Childproof 30: Breaking the Silence � Some True Things about St. Thomas Perpetrators; Jefferson City Predators

The Diocese of Jefferson City
May 07, 2012

http://thychildsface.blogspot.com/2012_05_01_archive.html

John R. Gaydos Bishop Jefferson City, Mo.

Farewell Portrait: Msgr. Marion Markarewicz (center) posed in 2002 with the last cohort of students at St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary. Bishop John R. Gaydos closed the boarding shool in May 2002 as a result of the pedophile priest scandal; the admission by Bishop Anthony J. O’Connell that he had sexually assaulted students during his tenure as a faculty member and rector (1963-1989); civil suits filed by former students. Source: The Anchor, 1982.

Golden Parachure: Records indicate that Bishop Gaydos granted the Rev. Hugh Behan, former Editor of the Catholic Missourian, a Leave of Absence in 2003. Behan’s status remains unchanged even though he is implicated in the sexual assault of two young girls. Source: The Anchor, 1967 (left), p. 9; 1979 (right), p. 33.

Rev. Brendan Doyle Chaplain Helias High School Associate Pastor Immaculate Conception Jefferson City

Rev. William D. Debo

Pedophile Portraiture: The St. Thomas yearbook is a catalogue of data referencing predatory priests employed by the Diocese of Jefferson City, Mo. The 1965 annual (right) indicates that 25 percent of the ordained faculty are serial predators (Bishop Anthony J. O’Connell and the Rev. John Whiteley). Ten years later, the 1975 record (center) includes images of three predators among the seven ordained faculty members, or 42.8 percent (O’Connell, the Rev. Manus P. Daly, and the Rev. David G. Buescher). The 1983 book (left) again points out that 42.8 percent of the ordained faculty are, in fact, sexual predators (O'Connell, Daly, and the Rev. James P. McNally). Source: The Anchor, 1965, p. 7; 1975, p. 6; and 1983, p. 6.

Rev. Joseph W. Starmann: Bishop Gaydos attempted “to implicate me in O’Connell’s misdeeds” prior to his testimony in the Missouri Senate to extend the statute of limitations for childhood sexual molestation.”

Rev. Joseph W. Starmann (second row, far right) was a participant in the 1981 St. Thomas graduation ceremonies. At the time, members of his parish were enrolled at the seminary boarding school. Others at the event include the future Rev. Thomas Siefner (first row, far left) as a sophomore; the Rev. James McNally (third row, far right); and flanking Bishop Michael F. McAuliffe (fourth row, left to right) are the Rev. David Cox, the Rev. Mr. Gary Pool, and the Rev. Manus Daly. Three of the nine clergymen in this photograph, or 33 percent, have been dismissed as a result of the pedophile priest scandal. Factor in in the photographer, Bishop Anthony J. O’Connell, and the dismisal rate is 44 percent. Cox and McAuliffe, as accomplices in the scandal, implicates 66 percent of the ordained participants. Source: The Anchor, 1981, p. 66.

A Stark Portrait: The 1972-1973 term at St. Thomas Aquinas Preparatory Seminary is no different than other years as far as the number of predators among the ordained faculty. These pages illustrate the story: 42.8 percent (Bishop Anthony J. O’Connell, the Rev. Manus P. Daly, and the Rev. David G. Buescher). Source: The Anchor, 1973, pp. 6-7.

Legendary Penn State head football coash Joe Paterno (left) was fired when child molestation allegations regarding his long-time defensive coordinator, Jerry Sandusky (right), were made public. In addition the university’s board of trustees also fired the school’s president, Graham B. Spanier (third, left) and athletic director Tim Curley (second, left). Spanier and Curley have been charged with perjuy in their grand jury testimony.

The Official Catholic Directory data tends to contradict diocesan records and vice versa, especially in cases of renagade clergymen. This misinformation often can be attributed to the orginal source of the stastistics: the local bishop.

Louis C. DeFeo Jr., general counsel for the Diocese of Jefferson City, is a key player in shielding ordained sexual predators from the civial authorities.

Twenty years after O’Connell arrived at St. Thomas the percentage of predatory faculty remained virtually unchanged. Adjunct faculty, such as the Rev. John H. Fischer and the Rev. Gary Pool, increased the presence of perpetrators on campus. In 1984, the faculty pages of the yearbook indicate, again, that 42.8 percent of the ordained faculty are predators (O’Connell, Daly, and the Rev. James P. McNally). But the presence of the Rev. David Cox, who is an accomplice in this scandal, implicates 57 percent of the ordained faculty in the sexual molestation of students at the Hannibal high school seminary. Source: The Anchor, 1984, pp. 6-7.

Rev.William Keogh Ordination Portrait Kenrick News Currents May 1978

Rev. David G. Buescher St. Thomas Faculty Member 1972-1976

Rev. Brian Driscoll Bishop Gaydos granted the former Vocation Director a Leave of Absence 2004-2008, even though he married shortly before leaving his job.

Rev. Patrick Hoffman

Rev. Ronald Jewell: STAS Class of 1968; Ordained 1976.

Rev. Robert Keating Deacon 1967 St. Pius X, Moberly

Rev. Vincent Linnebur (left) with the Rev. Fred Elskamp. Linnebur was Dean of Students 1960-1963; Elskamp, his successor, 1969-1970.

Rev. James P. McNally: Ordained, 1980; STAS Dean of Students, 1986-1996; STAS Class of 1972.

Rev. Thomas Powell: Ordained 1982; STAS Class of 1975 (center); STAS Freshman 1972 (right).

Rev. James Wieberg Ordained 1973

Rev. Clarence Wiederholt Assistant Pastor, 1956 St. Pius X, Moberly

Rev. Norman Wilkinson Assistant Pastor 1963-1964 St. Pius X, Moberly

Msgr. Gregory L Higley: 1972, 1982, 2012: The OCD offered no assignment status for the Vicar General in 1986.

Rev. Patrick Audley Associate Pastor St. Pius X, 1964 Moberly, Mo.

The Rev. Kevin Clohessy (left to right) 2004; St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary school photographs, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977; and as a deacon as St. Pius X, Moberly, 1985. Source: The Anchor.

Rev. Manus Daly, 1972 Rector-St. Thomas 1989-1996 Faculty: 1970-1996

Rev. Manus Daly, 1972 Rector-St. Thomas 1989-1996 Faculty: 1970-1996

Rev. Gary Pool offering guitar lessons at St. Thomas Seminary. Pool succeeded the Rev. John H. Fischer as an adjunct music instructor. Source: The Anchor, 1983.

Anthony J. O’Connell Bishop-Knoxville, Tenn. 1989-1999 Bishop-Palm Beach, Fla. 1999-2002 STAS Rector, 1970-1989 STAS Faculty, 1963-1989

Rev. Thomas Seifner with Bishop Gaydos. Source: The Voice, 2000.

Rev. Carmine C. Sita aka Rev. Gerald Howard 1983

Rev. Donald L. Wallace Pastor 1981-1989 St. Pius X, Moberly, Mo.

Rev. Frank Westhoff 2002

Rev. Robert G. Scobee Assistant Pastor 1939 St. Pius X, Moberly, Mo.

Bishop Gaydos promoted the Rev. Thomas Seifner as a role model as this fawing profile illustrates. Source: The Voice, Fall 2000, p. 9.

Rev. Lou Dorn Source: The Anchor, 1981, p. 7.

Thomas D. Hereford

Rev. Luigi Palmieri STAS Faculty 1967-1970

Rev. Luigi Palmieri was ordained in 1968 in the chapel of St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary, Hannibal, Mo. Source: The Anchor, 1968, p. 41.

Rev. Richard C. Colbert (seventh from the left) returned in 2010 Linton, ND, Diocese of Bismarck, for the centennial celebration of St. Anthony Church. Colbert was Associate Pastor, 1969-1971. Bishop Paul A. Zipfel also participated in the event. One may surmise that Coblert’s 1988 dismissal from Father Flanagan’s Boys Town has faded from memory.

The 2003-2004 Jefferson City Diocesan Directory (right) and 2010 Jefferson City Diocesan Directory indicate members of the clergy who have been granted a “Leave of Absence” or classified as“Inactive.”

Father Joseph W. Starmann Champions O'Connell Victim 9

The Rev. Joseph W. Starmann, who died 14 December 2011, demanded justice for “Kent,” who is O’Connell’s ninth documented victim.

Father Joseph W. Stamann Exposes Westhoff as a Pedophile

The Rev. Joseph W. Starmann, who died 14 Decemer 2011, identified the Rev. Frank Westhoff as a child molester six years ago. In a letter dated 29 March 2006, Starmann informed Bishop John R. Gaydos and Sister Ethel Marie Biri, SSND, chancellor at the time, of the facts of Westhoff's sexual assaults on a young boy (and, subsequently, by the Rev. John H. Fischer). The content of this letter is adamant about your responsibility to the boy and his family.

