Crime & Safety
53 Diocese Of San Diego Clergy Accused Of Sex Assault Over Years
A list names all clergy ever "credibly accused" of sexual assault in San Diego County.
SAN DIEGO — The journalism site ProPublica, a Patch Partner, has compiled the most comprehensive list so far of Catholic clergy "credibly accused" of sexual abuse.
The list includes many abusers who were at some point assigned to the Diocese of San Diego, which serves 1,391,278 parishioners in the San Diego region.
Along with the list, ProPublica outlines the challenges of identifying offenders long after such widespread abuse became known.
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From ProPublica:
Over the last year and a half, the majority of U.S. dioceses, as well as nearly two dozen religious orders, have released lists of abusers currently or formerly in their ranks.
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The revelations were no coincidence: They were spurred by a 2018 Pennsylvania grand jury report, which named hundreds of priests as part of a statewide clergy abuse investigation.
Nationwide, the names of more than 5,800 clergy members have been released so far, representing the most comprehensive step toward transparency yet by a Catholic Church dogged by its long history of denying and burying abuse by priests.
Here is the list of 53 "credibly accused" clergy assigned at some point over the years to the Diocese of San Diego. To see where exactly each priest or member of the clergy served, follow the link to their full assignment history.
Carmelo Baltazar
Status: Deceased
Appeared under the heading: “Credible Allegations - Priests Of Other Dioceses Or Religiou... more
Birth Year: Not reported
Ordination year: Not reported
Assignment history not reported
John Beatty
Status: Deceased
Appeared under the heading: “Credible Allegations - Priests Of The Diocese Of San Diego/S... more
Birth Year: Not reported
Ordination year: Not reported
Franklyn Becker
Status: Removed
Appeared under the heading: “Credible Allegations - Priests Of Other Dioceses Or Religiou... more
Birth Year: Not reported
Ordination year: Not reported
Gustavo Benson
Status not reported
Appeared under the heading: “Credible Allegations - Priests Of The Diocese Of San Diego/S... more
Birth Year: Not reported
Ordination year: Not reported
James T. Booth
Status: Laicized
Appeared under the heading: “Credible Allegations - Priests Of The Diocese Of San Diego/S... more
Birth Year: Not reported
Ordination year: Not reported
Jose Chavarin
Status: Left diocese
Appeared under the heading: “Credible Allegations - Priests Of The Diocese Of San Diego/S... more
Birth Year: Not reported
Ordination year: Not reported
James H. Cotter
Status: Deceased
Appeared under the heading: “Credible Allegations - Priests Of Other Dioceses Or Religiou... more
Birth Year: Not reported
Ordination year: Not reported
Assignment history not reported
Peter Covas
Status: Deceased
Appeared under the heading: “Credible Allegations - Priests Of The Diocese Of San Diego/S... more
Birth Year: Not reported
Ordination year: Not reported
Nelson Damasco
Status: Deceased
Appeared under the heading: “Credible Allegations - Priests Of Other Dioceses Or Religiou... more
Birth Year: Not reported
Ordination year: Not reported
Edito d'Amora
Status: Unknown
Appeared under the heading: “Credible Allegations - Priests Of Other Dioceses Or Religiou... more
Birth Year: Not reported
Ordination year: Not reported
Assignment history not reported
Luis De Francisco
Status: Unknown
Appeared under the heading: “Credible Allegations - Priests Of Other Dioceses Or Religiou... more
Birth Year: Not reported
Ordination year: Not reported
Donald F. Doxie
Status: Deceased
Appeared under the heading: “Credible Allegations - Priests Of The Diocese Of San Diego/S... more
Birth Year: Not reported
Ordination year: Not reported
Raymond Etienne
Status: Deceased
Appeared under the heading: “Credible Allegations - Priests Of Other Dioceses Or Religiou... more
Birth Year: Not reported
Ordination year: Not reported
Assignment history not reported
Herman Flynn
Status: Deceased
Appeared under the heading: “Credible Allegations - Priests Of Other Dioceses Or Religiou... more
Birth Year: Not reported
Ordination year: Not reported
Assignment history not reported
Michael French
Status: Deceased
Appeared under the heading: “Credible Allegations - Priests Of The Diocese Of San Diego/S... more
Birth Year: Not reported
