Diocese of Fort Worth TX - BishopAccountability.org

15 Accused in This Diocese

Deacon Russel William Detwiler

Status: Convicted

Ordained a Deacon of the diocese in 1995; worked at Sacred Heart parish in Wichita Falls. Moved to MI 2001, returned to TX Spring 2006. Returned to Sacred Heart parish in 1/09. Involved in prison ministry. Arrested 5/25/17 after a 14-year-old girl told therapist Detwiler touched her inappropriately between 2010-12, when she was under age 10. Charged with Indecency with a Child. Girl's mother said she had previously confronted Detwiler about the allegations. Convicted in 6/18, and again in 2018 related to charges involving the same victim in Wichita Falls.

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Fr. James Bernard Hanlon

Ordained: 1981
Status: Settled

Diocese: Diocese of Fort Worth TX

Accused of abuse of a 16-year-old boy in late 1982 or early 1983. Settled in 1997 for $12.5K. Hanlon died 2/17/90 at age 38. He was HIV positive; death certificate says years of alcoholism contributed to his death. Diocese ordered to produce personnel files. Allegations are that the diocese shielded Hanlon and other abusers. Personnel files produced 11/28/06. Named in new suit 4/07. Suit against Hanlon and Fr. Teczar settled in 2/08. Another claim settled in 3/09.

Fr. Henry H. Herrera

Order: CMF
Ordained: 1942
Status: Accused

Died: 11/29/1996
Diocese: Diocese of Fort Worth TX

Included on the Fort Worth diocese's list of priests who had "allegations with a semblance of truth made against them regarding sexual misconduct with minors." Name was added to the list in late 2011 or early 2012 but was not publicized in any way. Worked in the Philippines 1969-1975. Also taught in CA and worked in the El Paso diocese. Worked in the Ft. Worth diocese 1975-1979. Transferred to an AZ parish. Died 11/29/1996 in AZ.

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Fr. William Reece Hoover

Ordained: 1955
Status: Convicted

Diocese: Diocese of Fort Worth TX

Forced to resign in 1995 as pastor of St. Patrick's Cathedral in Fort Worth after admitting that he repeatedly abused a 12-year-old in 1957. At least 9 other accusers went to the diocese but diocese did not reveal their claims. It told public that there were only a few victims and no incidents after 1960. Convicted in 1996. Other victims came forward after Hoover's death. Ordained for Dallas diocese; became part of Ft. Worth Diocese when it was formed in 1969. Died in 1996. On diocese's list 1/31/19.

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Fr. John A. Howlett

Donate Photo

Order: SAC
Ordained: 1947
Status: Settled

Diocese: Diocese of Fort Worth TX

Ordained in Ireland. In Lubbock, TX by 1960. Accused by several women of abusing them as children. Diocese first learned of allegations in 1980s. Claims arose again in 1993. Diocese gave settlement to at least one alleged victim. Faculties removed. Returned to the Pallotines in Dublin, Ireland. Personnel files released by Diocese 11/28/06. On Amarillo diocese's list 1/31/19; assigned there 1/61-7/66 and 2/71-7/77.

Fr. Bede Mitchel

Order: OSB
Ordained: 1925
Status: Settled

Died: 03/7/1982
Diocese: Diocese of Fort Worth TX

Accused in 2014 of sexually abusing a girl from 1969 to 1970/1971, beginning when the child was age 8. Mitchel was assistant pastor 1969-1973 at Sacred Heart parish, Muenster TX, in the Diocese of Fort Worth. In 2014, a lawsuit was filed by the complainant's husband against the Fort Worth diocese and the Benedictine's Subiaco Abbey in the Little Rock diocese. A settlement was approved on 1/23/15. Mitchel worked as a parish priest for many years in the Little Rock and Fort Worth dioceses, after training at Subiaco Abbey. He taught at the abbey for 10 years and at Corpus Christi Academy and Laneri High School in Fort Worth TX. Mitchel also traveled extensively, leading retreats and missions. He died on 3/7/82.

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Fr. William Paiz

Order: CMF
Ordained: 1979
Status: Settled

Diocese: Diocese of Fort Worth TX

Accused in a lawsuit filed 1/31/12 of abusing a boy 1982-1987 while assigned to All Saints in Fort Worth and to Nolan Catholic High School, where he was a religion teacher and the boy was a student. Removed from ministry in 1/12 by his order. Paiz left the Fort Worth diocese in about 1987 and went on to work in CA and NV for many years. Worked in the Diocese of Fresno during much of 1995-2010. Transferred to his order's Provincial house in the Chicago area in 2010 after his alleged victim's complaints to Fort Worth. Lawsuit settled 11/21/12. Name included on the Springfield-Cape Girardeau diocese's list updated 4/1/19. On the San Bernardino diocese's list in 5/21, where he was assigned to parishes 1998-2002. Also on the Diocese of Fresno's 8/21 list of credibly accused.

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Fr. Gilbert Albert Pansza

Ordained: 2000
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Fort Worth TX

Removed from active ministry in 12/06 and sent for treatment. Original story says that he admitted in 1998, prior to ordination, that he had sexually abused a minor in the early 1970s. Bishop Delaney conducted an investigation and decided that sufficient time had passed and Pansza could be ordained. Allegation discovered after a review of priest files per newly appointed Bishop Vann. Conflicting stories in 2/07 as to when abuse occurred and if it was once or ongoing.

