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  Reports of Abuse by Priests with Ties to Valley Area
Grand Jury Report on Abuse Scandal

Morning Call [Allentown, Pennsylvania]
September 22, 2005

The grand jury in Philadelphia wrapped up its three-year investigation with a report that refers to a "travesty of justice: a multitude of crimes for which no one can be held criminally responsible. " Included in the report is a "catalogue of sexually abusive priests. " Among the 63 listed by the grand jury are these 12 priests, who were assigned to duties in the Lehigh Valley region at one point:

REV. EDWARD V. AVERY

Ordained: May 16, 1970

Local tie: Assigned to St. Philip Neri, Pennsburg, 1976-78

Time of allegation: Late 1970s

Archdiocese notified: Sept. 22, 1992

Victim: 12-year-old male

Assignment at time: Assistant pastor, St. Philip Neri

Action: November 1992, Avery underwent a psychological evaluation at St. John Vianney Hospital, Downingtown. August 1993, resigned as pastor, St. Therese of the Child Jesus, Philadelphia, and placed on health leave for four months. Assigned as chaplain at Nazareth Hospital December 1993-2003. On Dec. 5, 2003, archdiocese decreed Avery in violation of policy against the sexual abuse of minors and placed him on administrative leave.

Status: Avery currently deciding between involuntary or voluntary laicization.

REV. LEONARD W. BROUGHAN

Ordained: May 19, 1955

Local tie: Assigned to St. Stanislaus, Lansdale 1955-57

Time of allegation: Not specified

Archdiocese notified: Dec. 6, 1993

Victim: Not specified

Action: Archdiocesan official told Msgr. McGroarty to have the complainants of whom he became aware contact the Archdiocese.

Time of allegation: Began in 1972

Archdiocese notified: March 10, 1995

Victim: Male Catholic high school student

Assignment at time: Faculty, Roman Catholic High School,, residence at St. Philip Neri, Philadelphia

Action: The archdiocese required complainant to address abuse with Carmelites even though Broughan was archdiocesan priest.

Status: Brougham died Dec. 24, 1998.

REV. GERARD W. CHAMBERS

Ordained: May 26, 1934

Local tie: Assigned to St. Joseph's, Jim Thorpe 1934-35, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Doylestown, 1944-45, and St. Mary of Assumption, Coaldale, 1947-48

Time of allegation: 1959 or 1960

Archdiocese notified: March 4, 1994

Victim: Altar boy

Assignment at time: assistant pastor, Seven Dolors, Wyndmoor

Action: The archdiocese interviewed complainant and tried to retrieve his records. Found allegations highly possible based on a review of his assignments, which included seven health leaves. Complainant offered a check for $6,890 for past therapy costs in return for a signed release form.

Time of allegation: 1950s

Archdiocese notified: June 10, 2002

Victims: Three brothers, all altar boys ages 12-14

Assignment at the time: Assistant pastor, St. Gregory's, Philadelphia Action: Archdiocese offered complainants counseling assistance

Time of allegation: Late 1950s

Archdiocese notified: Feb. 12, 2004

Victim: 14-year-old male

Action: Chambers deceased at time of complaint

Time of allegation: 1957

Archdiocese notified: Feb. 28, 2004

Victim: St. Gregory's altar boy

Action: Chambers deceased.

Status: Chambers died Dec. 2, 1974

REV. JAMES J. COONAN

Ordained: May 22, 1965

Local tie: Pastor of St. Stanislaus, Lansdale, 1983-85

Time of allegations: Summer of 1966 or 1967, 1966 or 1967

Archdiocese notified: Jan. 22, 2002

Victims: 14-year-old male, 15-year-old male

Assignment at the time: assistant pastor, Queen of the Universe, Levittown

Action: In January 2002, priestly faculties restricted to private Mass. In March 2002, underwent psychological evaluation at St. John Vianney Hospital. Retired Feb. 26, 2002, Villa St. Joseph.

Status: Sept. 10, 2004, archdiocese imposed further restrictions on ministry and informed him that his name would not appear in the 2005 Catholic Directory. Oct. 10, 2004, agrees to removal of priestly faculties, to forgo the church penal process and to accept the imposition of a supervised life of prayer and penance.