Ordination year: Not reported
Rudolph Galindo
Status: Deceased
Appeared under the heading: “Credible Allegations - Priests Of The Diocese Of San Diego/S... more
Birth Year: Not reported
Ordination year: Not reported
James Ganahl
Status: Deceased
Appeared under the heading: “Credible Allegations - Priests Of The Diocese Of San Diego/S... more
Birth Year: Not reported
Ordination year: Not reported
Paul Gill
Status: Prayer and penance
Appeared under the heading: “Credible Allegations - Priests Of The Diocese Of San Diego/S... more
Birth Year: Not reported
Ordination year: Not reported
Maximiliano Gomez
Status: Presumed Deceased
Appeared under the heading: “Credible Allegations - Priests Of The Diocese Of San Diego/S... more
Birth Year: Not reported
Ordination year: Not reported
Richard Houck
Status: Deceased
Appeared under the heading: “Credible Allegations - Priests Of The Diocese Of San Diego/S... more
Birth Year: Not reported
Ordination year: Not reported
John Keith
Status: Deceased
Appeared under the heading: “Credible Allegations - Priests Of The Diocese Of San Diego/S... more
Birth Year: Not reported
Ordination year: Not reported
Robert Koerner
Status: Deceased
Appeared under the heading: “Credible Allegations - Priests Of Other Dioceses Or Religiou... more
Birth Year: Not reported
Ordination year: Not reported
Adalbert Kowalczyk
Status: Deceased
Appeared under the heading: “Credible Allegations - Priests Of Other Dioceses Or Religiou... more
Birth Year: Not reported
Ordination year: Not reported
Assignment history not reported
William Kraft
Status: Deceased
Appeared under the heading: “Credible Allegations - Priests Of The Diocese Of San Diego/S... more
Birth Year: Not reported
Ordination year: Not reported
George** Lally
Status: Married
Appeared under the heading: “Credible Allegations - Priests Of The Diocese Of San Diego/S... more
Birth Year: Not reported
Ordination year: Not reported
Justin Langille
Status: Removed
Appeared under the heading: “Credible Allegations - Priests Of The Diocese Of San Diego/S... more
Birth Year: Not reported
Ordination year: Not reported
Peter Luque
Status: Deceased
Appeared under the heading: “Credible Allegations - Priests Of The Diocese Of San Diego/S... more
Birth Year: Not reported
Ordination year: Not reported
Peter Marron
Status: Deceased
Appeared under the heading: “Credible Allegations - Priests Of Other Dioceses Or Religiou... more
Birth Year: Not reported
Ordination year: Not reported
Victor Marron
Status: Deceased
Appeared under the heading: “Credible Allegations - Priests Of Other Dioceses Or Religiou... more
Birth Year: Not reported
Ordination year: Not reported
Malachy McGinn
Status: Deceased
Appeared under the heading: “Credible Allegations - Priests Of The Diocese Of San Diego/S... more
Birth Year: Not reported
Ordination year: Not reported
Patrick McNamara
Status: Married
Appeared under the heading: “Credible Allegations - Priests Of The Diocese Of San Diego/S... more
Birth Year: Not reported
Ordination year: Not reported
Mark Medaer
Status: Deceased
Appeared under the heading: “Credible Allegations - Priests Of The Diocese Of San Diego/S... more
Birth Year: Not reported
Ordination year: Not reported
Ricardo Mejia
Status: Deceased
Appeared under the heading: “Credible Allegations - Priests Of The Diocese Of San Diego/S... more
Birth Year: Not reported
Ordination year: Not reported
Thomas Moloney
Status: Deceased
Appeared under the heading: “Credible Allegations - Priests Of The Diocese Of San Diego/S... more
Birth Year: Not reported
Ordination year: Not reported
Paolino Montagna
Status: Deceased
Appeared under the heading: “Credible Allegations - Priests Of The Diocese Of San Diego/S... more
Birth Year: Not reported
Ordination year: Not reported
Robert Nikliborc
Status: Deceased
Appeared under the heading: “Credible Allegations - Priests Of The Diocese Of San Diego/S... more
Birth Year: Not reported
Ordination year: Not reported
Patrick J. O'Keeffe
Status: Laicized
Appeared under the heading: “Credible Allegations - Priests Of The Diocese Of San Diego/S... more
Birth Year: Not reported
Ordination year: Not reported
Emmanuel Omemaga
Status: Unknown
Appeared under the heading: “Credible Allegations - Priests Of Other Dioceses Or Religiou... more
Birth Year: Not reported
Ordination year: Not reported
James Patrick Foley
Status: Faculties withdrawn
Appeared under the heading: “Credible Allegations - Priests Of The Diocese Of San Diego/S... more
