Diocese of Covington ACCUSED PRIESTS
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.
Ordained:Â 1965
Status:Â Settled
Status:Â Settled
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Accused in a 2002 lawsuit of raping a girl, age 13, in 1966. Complainant demanded release of diocesan file. Settlement in 12/04 revealed Covington diocese had hospitalized Fritsch in 1965 after he had “contact with about 9 to 10 girls,” one age 15. He was assigned in 1965 to St. William’s in Lancaster, KY. Behavior continued in treatment. Fritsch was returned to work, then suspended. Sent to the Owensboro diocese. Complainant alleges abuse there and in the Evansville IN diocese. Left priesthood; married in 1969. Went on to work in NJ with delinquents and on school board. Included on the diocese’s list 7/31/20 of those with substantiated allegation(s). On Lexington diocese’s list in 8/20.
Ordained:Â 1955
Status:Â Accused
Status:Â Accused
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Removed in 9/03 from Covington Latin School, where he was a teacher, after accusations of abuse. He had been headmaster of the school until he left the priesthood in the 1980s. Laicized and married in 1993. Returned to Covington Latin at some point as a lay teacher. Identified as “Priest 32” in pending litigation. Named in pleadings in other pending litigation against the Covington and Lexington dioceses, which say he was part of a ring of priests in the 1970s who held parties to which they brought boys as their dates. Sent for treatment in the 1970s. Died 10/16/13. Included on the diocese’s 7/31/30 list of those with substantiated allegation(s). On the Lexington diocese’s list in 8/20, where he worked at Lexington Catholic High School 1981-86.
Ordained:Â 1934
Status:Â Accused
Status:Â Accused
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Named publicly by the diocese on its 7/31/20 list of those with substantiated allegation(s). Died 12/1/71.
Ordained:Â 1985
Status:Â Accused
Status:Â Accused
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Named publicly by the diocese on its 7/31/20 list of those with substantiated allegation(s). Left ministry in 1991.
Status:Â Sued
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A former student nun filed a lawsuit 10/02 alleging that she was abused in 1959 in her first year at St. Walburg Convent by Sister Christopher, whose given name is Marlene Bertke. The student was 18 at the time. In the same suit, the woman also alleged that she had been previously abused at Villa Madonna Academy (a girls’ school) by another nun and that a third nun also fondled her. Bertke is still an active nun in 2008, living in the Erie PA area.
Ordained:Â 1957
Status:Â Convicted
Status:Â Convicted
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First complaints received in 1961. May have abused 100s of boys. Long time Covington Latin School faculty member; diocese knew when he arrived at the school in 1968 that he had abused at least 50 boys. In and out of treatment, including Jemez Springs, NM in the Santa Fe diocese, where he was allowed to work at a parish and minor seminary. Assigned 1975-76 to St. Francis Seminary in the Altoona-Johnstown, PA diocese. Faculties removed 7/9/92. Convicted of abuse of 6 boys in 1993; received 20-year sentence. Died in prison 6/13/05. Sued in KY and NM. One case in 1995 went to jury verdict of $700K in punitive damages after diocese was accused of failing to reveal abuse of other victims. Another suit settled in 2003. New suit filed in Albuquerque 5/16 claiming abuse 1963-64 of a 15-year-old boy. Included on Santa Fe archdiocese list 9/12/17. On the Covington diocese’s 7/31/20 list.
Status:Â Accused
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Entered the Convent of the Sisters of Notre Dame (S.N.D.) in 1939. Included on the Diocese of Covington’s list 7/31/20 of those with substantiated allegation(s). Worked at St. Joseph Orphanage 1950-52. Per her obituary, Birochik “shared her culinary skills” in the Dioceses of Covington, Lexington and the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. Died 5/23/02.
Status:Â Accused
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From the Diocese of Salford, Manchester, England. Worked in the Diocese of Covington 1964-66, Included on the Diocese of Covington’s 7/31/20 list of those with substantiated allegation(s).
Ordained:Â 1945
Status:Â Accused
Status:Â Accused
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Included on the Covington diocese’s 7/31/20 list of those with substantiated allegation(s). Retired 8/1/95. Administrative leave 11/10/04. Died 3/12/13. Included on the Lexington diocese’s list in 8/20, with one known credible allegation of abuse, occurring at Sacred Heart in Corbin in 1982.