Renegade Priest: The Rev. Frank Westhoff

Both Bishop Michael F. McAuliffe and Rector Anthony J. O’Connell introduced the Rev. Frank Westhoff as a role model for priests and seminarians at St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary. Page Three of the Spring 2000 issue of the St. Thomas Voice celebrated Westhoff as an Eucharistic Theologian.

Father Joseph W. Starmann and the Gaydos Wolf Pack

The Rev. Joseph W. Starmann considered Bishop John R. Gaydos and his management team a danger to victims of pedophile priests. In fact, Starmann called the leadership of the Jefferson City diocese a Wolf Pack, bent on destroying “a badly wounded” lambs; and referring, specifically, to O’Connell Victim 12, whom we have identified as “Jordan.”

Dear Bishop Gaydos:

This report is a database (partial and inconclusive as it may be), compiled from available public sources and records from the Diocese of Jefferson City.  We have identified 63 priests who were placed “On Leave,” “Inactive,”

or “On Duty Outside Diocese (ODOD)

between 1963 and 1989.

This 26-year time frame coincides with the tenure of Bishop Anthony J. O’Connell as a rector and faculty member of St. Thomas Aquinas Preparatory Seminary, Hannibal, Mo.; and his 17-year tenure (1972-1989) as the major influence and decision- maker of the diocese’s so-called “Priest Personnel Board.”

Since 2002, when Gaydos closed St. Thomas Seminary in the wake of the molestation scandal there, Gaydos has been forced to settle dozens of abuse cases.  Roughly 15 percent of his priests have been removed from the ministry in the past two decades.

As of 2004, the Jefferson City Diocese reported 69 direct sexual

abuse allegations against 27 priests since 1956, according to a survey by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops published in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.  The 27 priests, whose names Bishop John R. Gaydos withheld.  Gaydos calculated that only 6 percent of the priests who served in the diocese have been implicated in the child sex scandal. 

But Gaydos did acknowledge that the Diocese of Jefferson City, as of September 2004, had paid $591,000 in settlements and assistance

to victims.

The diocese was a party to a $600,000 settlement in 2009, related

to child molestation charges (some as old as 1976) against the Rev. Carmine C. Sita of Newark, N.J., (known as the Rev. Gerald Howard in Jefferson City).  The diocese was assessed $225,000 of the total, of which $150,000 was covered by insurance and $75,000 came from a church coffers.

And on 14 March 2012, nearly 10 years to the day that Anthony J. O’Connell resigned in disgrace as bishop of Palm Beach, Bishop Gaydos announced that another of his countrymen, the Rev. Brendan Doyle, was being removed as a result of the discovery of child pornography on his computer at Helias High School.

Father Doyle’s aberration is compounded by the statistics in the 2010 and 2003-2004 directories published by the Diocese of Jefferson City. 

The delayed response by Gaydos also indicates that little has changed in protecting ordained child predators.

According to the 2010 Jefferson City Diocesan Directory, five priests are listed as “Inactive” or “On Leave” (See Chart Below). 

The Rev. Manus P. Daly and the Rev. David G. Buescher are classified as “Retired.”  We know that at least four had issues in this area of the law.

The 2003-2004 Jefferson City Diocesan Directory lists six priests as “On Leave”; and, again, we know that three of

the clergymen have been identified as predatory priest

and a fourth priest is an accomplice is the Church scheme to pay hush money to silence witnesses (See Chart Below). The 2003-2004 Directory also identifies two priests as “Serving Outside of the Diocese”; and we don’t know exactly what that terms means since both also have been placed “On Leave” just the sexual predators.

The three priests listed as “On Leave” in the 2002–2003 Diocesan Directory regarding sex crimes are the Rev. Hugh F. Behan, former editor of the Catholic Missourian; the Rev. Manus P. Daly, former rector of St. Thomas Seminary; and the Rev. Donald L. Wallace. The fourth priest, the Rev. Brian J. Driscoll, former vocation director, was a participant in a scheme to pay hush money to a victim of Bishop Anthony J. O’Connell, as detailed in e-mail messages and voice mail transcripts disclosed in court documents.

	2010 Jefferson City Directory	Status/Assignment
1.	Rev. Hugh F. Behan	Inactive-On Leave
2.	Rev. David G. Buescher	Retired
3.	Rev. Manus P. Daly	Retired
4.	Rev. Thomas D. Hereford	Inactive-On Leave
5.	Rev. Eric A. Schlachter	Inactive-On Leave
6.	Rev. Thomas J. Seifner	Inactive-On Leave
7.	Rev. Timothy A. Tatro	Inactive-On Leave
	2003-2004 Jefferson City Directory	Status/Assignment
1.	Rev. Hugh F. Behan	On Leave
2.	Rev. Manus P. Daly	On Leave
3.	Rev. Brian J. Driscoll	On Leave
4.	Rev. Eric A. Schlachter	On Leave
5.	Rev. Timothy A. Tatro	On Leave
6.	Rev. Donald L. Wallace	On Leave
	2003-2004 Jefferson City Directory	Status/Assignment
1.	Rev. David G. Buescher	In Residence St. Joseph Cathedral
2.	Rev. Thomas D. Hereford	On Duty Outside Diocese
	Rev. William Keogh	On Duty Outside Diocese

The canonical status of these priests is of particular importance as well.  We assume many priests granted a Leave of Absence needed time to consider a career change or marriage prospects.  We know that some priests were classified as “On Duty Outside of Diocese” because of military service.

But we have a crisis of character here.  Many of these clergymen have been implicated the pedophile priest scandal as perpetrators and/ or accomplices.  Their stories follow below in as much detail as we have been able to assemble. What the diocese has not told anyone is how many children may have been abused, by whom and how recently. And diocesan officials haven’t disclosed the full extent of the abuse at St. Thomas. The 2002-2003 Jefferson City directory indicates that two more clergymen have been placed “On Leave” following complaints about suspect behavior yet to be identified: the Rev. Eric A. Schlachter, who transferred from the Archdiocese of St. Louis and was enrolled at Kenrick Seminary with Michael Wegs, David Cox, and James McNally; and the Rev. Timothy M. Tatro, a former Christian Brother and the protégé of Msgr. Gregory L. Higley, vicar general.

Tatro left his first parish assignment at St. Joseph, Salisbury, within a week of his appointment.  He was brought in to replace the Rev. William D. Debo, who

was removed in the wake of a scandal that has yet to be disclosed. In late August/early September, 2003, Father Debo was confronted with a set of unsavory circumstances that led to his transfer to St. George Church, Hermann, Mo., from St. Joseph Church in Salisbury. The Debo matter created chaos and fear among the Salisbury parishioners.  The Hermann congregation was left in the dark.

In 2004, a number of well-placed St. Joseph parishioners confirmed the details of the situation:  David S., who is a certified public accountant by profession and church organist by avocation; and Rose M., a parish employee.  Both church members also offered a referral source:  a well-respected community and parish leader, who is a large-scale farmer in Chariton County.  Former Missouri state representative, Therese A. Sander (R-Moberly), is privy to this information, as well.

In addition, a representative of the Mid-Missouri chapter of Voice of the Faithful offered this assessment in June 2004:

“Last year, our group heard about the troubles in Salisbury, as some of their members contacted [us]  .  .  .  .  We talked about inviting them to a meeting to talk about their concerns, but there wasn’t much follow-up [from the Salisbury parishioners].”

Unfortunately, those knowledgeable about the circumstances of this case continue to demur.   Debo’s career seems to have survived this eclipse despite the havoc his actions inflicted on the Salisbury church.

But the time has come for more voices like these to be heard.

Since O’Connell was identified as a pedophile priest, we’ve learned the names of a dozen other predatory priests in addition to John H. Fischer, John J. Schutty, Frank Westhoff, John F. Degnan (Deceased, 9 September 2010), and John B. DeAngelis (DeAngelis and Schutty assigned St. Cecilia, Meta).  Sadly boys I grew up with have been implicated as a predators as well: St. Thomas graduates like McNally (1972), the Rev. Gary Pool (1973), and the Rev. Kevin P. Clohessy.

Compiling these data has led to the discovery of other criminal activity such as the cloak-and-dagger caper to spirit the Rev. James J. Mohan out of the United States and back to Ireland.  We’re also concerned about the death of a Jefferson City teenager who died in a parked car from carbon monoxide poisoning in 1970.

Recently, I received communication from

a priest in your diocese to disclose an interesting fact about your activities that supports my conclusion as to your behavior and actions:

“Several years ago I was invited to testify before the subcommittee of the Missouri State Senate in Jefferson City in support of a bill to extend the statute of limitations for civil cases concerned with child molestation.  Not long afterward, I received a letter from Msgr. Higley advising me that my retirement benefit had been miscalculated and was being reduced by a substantial amount.  Coincidence? “When Bishop Gaydos suddenly appeared at my front door in late Lent 1999 and told me I had to retire immediately ‘because I was too ill to continue,’ he jovially suggested I should mosey on down to Florida and take a prolonged vacation with ‘my old friend, Tony O’Connell.’