REV. NICHOLAS V. CUDEMO

Ordained: May 18, 1963

Local tie: assistant pastor of St. Stanislaus, Lansdale, 1963-68

Time of allegation: 1963-1966

Archdiocese notified: April 18, 1966

Victim: female parishioner of St. Stanislaus who was junior at Lansdale Catholic High School

Assignment at time: St. Stanislaus

Action: None

Time of allegation: 1969

Archdiocese notified: Sept. 2, 1969

Victim: Female teenager

Assignment at time: Faculty, Archbishop Kennedy High School, Conshohocken, residence at Ss. Cosmas and Damian, Conshohocken

Action: Moved to St. Helena's.

Time of allegation: June 1975 to 1977

Archdiocese notified: July 26, 1977

Victim: 15-year-old female student at Cardinal Dougherty

Assignment at time: faculty, Cardinal Dougherty, residence at St. Titus, Norristown

Action: Reassigned as assistant pastor, St. Mary Magdalen DePazzi, Philadelphia in 1977

Time of allegation: 1976-1991

Archdiocese notified: June 7, 1991

Victim: female student at student Cardinal Dougherty

Action: Recommended but never received psychological evaluation. Assigned as pastor at St. Callistus, Philadelphia in June 1991

Time of allegation: 1964-1977

Archdiocese notified: Sept. 28, 1991

Victims: four female students ranging from grade to high school

Action: Directed to undergo psychological evaluation. Archdiocese told Cudemo his current assignment at St. Callistus would not be changed

Time of allegation: Early 1970s

Archdiocese notified: Oct. 24, 1991

Victims: female junior at Archbishop Prendergast High School, female sophomore at Archbishop Kennedy

Action: Cudemo not removed from current assignment and priestly faculties not suspended. Underwent two psychological evaluations. Cudemo refused the directives of the cardinal to undergo inpatient hospitalization and residence at Immaculate Conception. Retired July 1, 1996, in Abington

Time of allegation: 1982-1985

Archdiocese notified: Jan. 22, 2001

Victim: Fifth-grade female student from St. Irenaeus, Philadelphia

Assignment at time: Assistant pastor, St. Irenaeus

Action: Cudemo continued to assist in archdiocesan parishes

Time of allegation: 1973-1974

Archdiocese notified: July 2004

Victim: Two female students at Cardinal Dougherty

Action: Unknown, but in March 2002, Cudemo told to restrict priestly faculties to private Mass. On Aug. 17, 2004, archdiocese found allegations to be credible, imposed restrictions on ministry and referred case to Vatican for review of laicization.

Status: Cudemo is contesting efforts to laicize him.

REV. EDWARD M. DEPAOLI

Ordained: May 16, 1970

Local tie: Assistant pastor, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Doylestown, 1970-75

Time of allegation: June 25, 1985

Incident: Child pornography confiscated from DePaoli's room at Holy Martyrs parish in Oreland

Assignment at time: faculty, Bishop McDevitt High School, Wyncote, residence, Holy Martyrs

Action: On June 26, 1985, DePaoli admitted to St. John Vianney Hospital, and priestly faculties removed and suspended. On Oct. 9, 1985, arrested and indicted on one count of child pornography and found guilty on Nov. 13, 1986. Given one year's probation. Continued residence at St. John Vianney Hospital.

Time of allegation: November 1987

Incident: Seen buying and found possessing child pornography

Assignment at time: Residence at House of Affirmation in Hopedale, Mass.

Action: Released from House of Affirmation on January 1988. Assigned to St. John Vianney Church in Colonia, N.J. for three years and four months. Returned to active ministry in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia on July 1, 1991 as parochial vicar of St. John the Baptist, Philadelphia.

Time of allegation: May 15, 1992

Allegation: Received pornographic material in the mail addressed to St. John the Baptist Rectory Parochial Vicar.

Action: Directed to stop receiving questionable items in the mail. In December 1992, reassigned to residence at Immaculate Conception in Philadelphia and placed on administrative leave. Faculties restricted to private Mass unless permission granted.

Time of allegation: May 1996

Archdiocese notified: May 29, 1996

Allegation: Receiving inappropriate magazines at St. Gabriel's, Stowe, where he lived at time.

Action: The archdiocese interviewed DePaoli. His priestly faculties were still restricted.

