INDIANAPOLIS (WTHR) — The Archdiocese of Indianapolis has just published a list of "credibly accused priests."
It includes 19 priests for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis and 4 priests who were members of religious orders who served in the Archdiocese dating back to the 1940s.
“I pray the release of this list of credibly accused clergy will help all survivors of sexual abuse find the strength to come forward and will set them on the path to healing,” said Charles C. Thompson, Archbishop of Indianapolis.
The list of credibly accused clergy is based on the recommendation of the Archdiocesan Review Board.
The list includes the number of victims the priest is accused of abusing.
In Haughville, one of the accused priest’s name used to be on the old Catholic school building.
It was called Bockhold Hall. Today, one has to look closely to see where the sign was, the screw holes where it was removed and the impression left over time.
Now you’ll find the name of Fr. Edward Theodore Bockhold on a list, a list of 23 Indianapolis archdiocese priests who the church says are "credibly accused" of abuse.
“There was a feeling that he should be honored for his contribution to the parish,” said retired historian James Divita.
He says the allegations will surprise older local Catholics who remember Bockhold. Two victims named him in incidents going back to 1949 and 1961.
The most allegations against a single priest were 23 complaints against Father Albert Vincent Deery, for incidents in the 50s, 60s and 70s. Both Deery and Bockhold are dead.
In fact, half of those named are either dead or no longer priests, some dismissed from the priesthood, some quit.
Priest abuse has been a story in Indianapolis for over twenty years. In 2006, Eyewitness News was outside the City County Building as a victim’s attorney made a statement at a news conference.
“The truth is, Father Monroe is a serial predator who needs to be in jail," said the attorney.
He handed evidence to police in the case of a priest who, records now show, had 16 victim complaints in the 70s and 80s. He was removed from the priesthood.
In 1998, a young woman spoke to Eyewitness News about abuse at the hands of a parish priest. She said then “the abuse lasted until I was about eight and then he was shipped off to another parish.“
She made that complaint against Father Donald Evrard. Now the Archdiocese has found five “credible” allegations against him in the 70s and 80s. He’s dead.
In 2002 we reported allegations against another priest. “He put his hands down my pants. I knew that was not right, right away.“
Those allegations named father Michael Kelly, who is now named in two credible complaints from the 80s. He’s no longer a priest.
We don’t know if these victim statements are the ones found credible. We do know the names of the priests facing “credible” allegations are finally out, twenty years after some were talking to the news media about them.
The Archdiocese will forward information to child protective services and investigators.
Archdiocesan Priests
Name of Priest | Number of Victims | Date of Ordination | Reported Time Period of Abuse | Action Taken |
William Leroy Blackwell | 8 | 5/3/1957 | 1958, 1964-1968 | Priest deceased (2/2/1990) before abuse reported. |
Edward Theodore Bockhold | 2 | 5/20/1920 | 1949, 1961 | Priest deceased (3/12/1972) before abuse reported. |
Conrad Louis Cambron | 2 | 5/22/1976 | 1978, 1980 | Resigned from the priesthood (1985). |
Jeffrey James Charlton | 3 | 5/2/1983 | 1982, 1984, 1986-1987 | Resigned from the priesthood (1995); dispensed from the clerical state on 11/17/2014. |
Samuel Thomas Curry | 7 | 6/6/1970 | 1970s | Priest deceased (2/7/1991) before abuse reported. |
Albert Vincent Deery | 23 | 5/17/1921 | Late 1950s thru early 1970s | Priest deceased (8/25/1972) before abuse reported. |
Jack F. Emrich | 1 | 1/17/1998 | Mid-1970s | Removed from priestly ministry (2003). |