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Br. Anthony J. Pistone

Order: SM
Status: Accused

Died: 12/6/2017
Diocese: Diocese of Fort Worth TX

Professed vows in 1953 as a Marianist brother, St. Louis Province. Worked in IL, MO, WI, OK, TX. Campus minister at Chaminade Prep in St. Louis, MO. Left his job in 3/2005 after allegations that he had groped a youth at Nolan Catholic High School in Fort Worth, TX in the 1980s. Pistone denied the allegations; internal investigation could not substantiate. Director of West Hills, CA Marianist community 2003-present as of 2/2009. Briefly at Province offices in St. Louis, MO in 2007. On Fort Worth diocese's list updated 10/9/2018. It notes that he was removed from ministry in 2005 and died 12/6/2017. Included on the Marianists' 6/24/2020 list of those "found to have sexually abused a minor." On the Belleville diocese's list 9/20/2022. Included in the 5/23/2023 IL Attorney General's Report.

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Fr. James Joseph Reilly

Ordained: 1945
Status: Settled

Diocese: Diocese of Fort Worth TX

Ordained for the Dallas diocese, incardinated into Ft. Worth diocese when it was formed in 1969. Retired in 1987. Died in 1999 of Alzheimer's. Accused in the 2000s of abuse of four youths about 30 years prior. One accuser came forward in 2002; Diocese waited three years to tell him about other accusers. Suit filed by eleven men; settled in 11/06 for undisclosed amount. Building named after Reilly at former church was renamed as part of settlement. Seven more victims later came forward and settled without litigation in 2009 and 2010. More claims settled in 5/11, 6/11, 6/12, 4/13 and 3/14. About thirty known accusers as of 2014. On Dallas diocese's list 1/31/19.

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Fr. Rudolf John Renteria

Donate Photo

Ordained: 1979
Status: Settled

Diocese: Diocese of Fort Worth TX

Accused of sexual abuse of a 14-year-old boy in 1981. Bishop confronted him but he said could not admit or deny because of alcohol. Reassigned several times. After a "series of incidents involving disruptive behavior and alcohol abuse" at one parish, he was sent for treatment to Southdown and then assigned as hospital chaplain, beginning in 1987. Barred from ministry in 2002. Bishop asked Vatican to laicize him. Suit filed 3/09 claiming 1981 abuse. Settled 6/30/10. Laicized 12/10/10.

Fr. Gerard M. Scholl

Ordained: 1962
Status: Settled

Diocese: Diocese of Fort Worth TX

One claim against Scholl included as part of settlement with Fort Worth Diocese 3/09 by five men who alleged abuse by James Reilly. Same man abused by Reilly and Scholl was also abused by James Hanlon. Scholl died in 2002. Worked as chaplain at UT Arlington, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton parish and on Diocesan Tribunal. Also spent time in Denver and Santa Fe.

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Fort Worth Star Telegram 01.09.02

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Fr. Hugh John Sutton

Ordained: 1956
Status: Sued

Diocese: Diocese of Fort Worth TX

Ordained for Diocese of Pueblo CO. Parish priest, teacher, chaplain for orphanage, hospital and the U.S. Navy. Moved often, working in CO, CA, Guam, MS, AR, TX, ND, OH. Accused 3/14 of abuse of a boy, ages 14-16, at Notre Dame Catholic School in Wichita Falls, TX in the early 1990s. Assigned there 1984-92. Accuser sued. Said abuse included rape and sadism, and that school principal Ronald M. Staley also sexually abused him, with Sutton and separately. Died 9/11/04. Lawsuit dismissed 1/18. Included in CO A.G. report 10/22/19, as "Father K." Remained a priest of the Pueblo diocese without restrictions throughout priesthood.

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BA.org Assignment Record

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Fr. Joseph Tu Ngoc Nguyen

Order: OP
Ordained: 1964
Status: Settled

Diocese: Diocese of Fort Worth TX

Accused of abuse of at least three girls and three young women in the Fort Worth diocese at various times. Sent for treatment in 1993. Diagnosis was "a very underdeveloped psycho-sexual personality," Transferred to the Galveston-Houston diocese where he was working when placed on leave in 2006. Personnel files released by the Fort Worth diocese 11/28/06 under court order. One allegation was reported to police in 12/06. Seven original accusers filed suit in 12/09. One dropped; six others settled suit 10/6/11.

Fr. Francis A. Zimmerer

Order: OSB
Ordained: 1932
Status: Accused

Died: 01/23/1983
Diocese: Diocese of Fort Worth TX

In 9/08 the Fort Worth diocese announced a credible allegation that ZImmerer sexually abused a boy, age 11, while assigned to Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Decatur in 1978. Zimmerer died in 1/23/83 at age 74. As of 9/15, two more men had come forward with credible allegations of abuse at the same church. Also worked in AR, MI, WI. Name included on Little Rock's 9/10/18 list (mistakenly as Francis 'Zimmer'). On the Springfield-Cape Girardeau diocese's list updated 4/1/19. On the La Crosse diocese's list 1/18/20.

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