Time of allegation: 1970

Archdiocese notified: July 26, 2002

Victim: 14-year-old female

Assignment: assistant pastor, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Doylestown

Action: The Stradley Ronon Law Firm reported the sexual abuse complaint to Bucks County district attorney in July 2002. In December 2002, DePaoli removed from residence at St. Gabriel's. On Jan. 14, 2002, archdiocese found allegations credible and imposed restrictions on ministry. Case referred to Vatican for review of laicization. On Sept. 10, 2004, archdiocese imposed further restrictions on ministry and informed him that his name would not appear in the 2005 Catholic Directory. DePaoli informed Vatican's action to remove him from the clerical state could not be appealed. Offered financial support from the archdiocese until March 2005.

REV. WILLIAM J. DOUGHERTY

Ordained: May 17, 1969

Local tie: Vicar, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Doylestown, 1970-75

Date of allegation: Not specified

Archdiocese notified: April 3, 2002

Victim: Female high school student

Assignment at time: Not specified

Action: Administrative leave as of Sept. 1, 1999. Archdiocese interviewed Dougherty. On April 15, 2004, archdiocese approved review board's recommendation that allegation of sexual abuse of minors was credible. On June 14, 2004, restrictions on ministry imposed and case referred to Vatican for review of laicization. On Sept. 10, 2004, informed that name would not appear in the 2005 Catholic Directory Status: Dougherty wrote to the Vatican to request voluntary laicization on Oct. 21, 2004.

REV. PETER J. DUNNE

Ordained: May 8, 1954

Local tie: Assigned to St. Ursula, Fountain Hill, 1954-58

Time of allegation: Began in 1958

Archdiocese notified: April 23, 1986.

Victim: 14-year-old male

Assignment at time: Faculty, Cardinal Dougherty, residence, St. Bartholomew, Philadelphia, Camp Neumann, Jamison

Action: Archdiocese interviewed Dunne. On Dec. 5, 1986, Dunne resigned as pastor of Sacred Heart, Oxford. Seven days later, Dunne placed on sick leave and resided at St. John Vianney Hospital.

Time of allegation: Not specified

Archdiocese notified: Nov. 12, 1986

Victims: two students from St. Francis Vocational School, one male age not specified

Assignment: Not specified

Action: Archdiocese interviewed Dunne. Resided at St. John Vianney for 10 months then reassigned as assistant pastor to Nativity in Warminster. Dunne retired in October 1995 in Kintnersville. On Sept. 10, 2004, archdiocese imposed further restrictions on ministry and informed him that his name would not appear in the 2005 Catholic Directory.

Status: On Oct. 21, 2004, Dunne agreed to removal of his priestly faculties, to forgo the church penal process and to accept the imposition of a supervised life of prayer and penance.

REV. JOSEPH P. GAUSCH

Ordained: Dec. 15, 1945

Local tie: Assigned to St. Joseph's, Jim Thorpe, 1945-48, St. Stanislaus, Lansdale, 1956-61, St. Anthony Padua, Easton, 1949-53

Time of allegation: 1945-48

Archdiocese notified: 1961

Victims: 14-year-old seventh-grade boy, male St. Joseph's student, eighth-grade boys

Assignments at time: Assistant pastor, St. Joseph's, Jim Thorpe

Action: Gausch placed on health leave and admitted to the Alexian Brothers Hospital in Oshkosh, Wis., in July 1948

Time of allegation: early 1960s

Archdiocese notified: August 1964

Victim: male minor

Assignment at time: Assistant pastor, Our Lady of Peace, Milmont Park.

Action: Gausch transferred to St. Bridget, Philadelphia, in August 1964

Time of allegation: Not specified

Archdiocese notified: Jan. 26, 1977

Victims: Grade-school boys

Assignment at the time: Assistant pastor, Queen of the Universe, Levittown

Action: Gausch transferred to St. Aloysius, Pottstown, in February 1977. The archdiocese suggested but did not enforce psychiatric treatment. Gausch told that if no future scandal occurred, he could be considered for pastoral appointment.

Time of allegation: 1980-81

Archdiocese notified: Jan. 13, 1994

Victims: 12-year-old altar boy, altar boy

Assignment at time: pastor, Good Shepherd, Philadelphia

Action: Gausch questioned by the Secretary for Clergy, but allowed to remain at current assignment as pastor emeritus, Good Shepherd.