I told him I had never been close to O’Connell and wanted no part of him or Florida.  At that time he already knew that O’Connell was an admitted molester and I chalked his jovial advice up to a cheap attempt to implicate me in O’Connell’s misdeeds.

“If Bishop Gaydos is finally sincere about wanting to do something to heal all the damage done by the Abuse Scandal, he might begin by apologizing for his role in exacerbating the O’Connell mess.  Here’s what the Bishop Accountability website has to say about that:

“He was one of the bishops who remained silent in 1999 as Anthony O’Connell was promoted from bishop of the Knoxville, Tenn., Diocese to a the much larger one in Palm Beach, Fla.  The Diocese of Jefferson City had paid a $125,000 out-of-court settlement in 1996 to a seminarian whom Bishop O’Connell abused during the 1970s.  Bishop Gaydos also let the Rev. Manus P. Daly stay on duty until this spring, even though the diocese was told in 1996 that he had also abused Bishop O’Connell’s victim.

“Bishop O’Connell — who took over in Florida for another admitted molester, Bishop J. Keith Symons — has resigned.  The Jefferson City Diocese’s failure to speak up about Bishop O’Connell was “a travesty,” said Bishop Wilton Gregory, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.  Bishop Gaydos recently closed the Missouri seminary where Bishop O’Connell and Father Daly abused the student.  He also suspended another priest, the Rev. Don Wallace, whom he’d kept on the job since four altar boys complained in 1997 about inappropriate touching.  Bishop Gaydos serves on the abuse committee of the bishops’ conference.”

And so, we have developed the database that follows (partial and inconclusive as it may be), based on available public information.

Assignments and Canonical Status  When Joe Paterno and three top administrators at Pennsylvania

State University were implicated the pedophile crimes that have scandalized the country, they were fired for covering up the sexual molestation of children.  Prosecution for these crimes is on-going with perjury charges pending against the former Penn State University president, Graham B. Spanier; the athletic director, Tim M. Curley; and the vice president for finance and business

Gary Schultz.

Jerry Sandusky, the defensive coordinator and assistant football coach

(32 years) and whom Paterno protected, now awaits trial.

The prosecution’s case is appalling.  Sandusky is charged with the sexual assault of 10 boys over a period of 15 years (1996-2011), including 52 counts of child molestation: involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, unlawful contact with a minor, indecent assault, endangering the welfare of children, and corruption of minors (forcible rape, oral sex).  Curley and Schultz are charged with perjury and failure to report suspected child abuse.

Tim Dolan responded to these crimes against children with a quip: 

“We know how they feel,” he said, referring the travails of the Penn

State staff.  He offered no comfort to the children victimized by the Sandusky and the university administration.

Perhaps the Church should return the $1 million that the Joe Paterno donated for the construction of the new student center and chapel at

Penn State.  As major benefactors of $6 million project, the complex will be named the Suzanne Pohland Paterno Catholic Faith Center

Employment History: Statistical Errors, Questions without Answers The Official Catholic Directory (OCD) is

an annual census the Roman Catholic Church in the United States:  employment statistics, personnel/job histories, and related material.  Each volume annotates the individual assignments of clergy and religious, allowing the investigative sort to track the career path of an individual employee. We have learned through our research that priests in trouble with the law are often misidentified or reclassified in this official church record.  We have noticed, too, that priests on the lam tend to have no mailing address published alongside their names or just a post office box in care of the Chancery Office.  This is particularly  true in the case of priests implicated in child sex crimes.

We have questions about OCD job classifications.  What does the “On Duty Outside the Diocese (ODOD)” actually mean?  For example, the OCD classified the Rev. Luigi Palmieri as ODOD in Trenton, N.J., when he was actually working in the Allentown, Pa., diocese.

And just how are “On Leave of Absence (LOA),” “On Leave,” and “Inactive” defined and determined?  Can someone be on leave for nearly 10 years as in the case of Father Behan and Father Schlacter?

“Sick Leave” is another puzzler.  For example, Father DeAngelis

(1971-1984) and the Rev. Robert G. Scobee (1970-1972), where resident of the Servants of the Paraclete’s Via Coeli treatment facility in Jemez Springs, N.M.  That’s a long time for treatment and recovery. And, then, we must consider the status of “Special Assignment” and all that that classification can cover.  Father Behan was so-classified Special Assignment for six years, 1983-1989, according to the OCD.  The Rev. David G. Buescher was on “Special Assignment” for three years, 1985-1988. Jefferson City Personnel History We’ve enlisted The Official Catholic Directory and other sources

to develop a partial list of priests who have received special consideration and benefits during their affiliation with the Diocese of Jefferson.  The research spans only the 26-year tenure of Anthony J. O’Connell (1963-1989), because he was the primary decision-maker of the so-called Priest Personnel Board for nearly 17 years (1972-1989).

Consequently, we are requesting Bishop John R. Gaydos to disclose the rational for each leave of absence, sick leave, special assignment, and the fact that some clergymen just disappeared from the pages

of the 56-year history of the Diocese of Jefferson City.  We would like to know the circumstances of these matters; particularly the assignments outside the jurisdiction of the diocese; the assignment and date discrepancies published in the OCD; the current addresses of clergyman so classified; and confirmation of continuing salaries and benefits for those implicated in the molestation of children and vulnerable adults.

The canonical status of these priests is of particular importance as

well.  We assume many priests were granted a Leave of Absence to consider personal and professional needs.  We know that some priests were classified as “On Duty Outside of Diocese” because of military service.  But given the severity of the pedophile priest crisis and the subversion of justice by the American bishops, the time is upon us to clarify who was or is doing what and when and why.

Leave of Absence and Sick Leave We would like to know the criteria for

a priest to be classified for a “Leave of Absence” or “Sick Leave,” especially in those cases that are now at least 10 years old:  the Rev. Hugh F. Behan, the Rev. Eric A. Schlacter, the Rev. Timothy M. Tatro, the Rev. William Keogh, and the Rev. Thomas J. Seifner. Rev. Norman J. Ahrens:  Deceased, 15 May 1990.  Sick Leave, 1976; Pastor, Immaculate Conception, Jefferson City, 1976; Pastor, St. Peter, Jefferson City, 1969.  Ahrens, who was the Assistant Pastor at St. Peter for 17 years, succeeded Msgr. Joseph A. Vogelweid, who retired 1969, as the parish’s 10th Pastor. The Rev. Gerry Kaimann was appointed as the parish’s first deacon in 1969. Rev. Hugh Behan: Inactive/On Leave since 2002.  Remains on Diocesan payroll as of 2010. Associate Pastor, Blessed Sacrament, Hannibal (1964-1966); Chaplain, St. Mary’s Hospital, Jefferson City (1967-1969); Pastor, St. Anthony of Padua, Folk (1970-1975); Pastor, Holy Family, Freeburg (1976-1982); Pastor, Immaculate Conception, Montgomery City (1981-1982); Special Assignment (1983-1989); Editor, Catholic Missourian (1976-1999).  At the time of Behan’s dismissal, he was being investigated by the Osage County Sheriff’s Department about a 1983 sexual case involving a 10-year-old girl, according to Sheriff Carl Fowler of Linn, Mo.  A second case involving

an 18-year-old female in 1999 also was made public.

Rev. David G. Buescher:  No Listing,

1980-1981; Special Assignment, 1985-1988; Spiritual Director and Faculty Member (religion, music, speech, liturgy), St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary, Hannibal, 1971-1976; Pastor, St. Martin, St. Martin’s, 1983-1984; Director of the Diocesan Office for the Spiritual Renewal of the Laity; a stint of several years in The Netherlands, where he served as a chaplain for an English-speaking congregation at The Hague (1998-2001); Priest-in-residence, St. Joseph Cathedral, Jefferson City (c. 2002-2006); and other assignments — dates unknown — include: Pastor, St. Anthony Church, Camdenton (mission parishes at Hermitage and Climax Springs); Chaplain, Lincoln University Newman Center. He currently resides in Jefferson City, in a house owned

by the diocese.

Rev. Edmund Byrne:  Sick Leave, 1967; No information after 1976.

Rev. Robert Chenoweth:  Deceased, 4 April 2003, due to complications from HIV/AIDS.  Leave of Absence, c. 1994; On Duty Outside Diocese, 1987-1989; pastor Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church, Cedron, Mo., 1966; St. Joseph’s Parish, Pilot Grove, 1968-1971 (also pastor, St. Martins, Chouteau Springs, and St. John’s, Clear Creek).

Rev. Kevin P. Clohessy:  Leave of Absence 2000-2002.  Leave of Absence, St. John Vianney/RECON Treatment Facility, Dittmer, Mo., 1993-1995; Pastor, St. Francis Xavier Church, Taos, 1995-2000; Assistant Pastor, Immaculate Conception, Jefferson City, 1985-1989; Chaplain, Helias High School, Jefferson City, 1986-1989;  STAS Graduation Class of 1978.

