gallup NM

Name included on Gallup diocese's 12/15/2014 list of credibly accused. Assigned to Winslow AZ 1955-1957; Springerville AZ 1957-1959. Died 9/22/1966 in Detroit MI.

Assignments:

Diocese of Gallup List Downloaded 02.28.15

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Fr. John Adelbert Paulmichl

Ordained: 1947
Status: Accused

Died: 01/8/1996
Diocese: Diocese of Gallup NM

Named publicly as credibly accused by the Diocese of Gallup on its list in 11/2021. Also known as "Johann." Died 1/8/1996.

Assignments:

Diocese of Gallup List 11.05.21

Sources:

Diocese of Gallup List 11.05.21

Fr. Jose H. Rodriguez

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Ordained: 1975
Status: Settled

Diocese: Diocese of Gallup NM

In 2003 the Diocesan Review board said Rodriguez was accused in 1999 of sexual abuse occurring more than 20 years prior. Settlement reached with the alleged victim and Rodriguez. Removed from active ministry in 1999. Had assignments in a number of churches in AZ and NM. Shown as "retired" in 2002 Catholic Directory. Per diocese, was at Assumption parish in Overgaard AZ as of 6/20/2005. Included on the diocese's list of credibly accused.

Assignments:

Diocese of Gallup List downloaded 02.28.15

Sources:

Fr. Conran Runnebaum

Order: OFM
Ordained: 1955
Status: Settled

Died: 05/5/2007
Diocese: Diocese of Gallup NM

Name included on the Gallup diocese's 12/2014 list of credibly accused clerics. Assignments included parishes in Grants, Farmington and San Fidel NM. Accused in 2009 of abuse of 8-year-old boy in 1961 at Sacred Heart in Farmington. Accuser said Rev. Miguel Baca OFM also abused him. Diocese settled. Attorney said there had been previous complaints about both priests. Runnebaum died 5/5/2007. Included on the Santa Fe archdiocese's list 5/19/2021.

Assignments:

Diocese of Gallup List downloaded 02.28.15

Sources:

Fr. Raul N. Sanchez

Ordained: 1974
Status: Sued

Diocese: Diocese of Gallup NM

Ordained for Diocese of Gallup NM. Diocese aided Sanchez in becoming an US citizen. Named as an abuser in court pleadings filed in 6/2012. More than one accuser. Worked in one parish, Madre de Dios in Winslow, before teaching in a diocesan seminary program in Gallup and then becoming an Air Force chaplain. Gallup Chancellor 1979-11/1986. Shown in the Catholic Directory as absent in 2012; apparently living in Mexico. Sued in 9/2012 and 4/2013, along with Clement Hageman, with claims of abuse in the 1970s in Winslow, AZ. Named in a new suit in 6/2013. Included on the Gallup diocese's list of credibly accused. Included in 8/2021 on the Diocese of Fresno's list.. Sanchez worked in the diocese as a chaplain at Edwards Air Force Base 1998-2001. Diocese was accused of helping him flee to his native México.

Assignments:

Diocese of Gallup List downloaded 02.28.15

Documents:

John V.F. Doe v Diocese of Gallup et al 03.27.13

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Fr. James J. Schlaffer

Ordained: 1945
Status: Accused

Died: 08/22/1998
Diocese: Diocese of Gallup NM

Ordained for the Milwaukee archdiocese. A 7/27/2004 article in the Gallup Independent related that Schlaffer allegedly 'probed the vaginal area' of an 18-year-old Navajo girl hospitalized and in traction at the Gallup Indian Medical Center 30 years prior. On her first day of work after graduating from high school, the girl had been struck by a car as she walked on the shoulder of a reservation road. The girl ordered Schlaffer from her hospital room, expelled him again when he returned, and requested that the hospital add a note to her record stating that she wanted no visits from him. Subsequently the girl met another injured girl at the hospital, age 17, who said Schlaffer was a 'nasty priest' who had put his hand under her blouse and fondled her. He died on 8/22/1998.