Time of allegation: Early 1980s

Archdiocese notified: Aug. 11, 2000

Victim: Boy who worked at rectory

Assignment at time: Pastor, Good Shepherd

Action: Gausch deceased when complaint received

Time of allegation: 1956-1961

Archdiocese notified: March 25, 2002

Victim: 18-year-old male

Assignment at time: Assistant pastor, St. Stanislaus, Lansdale

Action: Gausch deceased when complaint received

Time of allegation: 1963-64

Archdiocese notified: March 27, 2002

Victim: Altar boy

Assignment at time: Assistant pastor, Our Lady of Peace

Action: Gausch deceased when complaint received

Time of allegation: 1971-72

Archdiocese notified: Sept. 18, 2003

Victim: 13-year-old altar boy

Assignment: Assistant pastor, St. Bridget, Philadelphia

Action: Gausch deceased when complaint received

Time of allegation: 1956-59

Archdiocese notified: March 5, 2004

Victim: Sixth-grade boy

Assignment at time: Assistant pastor, St. Stanislaus

Action: Gausch deceased when complaint received

Time of allegation: Not specified

Archdiocese notified: April 14, 2004

Victim: Altar boy

Assignment at the time: Assistant pastor, St. Bridget

Action: Gausch deceased when complaint received

Status: Died May 30, 1999

REV. MATTHEW J. KORNACKI

Ordained: May 19, 1973

Local tie: Vicar, St. Isidore, Quakertown, 1985-92

Time of incident: 2001-2003

Archdiocese notified: July 18, 2003

Action: Reported to archdiocese that New York City police visited him concerning possessing and viewing child pornography.

Assignment at time: St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, Overbrook

Action: July 2003, Kornacki admitted to St. John Vianney Hospital for treatment. Placed on administrative leave on Aug. 1, 2003. On May 27, 2004, Kornacki indicted in federal court for possession of child pornography. On June 2, 2004, Kornacki informed that archdiocese found allegations credible, imposed restrictions on his priestly ministry and referred the case to the Vatican for review of laicization. In August 2004, Kornacki pleaded guilty on one count of violation of the federal statute for possession of child pornography. Further restrictions placed on priestly duties in September 2004, including removal of name from 2005 Catholic Directory.

Status: On Oct. 13, 2004, Kornacki agreed to removal of his priestly faculties, to forgo the Church penal process and to accept the imposition of a supervised life of prayer and penance. On Nov. 18, 2004, Kornacki sentenced to 30 months in federal prison plus a $6,000 fine.

REV. JOSEPH R. MONAHAN

Ordained: May 19, 1962

Local tie: Assistant pastor, St. Philip Neri, Pennsburg, 1975.

Time of allegation: 1969

Archdiocese notified: April 18, 2002

Victim: Male eighth-grader

Assignment at time: Assistant pastor, Presentation B.V.M., Wynnewood

Action: Archdiocese told complainant that Monahan was under the jurisdiction of the Archdiocese of St. Louis. Monahan was incardinated into the Archdiocese of St. Louis in 1980.

REV. CHARLES J. SIEGELE

Ordained: May 30, 1953

Local tie: Assistant pastor, St. Joseph, Jim Thorpe, 1953-57

Time of allegation: June 1953 to February 1957

Archdiocese notified: Oct. 17, 1967

Victims: Three boys

Assignment at time: Assistant pastor, St. Joseph, Jim Thorpe

Action: health leave at St. John Vianney Hospital from October 1967 to June 1968, then assigned as assistant pastor, Our Lady of Pompeii, Philadelphia.

Time of abuse: not specified

Archdiocese notified: Oct. 17, 1967

Victims: Cardinal Dougherty student, 14-year-old male and a third-grade boy

Assignment at time: faculty, Cardinal Dougherty High School, Philadelphia

Action: Health leave at St. John Vianney Hospital.

Time of allegation: not specified

Archdiocese notified: March 30, 1988

Victim: 14-year-old from the 1967 complaint

Action: Archdiocese interviewed Siegele, who remained pastor at St. Barnabas, Philadelphia, until his death on Jan. 28, 1989.

Time of allegation: 1960-1964

Archdiocese notified: March 26, 2002

Victim: Cardinal Dougherty male student

Assignment at time: faculty, Cardinal Dougherty

Action: On Sept. 13, 2002, C. Clark Hodgson of the Stradley Ronon law firm wrote to attorney for complainant, explaining that the statute of limitations had expired. Complainant was offered counseling services.

NOTES: This is a side bar to 'Grand jury flays archdiocese for hiding priest sex abuse' that appears on A1.

 
 

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