Rev. Christopher Concannon:  Sick Leave, 1966-1976. No information

after 1976.

Fr. Brian Driscoll:  Leave of Absence,

2004-2008.  Driscoll resigned and married in 2004, but appears to have remained on the church payroll despite the fact.  He is the sixth priest, and former vocation director, to be struck from the employee roster since the O’Connell scandal was disclosed.  Driscoll was an operative in a bungled attempt by Gaydos to pay hush money to an O’Connell victim.  We would like to know more about the circumstances of the bag man assigned to silence O’Connell victims with hush money. Rev. John F. Degnan:  Born: 1925; Deceased, 9 September 2010.  In 2005, reported to be living at St. John Vianney (RECON) treatment center in Dittmer.  “Retired,” 2001, aged 75.  Confirmed as of 11 February 2005: the then 80-year-old priest had sexually assaulted at least 17 boys, dating to the 1960’s.  Pastor, St. Joseph Church, Westphalia, 1961-1962 and 1971-1974; Immaculate Conception Church, Montgomery City, 1982-1987.  Additional assignments: Pilot Grove, Boonville, Linn, Gravois Mills, Versailles, St. Elizabeth, Dixon, and Chouteau Springs.

Rev. Stephen L. Faletti:  Sick Leave, 1986.  Associate Pastor, St. Patrick, Rolla, and Director, Newman Center, Rolla, 1983-1985; Pastor, St. Francis, Bourbon, 1987-1988; Pastor, St. Michael, Steelville, 1988-1989; Pastor, Holy Cross, Cuba 1987-1989.

Rev. Salvatore Fagiolo:  Leave of Absence, 1969.

Rev. Patrick Hoffman:  Deceased, 27 October

1990; Ordained: 1967; ODOD, c/o Chancery,

Jefferson City (date unknown); associate

pastor, St. Brendan, Mexico (unknown).  Last assignment:  St. Joseph, Canton

(1984-1990).

Rev. Ronald Jewell:  Leave of Absence,

1982-1985.  Ordained, 1976, St. Brendan,

Mexico (home  parish).

Rev. Robert Keating: Leave of Absence,

1981-1985.  Deacon, St. Pius X, Moberly, 1967.

Rev. Donald Kemper:  Leave of Absence, 1982;  On Special

Assignment, 1983.

Rev. William Keogh:  ODOD, 2003; Leave of Absence since 2004. Ordained, 1983.  Peru assignment.

Rev. Mel Lahr:  Sick Leave, 1989; Associate Pastor, Sacred Heart, Columbia, 1973; Associate Pastor, St. Peter and Paul, Boonville, and Chaplain, Boonville Training School for Boys, 1974-1975;  Associate Pastor, Hannibal Catholic, 1976-1978; Associate Pastor, St. Joseph, Canton, 1977;  Associate Pastor, St. Francis, Bourbon, 1979-1982;  Pastor, St. Martin, St. Martins, 1983-1988.  Last known assignment:  Pastor, St. Joseph, Salisbury, with questionable circumstances regarding his departure from the parish and a settlement paid to a parishioner.

Rev. Vincent Linnebur:  Deceased, 27 November

2007.  Awaiting Assignment, 1975; Leave of Absence, 1988.  Ordained 1960.  Graduate, Pontifical College Josephinum, 1960.  Assignment History:  Faculty (Dean of Students), St. Thomas Seminary, 1960-1963; Peru Missions, Nazca and San Juan, 1963-1975; Pastor, St. William, Perry; and St. Francis Cabrini, Paris, 1975-1978; Pastor, Sacred Heart, Columbia, 1978-1984; M.S.W., University of Missouri-Columbia, 1984-1987; Counselor, Positive Motivation and Charter Hospital, 1987-1994; State Director, State of Missouri-Moniteau County Counseling Center, California, 1994-2000.

Rev. John Long:  Leave of Absence, 1982. Retired, 2000 (“Foreign

Born Irish” or “FBI” as defined by clerical factionalism in the diocese).  Residence:  Bishopstown, County Cork, Ireland and a home in Greenville, N.C.  Known assignments: St. Brendan, Mexico (dates unknown); Circumstances regarding transfer from Helias High School to St. Pius X, Moberly; Our Lady of Lourdes, Columbia, Mo.  Long was a McAuliffe insider to such a degree that he was able to displace the Rev. J. James Offut as pastor of Our Lady of Lake, Lake of the Ozarks, a plum assignment.

Msgr. Marion Makarewicz:  Leave of Absence, c. 2003, shortly after the O’Connell resignation. No reason stated.  Rector, St. Thomas Seminary, 2002.  Ordained, 1987.  STAS Graduation Class of 1979.

Rev. Patrick McMyler:  Deceased, 23 April 1985.  Sick Leave: 1985.

Rev. James P. McNally:  Leave of Absence, 1996, apparently for treatment at the Southdown Institute, Toronto, Canada.  Dean of students, St. Thomas Seminary, 1986-1996.  STAS Graduation Class of 1972.  Apparently Still on payroll.  Hereford was a crony of McNally.  They shared an interest in computer technology.

Rev. Thomas Powell:  Sick Leave, 1987.  Ordained, 1982.  STAS Class of 1975.

Rev. Raymond Rau:  Deceased, 21 April 1978; Ordained, 1938;

Leave of Absence, 1972-1973.  Assistant Pastor, St. Henry, Charleston, Mo. (1948).

Rev. Peter Russell:  Leave of Absence, 1986-1988.

Rev. Eric A. Schlachter:  Sick Leave, 1987; Leave of Absence since 1987;  The diocesan directory has classified Schlachter as Inactive/On Leave 2003-2010.  No information after 2010.  Ordained: 6-13-81.  He was an Assistant Pastor for some time at Sts. Peter and Paul, Boonville.

Rev. Timothy M. Tatro:  Leave of Absence since 2003 and, apparently, still in active service with full benefits and salary; Associate Pastor, Immaculate Conception, Jefferson City, c. 2000-2002; Pastor, St. Joseph, Salisbury, 2002 (a 5-Day Appointment,

late August/early summer).

Tatro was a protégé, of Msgr. Gregory L. Higley.  The pair shared the rectory at Immaculate Conception in Jefferson City, where Higley was pastor.  Higley also engineered Tatro’s ordination.  Tatro had been a Christian Brother, teaching at Helias High School for a number of years.

Higley also was influential in Tatro’s assignment to Salisbury, a short-lived job that lasted five days.  The local parish was enraged by the actions, still unspecified publically.  Gaydos sent Sister Ethel Marie Biri, SSND, to Salisbury to quell the uproar.  Biri told parishioners that Tatro would be reassigned because he preferred an urban parish to a rural one. Higley was named Vicar General of the Diocese during the same week that Tatro was removed from Salisbury.

Rev. Daniel S. Tarleton:  Leave of Absence, 1969.

Rev. James Wieberg:  Leave of Absence, 1984;

Leave of Absence, 1985; associate pastor,

St. Brendan, Mexico (dates unknown). Ordained: 1973.  STAS Class of 1965.

Rev. Clarence E. Wiederholt:  Sick Leave,

1986-1989; St. Pius X, Moberly (1956);

Retired 2010.

Rev. Robert Wiesmann:  Sick Leave, 1967: No information after 1976; Leave of Absence, 1982; Special Assignment: 1983.

Rev. Norman Wilkinson:  Sick Leave, 1966;

Associate Pastor, St. Pius X, Moberly,

1963-1964.  No information after 1977.

On Duty Outside Diocese (ODOD)

Rev. Patrick Audley:  On Duty Outside Diocese; Address c/o Chancery, Jefferson City, 1986-1988.  Associate Pastor, St. Pius X, Moberly (c. 1964).

Rev. John Butler:  On Duty Outside Diocese, 1975-1989; Address: c/o Chancery, Honolulu, Ha.; No ODC listing for Honolulu assignment. Rev. Robert Chenoweth:  Deceased, 4 April 2003, due to complications from HIV/AIDS.  Leave of Absence circa. 1994; On Duty Outside Diocese, 1987-1989; Pastor, Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church,  Cedron, Mo., 1966; St. Joseph’s Parish, Pilot Grove, 1968-1971 (also pastor, St. Martins, Chouteau Springs, and St. John’s, Clear Creek).

Rev. Gregory L. Higley:  No Assignment Listing, 1986; Vicar General; Secretary-Treasurer, Priests Mutual Benefit Society (retirement services); Moderator, Curia-Marriage Tribunal; Pastor, St. Brendan, Mexico, 1998-2002; Pastor, St. Andrew, Holts Summit, 2012.

Rev. Nicholas Long:  Awaiting Assignment, 1975-1980.