Ordained:Â 1956
Status:Â Sued
Status:Â Sued
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Also referred to as “James Aloysius” or “Jay” Browne. Sued in 2003. Accused of rape of a girl, ages 13-16, who was a resident of Diocesan Children’s Home in Fort Mitchell 1963-66. He allegedly gave her alcohol, impregnated her and and forced an abortion. He left the priesthood in 1969, married, and moved to Canada. Laicized 11/3/73. Died 1/13/13. Included on the diocese’s 7/3/20 of those with substantiated allegationa(s).
Status:Â Accused
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Included on the Diocese of Covington’s list 7/31/20 of those with substantiated allegation(s). Assigned to Newport Catholic High School 1964-65. Died 4/16/20.
Ordained:Â 1975
Status:Â Settled
Status:Â Settled
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Included on the Diocese of Covington’s 7/31/20 list of those with substantiated allegation(s). Assigned 1984-86 to Our Lady of Good Counsel in Hazard, KY. Laicized 1/29/96. On the Lexington diocese’s list in 8/20. One known victim, abused 1984-86, in Hazard. Settlement with Order in 12/08. Added to the New Orleans archdiocese’s list in 12/20.
Ordained:Â 1942
Status:Â Settled
Status:Â Settled
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Died 6/19/95. Named in a 2002 employment suit by a father and son. The son alleged that, as an altar boy, he was physically and sexually abused in 1971-72 by Ciangetti and that, as an adult, he was abused by Rev. J. Kendrick Williams, who later became bishop. Suit settled in 2003. Diocese paid $50K for the abuse claim. Accused of abuse in two additional suits filed in 2003. One accuser said the abuse occurred when he was an altar boy, ages 7-13, at Mary Queen of Heaven in Erlanger. Another claimed abuse at the same parish, 1967-69, starting at age 12. Included on the diocese’s list 7/31/20 of those with substantiated allegation(s).
Ordained:Â 1959
Status:Â Accused
Status:Â Accused
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Included on the diocese’s 7/31/20 list of those with substantiated allegation(s). Suspended 3/24/14.
Ordained:Â 1938
Status:Â Accused
Status:Â Accused
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Included on the diocese’s list 7/31/20 of those with substantiated allegation(s). Died 10/21/90.
Ordained:Â 1960
Status:Â Accused
Status:Â Accused
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Name included on the diocese’s 7/31/20 list of those with substantiated allegation(s). Died 3/13/85.
Ordained:Â 1970
Status:Â Accused
Status:Â Accused
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Placed on leave in 11/06 due to a credible allegation of sexual abuse of a child dating back at least 25 years. “Charter suspension” in 2/09. Laicized 1/27/10. Died 1/30/15. Per his obituary, he was a retired priest of the diocese. Included on the diocese’s list 7/31/20 of those with substantiated allegation(s).
Ordained:Â 1996
Status:Â Settled
Status:Â Settled
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Worked at Camp Marydale and the Campbell Lodge Boys Home as a lay person. Removed in 1/06 after allegations of abuse in the late 1970s-early 1980s, prior to ordination. Also accused of abuse of a child in the late 1990s, while a priest. Allegations were made as part of a settlement of a class action suit against the diocese. Frazier denied abuse. Laicized 10/11/10. Included on the diocese’s list 7/31/20 of those with substantiated allegations.
Ordained:Â 1960
Status:Â Accused
Status:Â Accused
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Included on the diocese’s list 7/31/20 of those with substantiated allegation(s). Left ministry in 1974. Laicized 1/4/75.
Ordained:Â 1966
Status:Â Accused
Status:Â Accused
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Removed from ministry in 8/19 and recalled to Glenmary headquarters in Cincinnati, after two teenage girls said Glockner “made inappropriate contact” with them at Emmaus Farm in Vanceburg on 8/6/19. The girls were volunteering on a construction project at the farm. Glockner had been assigned since 2012 to Holy Reedemeer parish in Vanceburg. A grand jury in Lewis County chose not to indict. Glockner’s order to hire an “independent investigator” and findings to go before a review board.
