Diocese Of Charlotte Unveils 14 Clergy Accused Of Sex Abuse: List

CHARLOTTE, NC — The Diocese of Charlotte on Monday released a list of 14 clergy it says are credibly accused of child sexual abuse in North Carolina Catholic churches, following a review of thousands of files dating back to 1972.

The list represents a yearlong independent review of more than 1,600 files regarding accused clergy and is an effort to demonstrate transparency, according to the diocese. Some abuse survivors, however, say it does not go far enough.

“The file review confirmed that no clergy member serving in the Charlotte diocese today has a credible allegation of sexual abuse against him,” the Diocese of Charlotte said in a Dec. 30 statement. “Records also show that all 14 clergy named on the list were long ago removed from ministry or died before allegations arose. Most of their names also were made known publicly years ago by the diocese and others.”

The list reflects a reach into a large swath of the state. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte's district includes parishes in 46 counties —nearly half of North Carolina — in the western half of the state.

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“It is painful to even try to comprehend such gravely immoral behavior, particularly for those who have carried the burden of sexual abuse by clergy. However, in speaking with survivors and hearing their stories, it is clear to me that making known the names of their abusers can promote healing for them and their families. I pray this step achieves that goal,” Charlotte Bishop Peter Jugis said in a statement Monday.

“Unfortunately, no list of this nature can be considered a final accounting. It is a document to which new names might be added. This list reflects credible allegations we have documented now, and it will be updated as new information emerges — and as additional survivors, perhaps prompted by this list, come forward,” Jugis said.

For some, the action of revealing a list of names does not go far enough.

“This is a belated, grudging, small step forward, taken only because of public pressure,” said David Clohessy, spokesperson for Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP).

“We're confident it's seriously lacking,” Clohessy said. “Almost every bishop who has finally released names, after decades of reckless, self-serving secrecy, has deliberately omitted proven, admitted and credibly accused child-molesting clerics. How does Charlotte's bishop justify keeping names of potentially dangerous molesters hidden so long?”

The bishop should reveal all abusers, whether they are living or dead, to include every seminarian, nun, monk, priest, brother or bishop who has, or likely has, hurt kids, he said.

How To Report Abuse

The Diocese of Charlotte asks anyone aware of suspected sexual misconduct by any clergy, employee or volunteer of the archdiocese to report it to the authorities by calling 911, the local Department of Social Services, or the archdiocese at 888-630-5929.

“The Diocese of Charlotte reports all allegations of sexual abuse of a minor to local law enforcement,” it said. “The diocese also notifies its Victim Assistance Coordinator, a licensed counselor who offers assistance to the reporting individual. In addition, the diocese informs its Lay Review Board, an independent advisory group that investigates allegations of abuse and misconduct for Church disciplinary purposes.”

Allegations of abuse may also be made by a secure Red Flag Reporting site here. The site is completely independent from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte. For more information, click here.

See below for a list of priests in the Diocese of Charlotte who have been credibly accused. More detail about those listed below, as well as priests who have been accused elsewhere, may be found on a database devoted to the issue.

Donald Philip Baker — St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, Lenoir, N.C.

• Ordained 1980
• Abandoned priesthood: 1994
• Abuse first reported to diocese: March 2017
• Assignments — Holy Infant Catholic Church (Reidsville, N.C.); Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church (Greensboro, N.C.); St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church (Lenoir, N.C.); St. Joseph Catholic Church (Newton, N.C.)

Charles Jeffries “Jeff” Burton — Youth Ministry Center, Flat Rock, N.C.

• Ordained: 1967
• Removed: 2007
• Deceased: 2011
• Abuse first reported: May 1994
• Assignments — Diocese of Charlotte Youth Ministry Center, Co-Director of Youth Ministry (Flat Rock, N.C.); Hot Springs Boys Home (Hot Springs, N.C.); Spring Creek Elementary and High Schools (Hot Springs, N.C.); St. Teresa’s Catholic Church (Revere, N.C.); Catholic Diocesan Scouting Chaplain

Eugene D. Corbesero — Our Lady of Consolation Catholic Church, Charlotte, N.C.; New Jersey

• Ordained: 1962
• He resigned in 1981 and was released from the clerical state in 1983.
• Deceased: 2016
• Abuse first reported: March 1995
• Arrested and convicted: In October of 2007, the former priest pleaded guilty and served five years in prison for the 2006 sexual assault of a minor in New Jersey, according to published reports.
• Assignments: Our Lady of Consolation Catholic Church (Charlotte, N.C.); St. Dorothy Catholic Mission (now Church) (Lincolnton, N.C.)

Aloysius Joseph D’Silva — St. Bernadette Catholic Mission, Linville, N.C.

• Ordained: 1961
• Deceased 2005
• Abuse first reported: December 1998
• Assignments: St. Bernadette Catholic Mission (Linville, N.C.); St. Lucien Catholic Church (Spruce Pine, N.C.)

Richard B. Farwell — Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Salisbury, N.C.; St. Ann Catholic Church, Charlotte, N.C.