Msgr. Joseph J. Morrell:  Deceased, 29 January 1989.  On Duty Outside Diocese, 1976-1989.

Rev. Donald E. Sciliano:  ODOD, 2006, 2007; Pastor, Immaculate Conception, Ewing, 2004; Pastor, St. Anthony, Rosati, 2005.

Fr. James M. “Jamie” Smith:  Resigned, 2006. 

No reason stated.  We would like to know the circumstances of the departure of the Rev. Jamie Smith from St. Peter, in Jefferson City.  On Sunday 30 April 2006,  Smith announced in the St. Peter’s bulletin under the “Associate Pastor’s Pen” heading, that he would stage a holy hour on Sunday May 7 to pray for the priests of the diocese, who, he says, need support now especially due to the culture of the times and the media.  Smith now works as a program director for a drug and alcohols rehabilitation clinic in Columiba, Mo. Rev. Kenneth B. Steinhauser:  ODOD 2010; Pastor,

St. Francis-Bourbon, 2005; Pastor, St. Patrick,

Jonesburg, 2007-2008. Rev. John J. Vandenbergh:  Deceased, 28 April 1986: ODOD, Salina, Kan., 1975-1986.

Sexual Predators Identified

Rev. Hugh Behan: Inactive/On Leave since 2002.  Appears to remain on the diocesan payroll as of 2010. Associate Pastor, Blessed Sacrament, Hannibal (1964-1966); Chaplain, St. Mary’s Hospital, Jefferson City (1967-1969); Pastor, St. Anthony of Padua, Folk (1970-1975); Pastor, Holy Family, Freeburg (1976-1982); Pastor, Immaculate Conception, Montgomery City (1981-1982); Special Assignment (1983-1989); Editor, Catholic Missourian (1976-1999).  At the time of Behan’s dismissal, he was being investigated by the Osage County Sheriff’s Department about a 1983 sexual case involving a 10-year-old girl, according to Sheriff Carl Fowler of Linn, Mo.  A second case involving an 18-year-old female in 1999 also was made public.

Immaculate Conception, Montgomery City, has had other pastors implicated in the pedophile priest scandal in addition to Behan:  Rev. James Mohan, 1969, and the Rev. John Degnan, 1983.

Rev. David G. Buescher:  No Listing, 1980-1981; Special Assignment, 1985-1988; Spiritual Director and Faculty religion, music, speech, liturgy),St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary, Hannibal, 1971-1976; Pastor, St. Martin, St. Martins, 1983-1984; Director of the Diocesan Office for the Spiritual Renewal of the Laity; a stint of several years in The Netherlands, where he served as a chaplain for an English-speaking congregation at The Hague (1998-2001); Priest-in-residence, St. Joseph Cathedral, Jefferson City (c. 2002-2006); and other assignment — dates unknown — include: Pastor, St. Anthony Church, Camdenton (mission parishes at Hermitage and Climax Springs); Chaplain, Lincoln University Newman Center. He currently lives in a diocese-owned house in Jefferson City.

Rev. Kevin P. Clohessy:  Leave of Absence 2000-2002.  Leave of Absence, St. John Vianney/RECON Treatment Facility, Dittmer, Mo., 1993-1995; Pastor, St. Francis Xavier Church, Taos, 1995-2000; Assistant Pastor, Immaculate Conception, Jefferson City, 1985-1989; Chaplain, Helias High School, Jefferson City, 1986-1989;  STAS Graduation Class of 1978.

At the time Kevin Clohessy’s case became public he was employed as executive director of the Boone County Red Cross, even though he was still a priest and, apparently, on the Jefferson City payroll.

I remember Kevin Clohessy as a sweet-faced kid growing up in Moberly and attending St. Pius X Elementary School.  Kevin Clohessy.  His identification and removal from the priesthood is shocking.  The fact that the Diocese of Jefferson City attempted to bury the scandal

is puzzling. 

Gaydos found him a cushy job as executive director of the Boone County American Red Cross.  He also had a financial interest in McAdams, Ltd., an antiques emporium in Columbia (although he was forced liquidate and return the property to the previous owner: Rebecca Fahrendorf purchased the business from Phillip McAdams).

The irony is that Philip McAdams grew up in my neighborhood.  I remember his mother selling bric-a-brac out of her garage.  Philip McAdams was my first photography assignment when I was journalism student at the University of Missouri.  Philip McAdams was among the first casualties of the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

To his credit, Kevin, in recent years, has worked as a fundraiser for Trail to a Cure in Columbia.

Rev. Manus P. Daly:  Removed in 2002 as Pastor of St. Bonaventure, Marceline (FBI). Dismissed as Rector of St. Thomas Seminary, 1989-1996.  Leave of Absence and hospitalized at treatment facility for pedophile priests, 1996.  “Retired,” living in Ireland (most likely in County Donegal).  Current address: c/o Chancery.

Rev. Brendan Doyle:  Leave of Absence, 1 December 2011-14 March 2012, coincides with 10th  Anniversary of his countryman, Bishop Anthony J. O’Connell (both FBI).  Removed from Ministry, 14 March 2012.  Chaplain, Helias High School.  Judicial Vicar, Marriage Tribunal.  Held as role model for the “Discover the Priesthood” promotions for the diocese.  What we would like to know is why

he is not facing criminal charges.

As pastor of St. Martin’s Parish, St. Martin, Doyle expanded facilities to handle its growth.  In 1972, the parish Catholic Youth Organization began a fundraising effort to build a gymnasium and recreation center. The center was named the Doyle Youth Center.  Valued at $120,000, the building was completed at a cost of $18,000. Additional classrooms were added in 1974.

Rev. Stephen L. Faletti:  Sick Leave, 1986.  Associate Pastor,

St. Patrick, Rolla, and Director, Newman Center, Rolla, 1983-1985; Pastor, St. Francis, Bourbon, 1987-1988; Pastor, St. Michael, Steelville, 1988-1989; Pastor, Holy Cross, Cuba 1987-1989.

Rev. John H. Fischer:   “Retired” as a

result of the pedophile priest scandal, 1993.  Adjunct Faculty, St. Thomas, appointed by O’Connell, c. 1976-1980.  P astor, St. Peter Church, Jefferson City, 1986-1989; Pastor, St. Patrick Church, Rolla, 1982-1986; Pastor, Blessed Sacrament, Hannibal, 1974-1981; Pastor, Immaculate Conception, Macon, 1972-1973; Associate Pastor, Our Lady of Lourdes, Columbia, 1970-1971; Associate Pastor, St. Peter, Jefferson City, and Chaplain, St. Mary’s Hospital, 1967-1970.

As pastor of St. Peter, Jefferson City,1986-1989, Fischer supervised these associate pastors:  the Rev. Gary Pool (1985-1987); the Rev. Frank Westhoff (LOA, Springfield, Ill.); and the Rev. Robert A. Kurwicki, who was transferred from St. Louis to become personal secretary to Gaydos.

The Rev. John Whiteley served as Fischer’s associate pastor at

St. Patrick, Rolla (1982-1983); and a director of the Newman Center at the University of Missouri-Rolla.

The Rev. Stephen Falleti also served with Fischer at St. Patrick’s and the Newman Center, Rolla (1984-1986).

The so-called Priest Personnel Board comprised 5-6 members, and Fischer was a member 1972-1989, along with Bishop Anthony J. O’Connell throughout these 17 years; and with the Rev. Donald Wallace, who served about 5 years (1975-1980) and John Fischer.  Fischer also was a member of O’Connell’s Vocation Committee, along with the Rev. John Whiteley.

Rev. James P. McNally:  Leave of Absence, 1998, apparently for treatment at the Southdown Institute, Toronto, Canada.  STAS Graduation Class of 1972.  Dean of students, St. Thomas Seminary, 1980-1996; Assistant Vocation Director, 1980-1989; Vocation Director, 1989-1996 (O’Connell’s successor).  Apparently, McNally is still

on payroll.

Rev. Gary W. Pool:  Removed from ministry c. 1993.  Ordained, 1981.  Associate  Pastor, St. Joseph Cathedral, Jefferson City, 1981; Adjunct Faculty, St. Thomas Seminary, c. 1982-1984; Associate Pastor, Blessed Sacrament, 1982-1984; Associate Pastor, St. Peter, Jefferson City, 1984.  Civil suit in 2003 alleged that Pool molested an 8-year-old boy when he attended Immaculate Conception Elementary School, Jefferson City,

1979-1984.

Rev. James Mohan:  d. 17 March 1990. Two abuse allegations: Visitation Church, Vienna, Mo., and Immaculate Conception, Montgomery City, Mo.   Chaplain, USAF (1964-1968); pastor, St. Michael, Kahoka (1969); Immaculate Conception, Montgomery City (1970-1973); Visitation, Vienna (1974-1980); Serving in Other Diocese (1981-1984); MIA, Chancery Address (1985); On Duty Outside Diocese (1986-1989).  According to a well-placed, confidential source, who had access to diocesan personnel records, Mohan was assigned to Visitation, Vienna  (1974-1980), following alcoholism treatment at the Guest House.  Within months of his new assignment he disappeared.  Msgr. Gerald Kaiser, who was chancellor and vicar general, “drove to Vienna at midnight, scooped up Mohan and drove him to Lambert Airport in St. Louis, where [he was] put on a plane for London, England, with $15,000 cash in his pockets.” 

