Austin Catholic Diocese Releases Names Of Accused Priests

AUSTIN, TEXAS — Roman Catholic dioceses across Texas, including the one in Austin, on Thursday released the names of clergy who have been "credibly" accused of child sexual assault since the 1950s.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Austin list includes 22 members of clergy, 12 of them deceased. None are currently serving in the local diocese, officials noted.

“With a contrite heart, today I have published a list of clergy and religious who have been credibly accused of committing sexual abuse against a minor,” Austin Bishop Joe Vásquez said in a prepared statement. “The victims of sexual abuse by clergy have experienced much pain; we must continue to pray and care for our brothers and sisters who have suffered greatly. I apologize to the victims and their families for the diocese’s failures. The Church must always be willing to recognize and correct its failings.”

Read full statement by Austin Bishop Joe Vásquez

The move comes amid mounting pressure on Roman Catholic dioceses to exert accountability on abusive priests. Below is the Austin Diocese list of names of priests accused of abuse:

• Ricardo Aguilar: Ordained in 1995 and removed from the ministry in 2011. He was laicized in 2017.
• Paul M. Clogan: Ordained in 1999, and died in 2012.
• Daniel Joseph Delaney: Ordained in 1973, and died in 2008.
• Daniel Michael Drinan: Ordained in 1977, removed from the ministry in 2002, expelled in 2006 and laicized in 2014.
• Milton Eggerling: Ordained in 1954, and died in 2008.
• Claude Faust: Ordained in 1939, and died in 1973.
• James Gallagher: Ordained as a Deacon in 1984 and died in 2005.
• Jim Castro Garcia (aka Santiago): Ordained in 2017 in the Archdiocese of Kingston, Jamaica, after being dismissed from seminary in Austin in 2011.
• James H. Greenwell: Ordained in 1954, and died in 2012.
• Chester Culver Hand, Jr.: Ordained in 1986, and died in 2002.
• Conrad Kinder: Ordained in 1921, and died in 1978
• Michael Francis Krol: Ordained in 1945, and died in 1996.
• Gerald Muller: Received vows in 1946, removed from the ministry and restricted in 2017.
• Richard C. Nowery: Ordained in 1968, and died in 2018.
• James R. O'Connor: Ordained in 1969, removed from the ministry in 2004 and laicized in 2018.
• Rafael Rendon Ozuna: Ordained as a Deacon in 2007, removed from the station in 2010 and laicized in 2013.
• Longinus Juventius Reyes (aka Lonnie): Ordained in 1969, rremoved from the ministry and retired in 1969.
• Victor G. Robles: Ordained in 1986, removed from the ministry in 2002 and retired in 2009.
• Alberto Matta Tijerina: Ordained in 1980, and removed from the ministry in 1993.
• Vincent Waiches: Ordained in 1946, and died in 1995.
• Adrianus Johannes Willemsen (aka Andy, Andrew, Andre): Ordained in 1954, and died in 2012.
• Louis J. Wozniak: Ordained in 1951, retired in 1999 and removed from the ministry in 2015.

In an earlier press advisory, Bishop Joe S. Vásquez of the Diocese of Austin joined the other 15 Texas bishops the publication of the names of clergy, from 1950 forward, who have been credibly accused of sexually abusing a minor. His counterparts in Dallas, Houston and other cities also released the names of accused priests in their dioceses on Thursday.

“My hope in releasing these names is to be transparent and begin to rebuild trust with the
people I shepherd. This is only one action in response to this crisis in our church," Vásquez said at the time. "As the Bishop of the Diocese of Austin, I am committed to protecting children from any abuse. Indeed, this is what Christ expects from me and all who serve His people.”

Through its Ethics and Integrity in Ministry (EIM) program, the Diocese of Austin has
followed the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Charter for the Protection of Children and
Young People since its inception in 2002, officials said. The EIM program requires all people in ministry, including clergy, to undergo training and a criminal background check every three years. The diocese has trained more than 79,400 people through its EIM program, diocese officials noted.

“I am most concerned for the victims who suffered abuse at the hands of clergy, and I ask
their forgiveness," Vásquez said in October in announcing today's release of the names of accused clergy. "I continue to pray for their healing and well-being.”

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