• Ordained: 1981
• Removed: 2002
• Convicted: 2004
• Abuse first reported: 1999
• Assignments: Charlotte Catholic High School, Pastoral Minister (Charlotte, N.C.); Queen of the Apostles Catholic Church (Belmont, N.C.); Sacred Heart Catholic Church (Salisbury, N.C.); St. Aloysius Catholic Church (Hickory, N.C.); St. Ann Catholic Church (Charlotte, N.C.); St. Dorothy Catholic Church (Lincolnton, N.C.)

P. Patrick Gavigan — Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, Greensboro, N.C.

• Ordained: 1953
• Deceased: 2007
• Abuse first reported: 2002
• Assignments: Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church (High Point, N.C.); Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church (Greensboro, N.C.); Sacred Heart Catholic Church (Brevard, N.C.); St. Benedict Catholic Church (Greensboro, N.C.); St. Dorothy Catholic Church (Lincolnton, N.C.); St. John the Baptist Catholic Church (Tryon, N.C.); St. Mary Help of Christians Catholic Church (Shelby, N.C.)

Adelbert “Del” Holmes — St. William Catholic Church, Murphy, N.C.; Franklin, Ky.; Diocese of Richmond, Va.

• Ordained 1963
• Deceased: 2013
• Abuse first reported: 1976
• Assignments: Immaculate Conception Catholic Mission (Hayesville, N.C.); St. William Catholic Church (Murphy, N.C.)

Donald J. Joyce — Sacred Heart Catholic Mission, Wadesboro, N.C.; Lowell, Mass.

• Ordained: 1958
• Removed: 1997
• Deceased: 2013
• Abuse first reported: April 2002
• Assignments: Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church (Monroe, N.C.); Sacred Heart Catholic Mission (Wadesboro, N.C.)

Michael Joseph Kelleher

• Ordained: 1953
• Retired: 1999
• Removed: 2010
• Deceased: 2014
• Abuse first reported: January 2010
• Assignments: Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School, Chaplain (2 terms) (Kernersville, N.C.)
• Holy Cross Catholic Church, occasional Mass celebrant after retirement (Kernersville, N.C.)
• Immaculate Conception Catholic Church (Hendersonville, N.C.); Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church (High Point, N.C.); Our Lady of the Annunciation Catholic Church (Albemarle, N.C.); Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church (Charlotte, N.C.); Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church (Lexington, N.C.); St. Dorothy Catholic Church (Lincolnton, N.C.); St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church (Waynesville, N.C.); St. Joseph Catholic Church (Asheboro, N.C.); St. Lawrence Catholic Church (now Basilica) (Asheville, N.C.); St. Patrick Church (now Cathedral) (Charlotte, N.C.)

Peter Tan Van Le — St. Joseph Vietnamese Catholic Church, Charlotte, N.C.

• Ordained: 1973
• Retired: 2011
• Removed: 2013
• Abuse first reported: 2013
• Assignments: St. Ann Catholic Church (Charlotte, N.C.); St. Joseph Vietnamese Catholic Church (Charlotte, N.C.)

Damion Jacques Lynch — St. Elizabeth Catholic Church, Boone, N.C.

• Ordained: 1991
• Removed: 1998
• Dismissed: 2009
• Abuse first reported: mid-1990s
• Assignments: Our Lady of Consolation Catholic Church (Charlotte, N.C.); St. Elizabeth Catholic Church (Boone, N.C.); Appalachian State University, Campus Minister (Boone, N.C.)

Justin Paul Pechulis — St. Lawrence Catholic Church (now Basilica), Asheville, N.C.

• Ordained: 1958
• Deceased: 1983
• Abuse first reported: 2008
• Assignments: Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church (Charlotte, N.C.); St. Frances of Rome Catholic Mission (Sparta, N.C.); St. John Baptist de la Salle Catholic Church (N. Wilkesboro, N.C.); St. Lawrence Catholic Church (now Basilica) (Asheville, N.C.); St. Peter Catholic Church (Charlotte, N.C.); Diocese of Charlotte, Judicial Vicar (Charlotte, N.C.)

Donald Francis Scales — St. Michael Catholic Church, Gastonia, N.C.

• Ordained: 1955
• Removed: 2006
• Deceased: 2008
• Abuse first reported: 2006
• Assignment: St. Michael Catholic Church (Gastonia, N.C.)

Robert Yurgel — St. Matthew Catholic Church, Charlotte, N.C.; Our Lady of Consolation Catholic Church, Charlotte, N.C.; St. Michael Catholic Church, Gastonia, N.C.

• Ordained: 1996
• Removed: 2008
• Convicted: 2009
• Dismissed: 2010
• Abuse first reported: April 2008
• Assignments: Catholic Conference Center, Novitiate program (1992) (Hickory, N.C.); Our Lady of Consolation Catholic Church (Charlotte, N.C.); Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Service as part of Novitiate program (1992) (Salisbury, N.C.); St. Matthew Catholic Church (Charlotte, N.C.); St. Michael Catholic Church, Occasional Spanish Mass celebrant (Gastonia, N.C.)