The Maries County sheriff’s office had issued a warrant for Mohan’s arrest, charging him with sexual molestation of “a couple of teenage boys.”

Bishop Anthony J. O’Connell:  Deceased (10 May 1938-4 May 2012).  Ordained, 1963, St. Peter Church, Jefferson City, Mo.; Faculty, St. Thomas Seminary, 1963-1989 (Dean of Students, 1964-1968; Spiritual Director, 1969-1970; Rhetoric, Chemistry, Physics); Rector, St. Thomas Seminary, 1970-1989; Vocation Director, 1970-1989; Assistant Vocation Director, 1965-1970; Member, Priest Personnel Board, 1972-1989; Member, Priest Senate, 1984-1989; Bishop, Knoxville, Tenn., 1989-1998; Bishop, Palm Beach, Fla., 1998-2002; In Residence, Mepkin Abbey, Moncks Corner, S.C., since 2002.

The Rev. J. James Offutt, along with the Rev. Joseph W. Starmann, is one of several priests who has supported victims and indicted O’Connell.  Offutt, like Starmann, is a Kenrick Seminary classmate of O’Connell.

“One of the things that just kind of boils me and a few other people is the fact that Bishop McAuliffe, knowing what he did about Tony O’Connell, still promoted him and had him keep on going as a climber in the bishops ranks,” said Offutt, pastor of Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Centralia, Mo., told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch in 2004.

Offutt said he also sat in with Bishop McAuliffe when he confronted another St. Thomas faculty member, the Rev. James P. McNally, about allegations that led to his dismissal, as well.

Rev. John J. Schutty:  Age, 74. Removed from ministry: December 2006.  Former Christian Brother and long-time faculty member at Helias High School, Jefferson City.  Ordained, 1983.  Served in several Mid-Missouri churches, including St. Peters in Jefferson City, Our Lady of the Snows in Mary’s Home, St. Anthony of Padua, St. Anthony, and St. Cecilia, Meta, 1988-2006.

Rev. Thomas Seifner:  Removed in 2010, but has No Assignment recorded in the 2010 Diocesan Directory.  Pastor, Immaculate Conception, Loose Creek, and St. Louis, Bonnots Mill, 2009-2010. Pastor, Pilot Grove, 2003-2004; also worked at parishes in in Westphalia, Clifton City, Wardsville, Chamois, Palmyra and Mokane  Ordained, 1992.  STAS Graduation Class of 1992.  According to media reports, an avid deer hunter and devout follower of

the Kansas City Chiefs.

Rev. Carmine C. Sita/Gerald Howard:  In 1983, Sita/Howard pled guilty to charges of sexually molesting a teen-age boy and distributing marijuana and sentenced to five years’ probation. Transferred to Jefferson City where he received a new identity as the Rev. Gerald Howard, and was assigned to Sts. Peter and Paul Parish, Boonville, 1983-1988.  In 2009, Dr. Mark McAllister received a $600,000 settlement from Jefferson City, Newark, and Servants of the Paraclete, which operated a treatment facility for pedophile priests in Jemez Springs, N.M.

Sita/Howard was transferred to the Jefferson City Diocese from the so-called Via Coeli Center in New Mexico with the knowledge of the religious order, Bishop Michael F. McAuliffe, and the Diocese of Newark, N.J., Howard pled guilty to child molestation charges in New Jersey and was sentenced for hiscrimes against children.

Sita/Howard now is being held on $1.5 million bond in Boonville.  He faces charges on suspicion of three counts of forcible sodomy, three counts of attempted forcible sodomy and two counts of kidnapping. The crimes took place in the mid-1980s when he worked at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church.

A hearing on is scheduled for  Monday, June 27 in the Cooper County Circuit Court.  The hearing has been postponed several times over the past year. Cooper County Prosecutor Doug Abele said in April after the last hearing date was rescheduled that the sides continue to collect depositions from witnesses across  the country, and Howard’s defense attorney requested the continuance for discovery purposes.

Fr. Sean J. Smythe:  d. 17 August 1990. Our Lady of the Snows Catholic Church in Mary’s Home (1996); St. Peter and Paul, Boonville. At least one allegation: molested 5-year-old girl circa 1959; report presented to Msgr. Gregory Higley in late 1990’s.

Rev. Donald L. Wallace:  “Retired” as a result of the pedophile priest scandal in 2002.  Assignment History: Pastor, St. Joseph, Salisbury, 2002; Pastor, St. Joseph, Fayette, 1998-2002; Pastor, St. Patrick, Rolla, 1994-1998; Pastor, St. Peter, Marshall, 1989; Pastor, St. Pius X, Moberly, 1982-1989; Pastor, Sacred Heart, Rich Fountain, 1980-1981; Pastor, St. Thomas, St. Thomas, 1976-1979; Pastor, Sacred Heart, Columbia, 1974-1975; Post-Graduate Studies, University of Missouri-Columbia, 1972-1973; Pastor, St. Peter, Fulton, 1969-1971; Associate Pastor, Immaculate Conception, Jefferson City, 1968; Pastor, Little Flower Church, Dixon, 1965-1967; Associate Pastor, Immaculate Conception, Jefferson City, 1964.  Member, Priest Personnel Board comprised, serving with Anthony J. O’Connell and the Rev. John H. Fischer, serving about 5 years.

In October 1997, Wallace was accused of “boundary violations” with boys, aged 11 to 13 years old, when he was pastor of St. Patrick Church in Rolla.  Gaydos did not dismiss Wallace until 2002 in the midst of the St. Thomas Seminary-Anthony J. O’Connell debacle.

Rev. Frank Westhoff:  b. 1933; d 2006:  Employment history unclear.  Leave of

Absence, Diocese of Springfield, Ill., c. 1980.  Westhoff was returned to active ministry after being placed on administrative leave while allegations were investigated.  Also the OCD has

no reference to Westhoff in 1985; but he is listed as “Absent, On Leave” for 1986, 1987, and 1988. To cover up his troubled past (ordained, 1961) including the June 1966 sexual assault of a 14-year-old in the sacristy of St. Patrick Church, Decatur, Ill., he was transferred from Springfield, Ill., to a boarding school and high school seminary operated by the Crosier Fathers in Onamia, Minn., where he worked in the admissions office (some records indicate the assignment as 1986-1987).  He then was transferred to St. John’s Seminary in Hales Corner, Wisc., where he met Anthony J. O’Connell, who as vocation director and a powerful member of the so-called Priest Personnel Board eased his transfer to the Jefferson City diocese in about 1986.  The first historical documentation of his presence in the diocese the Sts. Peter and Paul parish history which identifies the pedophile as associate pastor 1987-1992 (the OCD dates are1987-1989, the Rev. John H. Fischer as pastor and the Rev. Gary Pool as Associate Pastor).

O’Connell, Bishop McAuliffe. and Bishop Gaydos protected Westhoff even though two more molestation cases were deemed credible and the survivors continue to receive medical treatment.  Jefferson City attorney Louis DeFeo most likely played a critical role in the Westhoff case.  DeFeo not only was chief legal counsel for the diocese, but also executive director of the Missouri Catholic Conference. He and O’Connell, as vocation director and STAS rector, would have worked closely together on fundraising, political lobbying, appointments, and all other aspects of organizational management.

Paracelete Center Roommates

One thing we have learned from the pedophile priest crisis is that the scandal is not an anomaly.  The scandal is not the result of drugs sex and rock-and-roll.  It is not the result of consumerism, Darwinism or any of the other fabricated excuses thrown out by the powerbrokers of the church or the image-makers they have hired to skew the story.

The evidence that the pedophile priest scandal has a long history embedded  in a clerical culture of abuse can be found in the Church’s own resource material.  The Official Catholic Directory, itself, lists the address of two Jefferson City priests as that of Via Coeli, Jemez Springs, N.M., which was the infamous treatment center operated by the Servants of the Paraclete.

We have included their assignment history here.  But even more telling is the blurred photograph of the Rev. Robert G. Scobee,

who was an assistant at St. Pius X, Moberly, in 1939 (an indicator of age and extent of the pedophile priest scandal that continues to unfold today).

Rev. John B. DeAngelis:  Deceased, 13 February 1989. Assignments: 1955 with the Diocese of Kansas City, Mo. Jefferson City: Sick Leave, 1960; Holy Cross Church, Cuba, 1965; St. Cecilia Church, Meta, 1968. Leave of Absence, Paraclete Center, Via Coeli, Jemez Springs, N.M., either 1973-1983 or 1971-1984 (his “residency” coincided with that of the Rev. Robert G. Scobee); Retired St. Joseph Home for the Aged, Jefferson City, 1985-1989 or 1987-1989.

