The Diocese of Covington includes 14 counties in Northern Kentucky and serves almost 100,000 Catholics. Currently, 90 priests are serving this Diocese, and 57 of them are active.
Over the years, the Diocese has paid out huge settlements to alleged victims of predator priests, with victims naming the Diocese in several class action lawsuits. For instance, in 2006, the Diocese paid out more than $81 million to settle a civil lawsuit based on priest sexual abuse. Then, in 2019, the Diocese settled a class action brought by child sexual abuse victims for $90 million.
Former Priest Leonard Nienaber was one of the priests named in the class action. His victims allege that he abused dozens of children during his tenure as a priest. In 1994, a criminal court convicted Nienaber of ten counts of child sex abuse and ordered him to ten years at a Catholic treatment center in Missouri.
The Diocese suspended former Priest Jack Goeke from serving as a priest in 1994 after two women came forward to accuse him of molesting them when they were 11 years old. The Catholic Church permanently suspended Goeke in 2002.
One of the class action lawsuits filed against the Diocese alleged cover-ups by church leaders when allegations surfaced against priests. For instance, one lawsuit alleges that the Diocese knew about the abuse but failed to do anything about it. Specifically, the Diocese put Priest Robert Klein in charge of investigating allegations of molestation by Priest Earl Bierman. Yet, Klein did nothing to expose Bierman and instead told the boys who had been sexually assaulted “not to let it happen again and to pray for Father Bierman.”
Following a lengthy investigation into child sexual abuse headed by two former FBI agents, the Diocese released a report in 2020 stating that 59 Catholic priests and 31 other clergy members in the Diocese had sexually abused children, beginning in the 1950s. Former Bishop Roger Boys, who recently retired, has been criticized for refusing to disclose the list of credibly accused clergy until July 2020, much later than many other dioceses. Below is a complete list of clergy (including priests, brothers, sisters, and lay employees/deacons) facing credible allegations of child sexual abuse.
Child sex abuse victims in Kentucky don’t have to go through the healing journey and complex legal process alone. If someone sexually abused you or a family member at the Diocese of Covington, you may be entitled to civil remedies and compensation. Contact our compassionate and knowledgeable legal team at Herman Law today for a free consultation to understand your legal rights.
- Fr. James Edward Fritsch
- Fr. Paul Marion Arbogast
- Fr. Frederick Gervais Bamberger
- Fr. Robert Alan Berberich
- Sr. Marlene Bertke
- Fr. Earl Charles Bierman
- Mary Justa Birochik
- Fr. Joseph L. Bradley
- Fr. Raymond Leo Broering
- Fr. Joseph Aloysius Browne
- Br. Thomas Bryan
- Fr. Raymond Chappa
- Fr. Paul Peter Ciangetti
- Fr. Louis Henry Dickmann
- Fr. Charles Anthony Donovan
- Fr. Gerald M. Fitzgerald
- Fr. Douglas F. Fortner
- Fr. Richard Frazier
- Fr. Bernard John Gieske
- Fr. David Glockner
- Fr. John Wiley Goeke
- Fr. Robert Louis Gruber
- Fr. Ralph Clarence Hartman
- Fr. Henry Charles Hils
- Fr. Louis Joseph Holtz
- Fr. Raymond Charles Holtz
- Fr. Herman Bernard Kamlage
- Fr. Robert Paul Klein
- Fr. James Edward Kleman
- Fr. Daniel Michael Lally
- Fr. Larry Bruce Leslie
- Fr. Thomas Victor Lloyd
- Fr. David Mark MacPherson
- Fr. Raymond Anthony McClanahan
- Fr. William Henry Mertes
- Deacon David Meyer
- Fr. Norbert Henry MIddendorf
- Fr. Gary Albert MIller
- Fr. Reuben Thomas Moscowitz
- Fr. Joseph Nicholas Muench
- Fr. William Charles Neuroth
- Fr. Raymond Lawrence Nieman
- Fr. John Albert Osterhage
- Fr. Michael David Ott
- Fr. Gerald L. Reinersman
- Fr. Emmeran Rettger
- Fr. George Joseph Schumacher
- Fr. John Stanley Schutzman
- Sister Julia
- Sister Mary Eugene
- Sister Michael
- Sister Reparata
- Sister Terrance
- Fr. Mark A. Steidle
- Br. Richard Strathern
- Fr. Leo Francis Trimbur
- Fr. Robert Anthony Wendeln
- Fr. Paul Volk Wethington
- Br. Joseph Wilhelm
- Fr. George Robert Witt
- Fr. Paul Aloysius Wolfzorn
- Fr. Irwin Charles Wolke
- Fr. David Harry Zaumeyer