Birth Year: Not reported
Ordination year: Not reported
Daniel Polizzi
Status: Deceased
Appeared under the heading: “Credible Allegations - Priests Of The Diocese Of San Diego/S... more
Birth Year: Not reported
Ordination year: Not reported
Franz Robier
Status: Deceased
Appeared under the heading: “Credible Allegations - Priests Of The Diocese Of San Diego/S... more
Birth Year: Not reported
Ordination year: Not reported
Anthony Rodrigue
Status: Deceased
Appeared under the heading: “Credible Allegations - Priests Of The Diocese Of San Diego/S... more
Birth Year: Not reported
Ordination year: Not reported
David Roll
Status: Faculties removed
Appeared under the heading: “Credible Allegations - Priests Of The Diocese Of San Diego/S... more
Birth Year: Not reported
Ordination year: Not reported
Joseph Rossell
Status: Deceased
Appeared under the heading: “Credible Allegations - Priests Of The Diocese Of San Diego/S... more
Birth Year: Not reported
Ordination year: Not reported
Simeon "Samuel" Engl Engl
Status: Deceased
Appeared under the heading: “Credible Allegations - Priests Of The Diocese Of San Diego/S... more
Birth Year: Not reported
Ordination year: Not reported
William Savord
Status: Deceased
Appeared under the heading: “Credible Allegations - Priests Of The Diocese Of San Diego/S... more
Birth Year: Not reported
Ordination year: Not reported
Gregory Sheridan
Status: Deceased
Appeared under the heading: “Credible Allegations - Priests Of The Diocese Of San Diego/S... more
Birth Year: Not reported
Ordination year: Not reported
Frank Sierra
Status: Removed
Appeared under the heading: “Credible Allegations - Priests Of The Diocese Of San Diego/S... more
Birth Year: Not reported
Ordination year: Not reported
William Spain
Status: Deceased
Appeared under the heading: “Credible Allegations - Priests Of The Diocese Of San Diego/S... more
Birth Year: Not reported
Ordination year: Not reported
Matthew Thompson
Status: Deceased
Appeared under the heading: “Credible Allegations - Priests Of The Diocese Of San Diego/S... more
Birth Year: Not reported
Ordination year: Not reported
Victor Uboldi
Status: Deceased
Appeared under the heading: “Credible Allegations - Priests Of The Diocese Of San Diego/S... more
Birth Year: Not reported
Ordination year: Not reported
William Valverde
Status: Prayer and penance
Appeared under the heading: “Credible Allegations - Priests Of The Diocese Of San Diego/S... more
Birth Year: Not reported
Ordination year: Not reported
Barry Vinyard
Status: Removed
Appeared under the heading: “Credible Allegations - Priests Of The Diocese Of San Diego/S... more
Birth Year: Not reported
Ordination year: Not reported
But even as bishops have dedicated these lists to abuse victims and depicted the disclosures as a public acknowledgment of victims' suffering, it has become clear that numerous alleged abusers have been omitted and that there is no standard for determining who each diocese considers credibly accused.
ProPublica has collected the 178 lists released by U.S. dioceses and religious orders as of Jan. 20 and created a searchable database that allows users to look up clergy members by name, diocese or parish. This represents the first comprehensive picture of the information released publicly by bishops around the country. Some names appear multiple times. In many cases, that accounts for priests who were accused in more than one location. In other instances, dioceses have acknowledged when priests who served in their jurisdiction have been reported for abuse elsewhere.
Kathleen McChesney, a former FBI official who helped establish a new set of child protection protocols within the USCCB [U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops] in the early 2000s, has urged bishops and religious orders for nearly two decades to create a comprehensive list of accused clergy. She said our database will allow the public to better track dioceses' disclosures, rather than seeing each list in isolation.
"People don't know where to look," McChesney said. "The contribution of the one list will help a lot of people to perhaps identify someone that they believe abused them."
Still, much crucial information remains missing. Despite the recent surge of releases, 41 dioceses and dozens more religious orders have yet to publish lists, including five of seven dioceses in Florida, home to more than 2 million Catholics.
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