Rev. Robert G. Scobee:  Deceased, 30 April 1979.  Ordained, 1937; Pastor, Immaculate Conception Church  (now St. Pius X), Moberly, 1933; Leave of Absence, Paraclete Center, Via Coeli, Jemez Springs, N.M., 1970-1972 (his “residency” coincided with that of the Rev. John B. DeAngelis); St. Joseph, Westphalia (1973-1974); No Listing (1975); Retired, Hannibal (1976-1979).

Mystery Cases

Rev. Lou E. Dorn:  An allegation against Dorn was dismissed when the victim recanted.  But we believe the Dorn case needs to be re-visited, based on information we have received.

Rev. Thomas D. Hereford:  Leave of Absence, 1993-1994 and 2003-2004, but at the same time also listed as ODOD 1999-2004, 1996-1997 with no assignment history and a forwarding address in Parkville, Mo.  No Assignment History, 1999-2003; ODOD: Resurfaced in 2009 with a tenuous affiliation with the Karen House/ Catholic Worker Community, St. Louis.  Ordained, 1986.  Associate Pastor, Holy Family, Hannibal, 1986-1987; Associate Pastor, St. Joseph Cathedral, 1988; Associate Pastor, Immaculate Conception, Jefferson City, and Chaplain, Helias High School, 1989; Associate Pastor, St. Patrick and Newman Center, Rolla, 1992; Chaplain, Missouri Intermediate Reformatory-Algoa, Jefferson City, 1991-1993.

Hereford was a crony of McNally.  They shared an interest in computer technology.

Unspecified issues led to his transfer to the Diocese of Knoxville, Tenn., with Anthony J. O’Connell as bishop and benefactor.  Hereford was assigned to only two Knoxville parishes: Associate Pastor, St. Augustine, Signal Mountain, Tenn., 1995; Associate Pastor, St. Jude, Chattanooga, Tenn., 1995; On Duty Outside Diocese, 6305 N.W. Hogan, Parkville, Mo. (1996-1997); and again from 1999 to 2004, no published address.  Hereford resurfaced in St. Louis following a Leave of Absence (2003)

per the diocesan directory.  Current residence seems to be in New Haven, Mo.

Hereford built a reputation as the “Youth” priest in the diocese.  He served with Rev. Edwin Schmidt at Hannibal Catholic (1986-1987).  Schmidt was a member of O’Connell’s Priest Personnel Board.

In 1988, Hereford was transferred to St. Joseph Cathedral to serve with the pastor, Rev. Patrick J. Shortt (FBI).

In 1989, Hereford was transferred to Immaculate Conception, Jefferson City, to serve with the Rev. Michael Flanagan (FBI),

and the Rev. Kevin Clohessy; and was a spiritual director at Helias High School.

Rev. Luigi Palmieri:  On Duty Outside Diocese,

1975-1989, working in Trenton, New Jersey: St. Cecelia, Rockaway Beach, NJ, 1981; POB 5309, Trenton, N.J., 1982.  But according to newspaper accounts, in 1985 Palmieri was working in the diocese of Allentown, Pa.  In 1985, Palmieri, at the age of 52, was named Assistant Pastor, Church of the Holy Rosary, Reading, having transferred as Assistant Pastor, St. Margaret, Morristown, N.J., June 1981-September 1985.  We would like to know why the Rev. Palmieri was able to transfer to three different dioceses in the course of his career:  Jefferson City, Trenton, and Allentown, Pa.  The Rev. Palmieri was ordained in 1967 in the chapel of St. Thomas Seminary, Hannibal. He taught algebra at St. Thomas until 1970.

In 1992, Rev. Palmieri celebrated the 25th anniversary of his ordination at St. Anthony of Padua Church, Easton, Pa., where he was Assistant Pastor (1988-2008). In June 2008, the diocese restructured and closed parishes, and Palmieri was demoted from Assistant Pastor to Senior Priest.  Palmieri was born in Italy; he began his schooling in the town of Torrice.

Curiously, Palmieri’s name is linked to a 2002 clergy abuse scandal in the Allentown diocese.  Palmieri shared the rectory of St. Paul’s Church, Allentown, with the Rev. Michael S. Lawrence, who has been identified as a child predator.  Palmieri lived with Lawrence for seven years, apparently in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s, actual dates unknown.

Escape on a Technicality In 1988, the Rev. Richard C.Colbert was dismissed from Boys Town, Omaha, Neb. (multiple allegations of pedophile priest victimization are embedded in Boys Town history).  Boys Town administrators rationalized that it was easier to get rid of a priest alleged to have engaged in “inappropriate behavior” with youngsters living at the iconic child welfare facility.

Colbert was assigned to Boys Town from 1985 to 1988.  Before that, he served at St. Joseph Hospital in Omaha and at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Nebraska City.

The September 2005 lawsuitclaims Colbert developed “unhealthy, psychologically dependent relationships” with male students “to recruit them for sex.”  The suit also names Boys Town as a defendant, claiming the organization knew — or should have known — what Colbert was doing and should have better supervised him.  The lawsuit claims that Colbert also molested other unnamed students.

In March 2006, two judges dismissed two other cases against Boys Town, citing the state’s statute of limitations.  A Nebraska judge dismissed the case against Colbert because the victim’s attorney withdrew from the case when the plaintiff learned that any settlement would be earmarked for bankruptcy disbursement.

Colbert, a member of Society of the Precious Blood, has acknowledged that the relationship was inappropriate but not sexual.  Former administrators and an attorney for Boys Town said the Rev. Val Peter, executive director then and now, handled the investigation personally and swiftly.  The administrators have said the investigation did not follow Boys Town procedures and was not reported to police or the state.  The Rev. Mark Miller, former provincial director of the Society of the Precious Blood, said Boys Town, the order and Colbert agreed that the priest should leave.

The Jefferson City diocese said Colbert had served from 1977-1979 in Sedalia, from 1988-1992 in Pilot Grove and from 1993-1995 at St. Joseph Cathedral in Jefferson City before being assigned to a Fayette parish in 1995 and Warsaw in 1999.

Since 2000 he has been pastor at St. Ann’s in Warsaw, a resort town of 2,000 people on the shores of Truman Lake, about 80 miles southeast of Kansas City.  He is also a pastor at Sts. Peter and Paul Church in nearby Cole Camp. He previously served parishes in Fayette, Russellville and Pilot Grove.

Bishop McAuliffe first allowed Colbert to transfer to the Jefferson City diocese to work Sacred Heart Church, Sedalia (1977-1979).  McAuliffe then allowed Colbert back into the diocese after the Boys Town scandal.  Colbert’s assignment history includes:  St. Joseph, Pilot Grove, 1988-1992; St. Joseph Cathedral, Jefferson City, 1993-1995; St. Joseph Church, Fayette, records that Colbert arrived in July 1996, departure unknown; and since c. 1999-2004 or c. 2000-2004, depending on sources, St. Anne Church, Warsaw, Mo.  He was Associate Pastor, St. Anthony in Linton, N.D., 1969-71, in the Diocese of Bismarck.  Colbert also worked at the Missionaries of the Most Precious Blood Minor Seminary in Liberty, Mo., (established, 1963; closed, 1983); and performed church-related work in Collegeville, Minn.

At least 12 former Boys Town employees, including several former administrators, recalled Colbert’s sudden departure and the hush that surrounded it. None knew all the details. Except for Halley and former religion department Chairman Mike Carotta, the former employees spoke on the condition of anonymity.

A former religion teacher said Carotta called the religion department together and told the teachers: “Father Colbert will no longer be teaching here. And your continued employment will depend on how professionally you handle this.”

Carotta, who taught for four years at Boys Town and now lives in Louisville, Ky., recalled Colbert's sudden departure but not the conversation. He said the discussion probably took place in a context of whether it was appropriate to discuss personnel matters in class.

Colbert and the Rev. Mark Miller, former provincial director of the Society of the Precious Blood, said Boys Town, the order and Colbert agreed that the priest should leave.  Colbert said he received a letter from Boys Town that “explicitly stated there was no sexual abuse.” He turned the letter over to his provincial director and does not have a copy, he said. Miller said the order would not release the letter.

A few years after Colbert left Boys Town, the youth told his local priest that Colbert sexually abused him. The priest contacted the Precious Blood order. Colbert said the youth withdrew his accusation during the order’s investigation.

Miller confirmed that an investigation of Colbert started as a sexual abuse case. “The final conclusion is not sexual misconduct,” he said, declining to say more. Miller said that after sex abuse allegations against priests surfaced across the nation, officials last year reviewed the Colbert case and again decided that the incident did not merit further attention.

