Marianists release names of priests in U.S. who have abused minors; Archdiocese releases two new names

Archdiocese of St. Louis
June 25, 2020

http://www.archstl.org/marianists-release-names-of-priests-in-us-who-have-abused-minors-archdiocese-releases-two-new-names-5474

The Archdiocese of St. Louis has added two former priests to the list of clergy with substantiated allegations of sexual abuse of a minor. The Marianist Province of the United States also released a list of names of their clergy who have sexually abused a minor.

The archdiocesan priests were brought to the attention of the archdiocese, which triggered a thorough investigation of the allegations by independent investigators, according to a statement from the archdiocese. Their findings were presented to the Archdiocesan Review Board, composed mainly of lay Catholics who are not employees of the archdiocese. The Review Board made a recommendation to Archbishop Robert J. Carlson that the allegations should be considered substantiated, a recommendation that Archbishop Carlson has adopted.

The acts are alleged to have occurred decades prior to the USCCB Dallas Charter of 2002 for the Protection of Children and Young People. The two former clergy members are:

• John Condit, who was ordained in the Archdiocese of St. Louis in 1945. He served as a military chaplain and then in parishes in the diocese of Jefferson City. Condit died in 1994.

• Robert Marquitz, who was ordained in 1964. He has been laicized. Archbishop Carlson is sending a personal letter to the parish in the Archdiocese of St. Louis at which Marquitz served in ministry, and an announcement will be made in the bulletin at that parish. The archdiocese has not released the name of the parish where he served.

The information has been added to the Archdiocese of St. Louis’ website at archstl.org/list.

The List of Clergy with Substantiated Allegations of Sexual Abuse of a Minor is a live document, and the names of any additional clergy who are found to have substantiated claims of sexual abuse of minors against them, based on new information, will be added to this list. Procedures, policies and support for victims in place within the Archdiocese of St. Louis can be found at archstl.org/promise.

Marianists release names of clergy with allegations of abuse

Marianist Province of the United States published June 24 the names of members and former members, living and deceased, who were found to have sexually abused a minor in the United States since 1950. The list at marianist.com/healing includes the names of members who served in St. Louis-area Catholic high schools. Those schools will be communicating directly to their communities. The list also includes the name of one priest who served in a parish within the Archdiocese of St. Louis for a short time in the late 1960s. Parishioners from that parish are receiving notification from the Archdiocese of St. Louis.

The Society of Mary (Marianists) is an international Roman Catholic religious congregation of brothers and priests. The community is present in the St. Louis area, but is not under the jurisdiction of the Archdiocese of St. Louis. The Archbishop of St. Louis, however, must approve a religious order’s presence and ministry within the archdiocese.

“The actions of some have wounded victims, sparked righteous outrage, and severely damaged the trust of the faithful,” provincial Father Oscar Vasquez, SM, wrote in a letter dated March 31. “The failure to shed light on sexual abuse in recent decades demands a contrite and transparent response from Church leadership.

“To those who have survived sexual abuse at the hands of a member of the Society of Mary, we profoundly regret and apologize for the serious harm you have suffered,” he continued. “We apologize for the betrayal and pain you and your family have endured. Words will never heal your wounds, but we pray that our actions today will help bring you some solace.”

The Marianists reviewed more than 2,500 member personnel files and have released the names of 46 men. Two of them were cases involving child pornography, and one was an aspirant under the direction of the Marianists but never professed vows. Living Marianists who have been found to have sexually abused a minor were placed on a safety plan and permanently removed from public ministry.

Father Vasquez said in his letter that the Marianists intended to publish the list in Lent. Due to the coronavirus outbreak, the provincial council discerned it was in the best interest of the province and its institutions to postpone the announcement to a more prudent time, he said, with the later decision to publish the list in June.

“The Marianist Province of the United States is ashamed and deeply regretful that some among its members have been guilty of sexual abuse of a minor,” Father Vasquez wrote. “Abusive behavior is a betrayal of our religious vocation and has no place in our ministries. All entrusted to our care should be safe.”