Ordained:Â 1959
Status:Â Settled
Status:Â Settled
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Arraigned 8/94 on charges he abused two girls in the early 1960s; removed by diocese. Criminal charges dropped when the women did not want to pursue charges. A third woman filed a civil suit which claimed he took advantage of her when she sought marriage counseling. This suit settled in 1997. Permanently removed in 2002 after the Dallas Bishops Conference. Two women filed complaints in 12/04 as part of a class action alleging abuse in 1963 and 1971 when they were 11 and 15. Honored at an event in 6/18 by a housing non-profit in Northern KY, where he had been involved for 25 years. On the non-profit’s board was another diocesan priest, who emceed the event. Included on the diocese’s list 7/31/20 of those with substantiated allegation(s).
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Ordained:Â 1953
Status:Â Accused
Status:Â Accused
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Retired 1998. Died 2/3/03. Name included on the diocese’s list 7/31/20 of those with substantiated allegation(s).
Ordained:Â 1959
Status:Â Accused
Status:Â Accused
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Included on the diocese’s list 7/31/20 of those with substantiated allegation(s). “Charter Suspension” 9/9/02 noted. Died 7/9/20.
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Ordained:Â 1965
Status:Â Accused
Status:Â Accused
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Included on the diocese’s list 7/31/20 of those with substantiated allegation(s).
Ordained:Â 1958
Status:Â Settled
Status:Â Settled
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A man told the diocese in 1995 that Holtz abused him as a boy 1974-75. Claims settled in 1997 and Holtz agreed to be laicized. Accused in a lawsuit filed in 12/02 of abusing a boy in 1970. One plaintiff alleging abuse by Holtz joined a 2003 class action suit against the diocese, but later withdrew and settled. Laicization announced 8/12/03. Died 10/27/14. Included on the diocese’s list 7/31/20 of those with substantiated allegation(s).
Ordained:Â 1958
Status:Â Accused
Status:Â Accused
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Retired 7/1/01. Died 11/27/03. Named included on diocese’s list 7/31/20 of those with substantiated allegation(s).
Ordained:Â 1957
Status:Â Accused
Status:Â Accused
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Included on the diocese’s list 7/31/20 of those with substantiated allegations. Ministry restricted 10/9/94. Retired 4/28/95. “Charter Suspension” 9/13/02. Died 12/01/18. Reportedly, court records show accusations against Kamlage of the abuse of at least six boys, ages 5-18, during visits to the priest’s cabin at Lake Carnico. Journals kept by Kamlage 1981-85 surfaced in 7/20, in which he asked God for forgiveness for “carnal” behavior, and said of a boy’s pending visit, “What fantasies and anticipation.”
Ordained:Â 1953
Status:Â Settled
Status:Â Settled
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Accused in a 12/03 civil suit of abusing a youth at Sacred Heart Parish in Bellevue in 1964, three years after Klein was told to investigate allegations against Rev. Earl Bierman. Klein told Bishop Ackerman; nothing else done. Included on the diocese’s list 7/31/20 of those with substantiated allegation(s) of abuse. Klein retired in 1992. “Charter Suspension” 9/9/02. Died 6/20/05. Included on the Lexington diocese’s list in 8/20. It notes the 1964 allegation, deemed credible, and that there is evidence that Klein admitted to the abuse. Also, a lawsuit by a different victim in Boone County settled.
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Ordained:Â 1954
Status:Â Settled
Status:Â Settled
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In 12/03, a woman joined a class action suit against the diocese, alleging she was abused by Kleman in Northern Kentucky in 1959 when she was 10. She also alleged that Kleman abused her (now) deceased older brother when the boy was 12. Kleman reportedly also abused a teenage boy at least 50 times 1958-61. This claimant was also included in the settlement. Kleman died 3/9/74.
Ordained:Â 1948
Status:Â Accused
Status:Â Accused
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Included on the diocese’s list 7/31/20 of those with substantiated allegation(s). Retired in 1986. Died 12/13/91.
Ordained:Â 1980
Status:Â Accused
Status:Â Accused
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Included on the diocese’s list 7/31/20 of those with substantiated allegation(s) of abuse. Parish priest in KY, military chaplain in Japan, CA, SC. Permission to serve in Navy rescinded by diocese 9/30/02. “Charter Suspension” 10/3/02. Last known to be living in CA.
Ordained:Â 1981
Status:Â Accused
Status:Â Accused
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Included on the diocese’s list 7/31/20 of those with substantiated allegation(s). Suspended in 1993.
