Servites / Order of Friar Servants of Mary – OSM

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Terry McKiernan February 27, 2021

11 Accused in This Religious Order

Br. Gregory Atherton

Order: OSM
Status: Settled

Diocese: Diocese of Orange CA

Sued in 1993, accused of abuse of three boys. Per the Los Angeles Archdiocese's 2/2004 report, there were five accusers alleging abuse 1967-1986. Three Servite High School students alleged abuse 6/1967-1975; Atherton was assigned to the school as registrar, office manager and music director. The abuse occurred in multiple places, including on road trips from CA to Portland OR, Utah and British Columbia. The Order knew of the abuse by 1990; Atherton was working in 1990 Portland OR at the National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother, also called The Grotto. He was sent to the Servants of the Paraclete in NM for treatment. He was also accused of abusing in the Diocese of Orange CA where two suits were filed in 1/2003. The Diocese settled in 2005 for $4,169,325 but did not include Atherton on its list of accused priests. Reportedly in 2002 he was still a member of his order, still working at The Grotto, under close supervision. He "fully acknowledged" the abuse. His personnel file was released in 2015. The Los Angeles Archdiocese's list in 12/2021 shows Atherton to be deceased.

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Fr. Donald M. Duplessis

Order: OSM
Ordained: 1961
Status: Sued

Diocese: Archdiocese of Los Angeles CA

Per the L.A. archdiocese's report in 2005, Duplessis (at times spelled Duplessius) was accused by one person of abuse occurring 1968-70, while assigned to Servite High School in Anaheim. Lawsuit filed. Reportedly died in 2018.

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Sources:

LA Archdiocesan Report Addendum 11.15.05

Fr. Kevin M. Fitzpatrick

Order: OSM
Ordained: 1954
Status: Sued

Died: 06/5/1997
Diocese: Diocese of Orange CA

Accused in a 2022 lawsuit of sexually abusing a boy, beginning when the boy was age 13 in 1976 and continuing throughout his time as a student at Servite High School in Anaheim. Fitzpatrick was assigned to the high school 1970-1992, where he was a teacher and swim coach. He was transferred in 1993 to a parish in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, then in 1994 to a parish in Portland OR. Also worked in Milwaukee WI. He died in 1997. Four more former Servite students filed claims of abuse against Fitzpatrick in 9/2022, and three more were filed several months later.

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Fr. Philip M. Scherer

Donate Photo

Order: OSM
Ordained: 1955
Status: Accused

Died: 04/12/2016
Diocese: Archdiocese of Chicago IL

Named publicly as credibly accused by the Chicago archdiocese on its list in 10/2022. Died in 2016. Included in the 5/23/2023 IL Attorney General's Report.

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Fr. John Huels

Order: OSM
Ordained: 1976
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Metuchen NJ

Accused in 1994 of abuse in 1970s of a 15-year-old boy in New Jersey. Admitted the abuse. A second victim came forward. Forced to step down as head of the Chicago-based Servites. Went to Africa for a few years. Hired 1997 by St. Paul University in Ottawa, ON, Canada. By 2002 he was still a priest and professor and vice dean of canon law at St. Paul's. St. Paul's said he took "medical leave for the treatment of severe depression" in 8/02 after allegation surfaced. Ottawa archbishop said Huels was leaving Servites and would seek laicization. In 9/18 he was still professor of canon law at Saint Paul's. He was removed from that position after publicity the same month.

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BA.org Assignment Record

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Fr. Bruce J. Klikunas

Donate Photo

Order: OSM
Ordained: 1972
Status: Sued

Diocese: Archdiocese of Los Angeles CA

Accused by one person of abuse 1976-1977, per the Archdiocese in its 2004 report. Named in at least one civil suit.

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Sources:

L.A. Archdiocesan Report 02.17.04

Fr. Raymond M. LaBate

Order: OSM
Ordained: 1951
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of El Paso TX

Named publicly as accused by the El Paso diocese on its list 1/31/19.

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Fr. Andrew M. Ronan

Order: OSM
Ordained: 1951
Status: Settled

Diocese: Archdiocese of Chicago IL

Accused of abuse of a seminarian in Ireland. Sent to the U.S. Accused of abuse of male high school students in Chicago in 1963-1964. Sent to Portland OR; abused in the mid-1960s. Suit filed in 2002 in OR claiming abuse in 1966. Laicized in 1966. Died in 1992. Documents released by Portland AD in 11/2008 (see last page). Plaintiff sued Holy See; US Supreme Court said suit could go forward in 6/2010. Vatican posted some files on its website in 8/2011. Judge ruled in 8/2012 that Vatican was not employer. Name included in 10/2022 on the Chicago archdiocese's list of credibly accused. Included in the 5/23/2023 IL Attorney General's Report.

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Partial Assignment History in Vatican Archive of the Congregation for Religious

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Fr. Mark Santo

Order: OSM
Ordained: 1960
Status: Accused

Died: 05/3/2008
Diocese: Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau MO

Given name Charles Edward Santo. Worked in a number of dioceses and archdioceses including Chicago, Winona, Lansing, Miami, Los Angeles. Assignments included parishes, schools, and prison ministry. Left the order in 1988. Incardinated into the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, reportedly transferred to Los Angeles after a short time. Died 5/3/2008 in Canada. Named publicly as accused by the Springfield-Cape Girardeau diocese on its list updated 4/1/2019 (with a wrong death date). Alleged abuse in the 1960s reported in 2018.

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Br. Joe Sharkey

Order: OSM
Status: Sued

Diocese: Archdiocese of Los Angeles CA

From Ireland. Arrived in Anaheim CA in 1967, assigned to Servite High School. Accused of abuse of a minor 1967-1968, per the 2004 Los Angeles Archdiocesan Report. Named in a civil suit. Included on the Diocese of Orange list of accused clergy. Files released in 2015 reportedly show that Sharkey was accused of sexual misconduct "with at least five students, four of whom are minor seminarians." A Province official wrote that he didn't know that Sharkey was a sadomasochist, and that he had heard that Sharkey had "committed the same misdeeds at Benburb Priory in Ireland." He was sent to USC's Newman Center for treatment and returned in 6/1968 to Ireland. He was released from the order within the year. He is reportedly deceased.

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Fr. Franco Tentori

Donate Photo

Order: OSM
Ordained: 1954
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of El Paso TX

Named publicly as accused by the El Paso diocese on its list 1/31/19.

Sources:

Diocese of El Paso List 01.31.19