Sources:

Mark Schornack

Order: OFM
Status: Settled

Died: 01/16/2012
Diocese: Diocese of Gallup NM

Accused in a 5/10/2013 complaint of touching and penetrating a girl at a Mission in St. Michael's AZ in Navajo Nation. Plaintiff on claimants' committee in Gallup bankruptcy; came forward as Prudence Jones. Accused in 2015 complaint of abusing a second girl by sexual touching, fondling, frottage, intercrural sex and penetration at St. Michael's. Settled in 11/2017. Worked in Navajo Nation over 20 years as bus driver, helper of poor and children's roller skate teacher. Trained as Maryknoll; no final vows; concerns about vocation. Treated by Servants of the Paraclete in Jemez Springs NM; admitted to Franciscans while in treatment there; solemn vows 8/16/1959. Worked at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament in Fort Defiance AZ and Our Lady of Guadalupe in Kayenta AZ. Later lived at Curia Juan Diego/OFM Friary in Albuquerque, per 2005-2012 Directory. Worked at St. Felix Pantry in Rio Rancho NM. Dementia in last years; lived at South Valley Care Center in Albuquerque. Died 1/16/2012. On diocesan list as of 4/28/2017. Included on the St. John the Baptist Province Franciscans list.

Assignments:

Diocese of Gallup Credibly Accused List

Sources:

Fr. Lawrence Schreiber

Order: OFM
Ordained: 1956
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Gallup NM

Name included on the Gallup diocese's 12/2014 list of credibly accused clerics. Assigned to numerous parishes in the diocese 1961-1991. On the Las Cruces diocese's list 6/24/2019 (name misspelled Schrieber), where he was assigned 2002-2003. On the Franciscans' St. John the Baptist Province list of those with substantiated allegations against them. Noted to have been removed from ministry. On the Cincinnati archdiocese's list in 2/2022.

Assignments:

Diocese of Gallup List downloaded 02.28.15

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Seminarian Carl Todaro

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Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Gallup NM

Name included on the Gallup diocese's 12/2014 list of those credibly accused. Seminarian at Mount St. Mary's of the West 1951-1952.

Assignments:

Diocese of Gallup List downloaded 02.28.15

Sources:

Diocese of Gallup List downloaded 02.28.15

Fr. David E. Viramontes

Ordained: 1957
Status: Accused

Died: 08/13/1997
Diocese: Diocese of Gallup NM

Name included on Gallup diocese's list of credibly accused clerics in 1/2015. Gallup diocese filed for bankruptcy in 2013 after lawsuit claiming 57 victims. Viramontes was assigned to Aragon NM, Flagstaff, Winslow and Holbrook AZ. Died in 1997. On Las Cruces diocese's list 11/8/2018, which notes a report received in 2012 of an alleged incident in 1997.

Assignments:

Diocese of Gallup List downloaded 02.28.15

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Fr. Samuel J. Wilson

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Ordained: 1952
Status: Accused

Died: 10/20/1986
Diocese: Diocese of Gallup NM

Worked for 33 years in the Gallup diocese. Assigned to 20 rural parishes, mostly in AZ and NM, including on the Navajo and White Mountain Apache reservations and a number of small Hispanic communities. Died in 1986. Named as abuser in court pleadings filed in 6/2012. More than one accuser. Included in 12/2014 on the diocese's list of credibly accused.

Assignments:

Diocese of Gallup List downloaded 02.28.15

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Br. Clementine Wottle

Order: OFM
Ordained: 1925
Status: Accused

Died: 08/3/1986
Diocese: Diocese of Gallup NM

Name among Franciscan alleged clergy perpetrators of sexual abuse in 12/2014 court document related to Gallup NM diocese's bankruptcy case. Assigned to St. Isabel Mission in Lukachukai AZ in 1965, and Sacred Heart Parish in Waterflow NM 1966-1970. Died 8/03/1986 in St. Michael's AZ.

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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.