Donald J. Evrard | 5 | 5/3/1956 | 1977, 1985 | Removed from priestly ministry (1998); deceased (12/27/2008). |
Micheal Howard Kelley | 2 | 6/1/1985 | 1990, 1992 | Removed from priestly ministry (2003). |
Joseph Stanley Kos | 3 | 5/1/1966 | Mid-1980s | Priest deceased (8/9/2000). |
Laurence Michael Lynch | 1 | 5/3/1960 | 1972-1973 | Resigned from priestly ministry (1979); deceased (7/17/2009). |
John S. Maung | 1 | 5/1/1963 | 1993-1997 | Removed from priestly ministry (2018). |
Harold E. Monroe | 16 | 6/8/1974 | 1976-1982 | Removed from the priesthood (1984); dispensed from the clerical state on 4/8/2011. |
Eugene Jack Okon | 4 | 12/18/1970 | 1974 | Resigned from priestly ministry (2003); deceased (11/29/2012). |
Roger Gerard Rudolf | 1 | 6/6/1992 | 1987-1988 | Removed from priestly ministry (2002); dispensed from the clerical state on 5/11/2015. |
Frederick Adam Schmitt | 3 | 5/11/1959 | 1973-1974 | Priest deceased (12/30/1988) before abuse reported. |
John Bernard Schoettelkotte | 5 | 5/3/1960 | 1964-1967 | Removed from priestly ministry (2003). |
Myles Hale Patrick Smith | 3 | 7/25/1970 | 1976-1988 | Removed from priestly ministry (2003); deceased (5/2/2012). |
Jonathan Lovill Stewart | 1 | 6/1/1991 | 1993 | Removed from priestly ministry (2003). |
Religious Order Priests
Name of Priest | Number of Victims | Year of Ordination | Reported Time Period of Abuse | Action Taken |
Brennan Harris, OFM Conv. | 1 | 1969 | 1971 | Removed from priestly ministry by the Franciscan Province of Our Lady of Consolation; deceased (1985). |
Bernard Knoth, SJ | 1 | 1977 | 1978 | Reported to USA Midwest Province; dispensed from the clerical state. |
Donald O’Shaughnessy, SJ | 2 | 1955 | 1965 | Removed from priestly ministry by the USA Midwest Province of the Society of Jesus; deceased (7/8/2013). |
Roman Pfalzer, OFM | 2 | 1947 | 1953-1954 | Removed from priestly ministry by the Franciscan Province of St. John the Baptist; deceased (12/26/2011). |
The following priests of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis have a single claim deemed credible which involved a vulnerable adult, age 18, who was an adolescent when at least the emotional aspects of the relationship began:
Name of Priest | Number of Victims | Date of Ordination | Reported Time Period of Abuse | Action Taken |
Patrick Andrew Doyle | 1 | 6/7/1975 | 1987 | Removed from priestly ministry (2018). |
Karl Joseph Miltz
| 1 | 5/24/1969 | 1974 | Resigned from priestly ministry (1998); dispensed from the clerical state on 12/6/2005. |
The following clergy have a single claim of abuse made against them reported to have occurred in the 1940’s and 1950’s and which was received by the Archdiocese of Indianapolis after the priests were deceased and unable to offer a defense of the accusation:
Name of Priest | Number of Victims | Date of Ordination | Reported Time Period of Abuse | Action Taken |
John Stanley Kramer | 1 | 3/3/1944 | 1947-1952 | Priest deceased (1/28/1986) before accusation reported. |
William Kreis | 1 | 5/28/1904 | 1944-1946 | Priest deceased (3/10/1954) before accusation reported. |
James Joseph Shanahan | 1 | 5/27/1947 | 1958 | Priest deceased (11/14/1992) before accusation reported. |
George Peter Ziemer | 1 | 6/10/1919 | 1955-1957 | Priest deceased (4/26/1980) before accusation reported. |
The archdiocese also reminded victims of misconduct "by a person ministering on behalf of the Church," or those who know of a victim of misconduct, they should contact police, as well as the Archdiocesan Victim Assistance Coordinator Carla Hill.
Hill can be reached by phone at 317-236-1548 or 800-382-9836, ext. 1548, via email at chill@archindy.org or through U.S. Mail by writing to:
Carla Hill, Archdiocese of Indianapolis,
Victim Assistance Coordinator
P.O. Box 1410, Indianapolis, IN 46206-1410
Victims can also report misconduct confidentially online via Ethics Point at this website or by calling 888-393-6810.