Jefferson City Data and Statistics

As of 2004, the Jefferson City Diocese reported 69 direct sexual abuse allegations against 27 priests since 1956, according to a survey by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops published in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.  The 27 priests, whose names were withheld, represented 6 percent of the priests who served in the diocese, Gaydos said.   As of September 2004, the diocese paid $591,000 in settlements and assistance to victims.

In 2012, these statistics have changed considerably.  The diocese was a party to a $600,000 settlement in 2009, related to child molestation charges (some as old as 1976) against the Rev. Carmine Sita of Newark, N.J., (known as the Rev. Gerald Howard in Jefferson City).  The diocese was assessed $225,000 of the total, of which $150,000 was covered by insurance and $75,000 came from a church coffers.

The dismissal of the Rev. Thomas Seifner in 2010 followed the Sita/Howard scandal.  The dismissal of the Rev. Brendan Doyle in March 2012 currently is the topic of discussion within the diocese.

Trying to keep abreast of these issues, we have developed a partial list of priests who received leaves of absence, sick leaves, or disappeared from the pages of the 54-year history of the Diocese of Jefferson City. We would like to know the circumstances of these matters; the rationale for Sick Leave requests and assignments outside the jurisdiction of the diocese; assignment and date discrepancies published in the OCD; special assignment; current addresses; and confirmation of continuing and discontinued salaries and benefits.

A statistical exhibit of the data follows:

	Clergyman1	Cause2	Status/Assignment	Year
1.	Rev. John Ahrens	N/A3	Sick Leave	1976
2.	Rev. Norman J. Ahrens d. 15 May 1990	N/A	Sick Leave Last Assignment	1976 St. Joseph, Marceline
3.	Rev. Patrick Audley	N/A	ODOD5 c/o Chancery, Jefferson City	1986-1988
4.	Rev. Hugh F. Behan	One Allegation	Leave of Absence Inactive/Salaried	1999-2003 2004 to Present
5.	Rev. David G. Buescher	One Allegation	No Listing Special Assignment Retired: Living in Jefferson City	1980-1981 1985-1988 2005
6.	Rev. John Butler	N/A	ODOD5 c/o Chancery, Honolulu, Ha.  No OCD listing for Honolulu.	1975-1989
7.	Rev. Edmund Byrne	N/A	Sabbatical	1989
8.	Rev. Robert J. Chenoweth d. 7 April 2003 due to HIV/AIDS	N/A	ODOD5 Leave of Absence	1987-1989 1993-2003
9.	Rev. Kevin Clohessy	Two Allegations	Sick Leave Leave of Absence Dismissed	1993-1995 2000-2002 2004
10.	Rev. Christopher Concannon	N/A	Sick Leave No Assign	1966-1976 After 1976
11.	Msgr. David D. Cox	Physical Abuse	St. Thomas Seminary	c. 1986
12.	Rev. Manus P. Daly	One Allegation	Transferred Inactive Retired: Resides in Ireland	1994 2002 2003
13.	Rev. John B. DeAngelis d. 13 February 1989	Two Allegations	Transferred Sick Leave/Treatment	19761971-1984
14.	Rev. William D. Debo	QC4	Transferred	2003
15.	Rev. John Degnan7 d. 9 September 2010	17 Allegations Earliest report c. 1960	St. John Vianney/RECON Treatment Facility, Dittmer No Directory Listing Retired	2005-2010 2003-2004 2001
16.	Rev. Louis E. Dorn	One, Morals Related One Allegation Recanted	St. Peter, Fulton Leave of Absence Given Honorary Title	c. 1993 2006 2009
17.	Rev. Salvatore Fagiolo	N/A	Leave of Absence	1969
18.	Rev. Stephen Faletti	Two Allegations	Dismissed	c. 1990
19.	Rev. John H. Fischer	Three Allegations	Dismissed	c. 1996
20.	Rev. Thomas D. Hereford	QC4	Transferred Leave of Absence ODOD5 Inactive/On Leave	1993-1994 1994-1995 1996-2004 2004-Present
21.	Rev. Patrick H. Hoffman d. 27 October 1990	N/A	ODOD5 c/o Chancery, Jefferson City Last Assignment	Unknown 1984-1990 St. Joseph, Canton
22.	Msgr. Gregory L. Higley	N/A	No Assignment Special Assignment	1986 1987
23.	Rev. Ronald Jewell	N/A	Leave of Absence	1982-1985
24.	Rev. Robert Keating	N/A	Leave of Absence	1981-1985
25.	Rev. Donald Kemper d. 5 August 1984	N/A	Leave of Absence Last Assignment	1982 Sacred Heart Columbia
26.	Rev. George Kramer	N/A	Special Assignment Retired: Bonnots Mill, Mo.	1989 2007
27.	Rev. Mel Lahr	QC4	Sick Leave	1989
28.	Rev. Joseph G. Lawlor	N/A	Awaiting Assignment Retired: Dublin, Ireland	1975 2010
29.	Rev. Vincent A. Linnebur d. 27 November 2007	N/A	Awaiting Assignment Leave of Absence	1975 1988
30.	Rev. John Long	QC4	Leave of Absence Retired: Cork, Ireland Second Home: Greenville, N.C.	1982 2003
31.	Rev. Nicholas Long	N/A	Awaiting Assignment	1975+-1980
32.	Rev. James P. McNally	Two Allegations Three Physical Abuse	Sabbatical8 Leave of Absence Dismissed	c. 1989 c. 1990 c. 1993
33.	Rev. Patrick J. McMyler d. 23 April 1975	N/A	Sick Leave ODOD5	1985 1989
34.	Rev. James J. Mohan d. 17 March 1990	Four Allegations	Transferred to Ireland	1980
35.	Msgr. Joseph J. Morell d. 29 January 1989	N/A	ODOD5	1976-1989
36.	Bishop Anthony J. O’Connell	16 Documented 7 Undocumented	ODOD5 Mepkin Abbey, N.C.	2002
37.	Rev. Edward M. Owens d. 4 January 1997	N/A	Sick Leave Last Assignment	1987 Pershing Regional Hospital
38.	Rev. Luigi Palmieri	N/A	ODOD5	1975-1989
39.	Msgr. Charles H. Patterson d. 6 May 2010	One Allegation	Transferred	Transferred
40.	Rev. Gary W. Pool	Two Allegations	Transferred Dismissed	c. 1986c. 1993
41.	Rev. Thomas Powell	N/A	Sick Leave	1987
42.	Rev. Raymond W. Rau 27 April 1978	N/A	Leave of Absence Last Assignment	1972-1973 St. Anthony, Rosati
43.	Rev. Peter Russell	N/A	Leave of Absence	1986-1988
44.	Rev. Eric A. Schlachter	QC4	Sick Leave Inactive/On Leave	19872004 to Present
45.	Rev. John Schutty	Multiple Allegations	Retired	2006
46.	Rev. Robert Scobee 30 April 1979	One Allegation	Transferred Treatment Last Assignment	1970-1972 St. Mary, Wien
47.	Rev. Thomas J. Seifner	One Allegation	Inactive/On Leave	Since 2009
48.	Rev. Carmin C. Sita/ AKA Gerald Howard	Awaiting Trial: Four Allegations	Boone County, Mo. St. Peter & St. Paul, Boonville Newark, N.J.	2010 1983-1984 1982
49.	Rev. James M. Smith	N/A	Last Assignment St. Peter, Jefferson City	2005
50.	Rev. Mark C. Smith	N/A	ODOD5	1988
51.	Rev. Sean J. Smythe d. 17 August 1990	One Allegation	Last Assignment	St. Mary’s Health Center
52.	Rev. Frank J. Stangld. 2 February 2008	N/A	ODOD5 c/o Chancery, Jefferson City Retired: Rocky Mount, N.C.Diocese of Raleigh, N. C.	1988-2002 2003-2008 1996-2008
53.	Rev. Gerald W. Stockman	N/A	ODOD5 Retired: Glasgow, Mo.	1987-1989
54.	Rev. Daniel S. Tarleton	N/A	Leave of Absence	1969
55.	Rev. Timothy M. Tatro	N/A	Inactive/On Leave	Since 2006
56.	Rev. John J. Vandenberghe d. 25 April 1986	N/A	ODOD5	1975-1986
57.	Rev. Donald L. Wallace	Four Allegations	Dismissed Retired c/o Chancery, Jefferson City	2002 Since 2006
58.	Rev. Frank D. Westhoff d. 7 January 2006	Four Allegations	ODOD5 Leave of Absence No Directory Listing	1987-19891986-1988 2003-2006
59.	Rev. Clarence E. Wiederholt	N/A	Sick Leave Retired	1986-1989
60.	Rev. John J. Whiteley	Six Allegations	Dismissed	c. 1993
61.	Rev. James Wieberg	N/A	Leave of Absence Leave of Absence	1984 1985
62.	Rev. Robert Wiesmann	N/A	Sick Leave: 1967 No Assignments	1967 After 1976
63.	Rev. Norman Wilkinson	N/A	Sick Leave	1966