Ordained:Â 1967
Status:Â Settled
Status:Â Settled
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In 2003 two women settled claims with the Covington diocese over allegations that MacPherson molested them in the 1960s at St. Patrick’s Parish. The diocese paid a total of $750K to the two women and to a man who alleged abuse by Fr. Earl Bierman. Both women were part of a class action suit filed against the Diocese of Covington. MacPherson left active ministry in 1978 and was laicized 1/20/84. Included on the diocese’s list 7/31/20 of those with substantiated allegation(s).
Ordained:Â 1945
Status:Â Accused
Status:Â Accused
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Included by the diocese on its list 7/31/20 of those with substantiated allegation(s), Died 12/1/78.
Ordained:Â 1959
Status:Â Accused
Status:Â Accused
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Included on the diocese’s list 7/31/20 of those with substantiated allegation(s). Retired in 1981. Died 4/22/03.
Ordained:Â 1999
Status:Â Accused
Status:Â Accused
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Ordained a permanent deacon in 1999. Placed on leave 2/23/07 from his assignment at Blessed Sacrament in Fort Mitchell after an allegation of abuse of a public school student thirty years prior. Included on the diocese’s July 2020 list of those with substantiated allegations. It notes that Meyer worked 1977-79 at Third District Elementary School in Covington.
Ordained:Â 1945
Status:Â Accused
Status:Â Accused
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Included on the diocese’s list 7/31/20 of those with substantiated allegation(s). Died 5/7/70.
Ordained:Â 1970
Status:Â Accused
Status:Â Accused
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Included on the diocese’s list 7/31/20 of those with substantiated allegation(s). “Charter Supsension” 9/10/02. Died 7/28/16.
Ordained:Â 1948
Status:Â Convicted
Status:Â Convicted
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Included on the Covington diocese’s 7/31/20 list of those with substantiated allegation(s). Per news articles from the time, Moscowitz was charged in 1952 with transporting a 14-year-old Newport girl from KY to Washington DC for “immoral purposes.” His first trial, in 12/52, failed due to “jury disagreement.” An FBI agent testified that Moscowitz “broke down and cried” and said the priest “regretted having brought disgrace to himself and the girl.” Moscowitz had been sent to DC by the diocese after the girl’s parents complained about his behavior with their daughter. Moscowitz bought the girl an airline ticket so she could join him in DC. Retried and convicted in 3/53. Sentenced to two years in prison. Left the diocese in 1956. Died 5/25/74.
Ordained:Â 1981
Status:Â Convicted
Status:Â Convicted
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Ordained for the Diocese of Covington. Incardinated into the Diocese of Lexington when it was created in 1988. In 3/09 three men told the Lexington diocese that Muench abused them in the 1980s, while assigned to Good Shepherd in Frankfort. Suspended in 7/09. Indicted in 10/09 for abuse of two of the accusers 1980-81 and 1984-85. Named in a 11/09 civil suit by a victim in a criminal case. Entered Alford Plea in 3/10. Sentenced to two one-year terms in prison, to run concurrently. Released 9/30/10. Living in 2019 in Independence, KY. Included on the Covington diocese’s 7/31/20 list of those with substantiated allegation(s). On the Lexington diocese’s list in 8/20. It notes five known victims in the 1980s in Frankfort. Case sent to Vatican.
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Ordained:Â 1965
Status:Â Accused
Status:Â Accused
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Included on the diocese’s list 7/31/20 of those with substantiated allegation(s). Laicized 12/18/70. Became an Anglican Catholic priest in 1980. Died 5/4/18.
Ordained:Â 1954
Status:Â Accused
Status:Â Accused
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Included on the diocese’s list 7/31/20 of those with substantiated allegation(s). Retired in 1981. Died 1/7/02.
Ordained:Â 1958
Status:Â Accused
Status:Â Accused
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Included on the diocese’s list 7/31/20 of those with substantiated allegation(s). Died 4/27/73, age 40.
Ordained:Â 1977
Status:Â Accused
Status:Â Accused
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Included on the diocese’s list 7/31/20 of those with substantiated allegation(s). Left active ministry in 1988.
Ordained:Â 1979
Status:Â Sued
Status:Â Sued
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Reinersman, the VG and Chancellor of the Diocese and former Moderator of the Curia, was removed 5/04 after man alleged Reinersman had molested him in 1979 at Mary, Queen of Holy Rosary Church in Lexington when he was a youth. Reinersman denied all allega
Ordained:Â 1938
Status:Â Accused
Died: 06/10/1999
Named publicly as accused by the St. Vincent Abbey Benedictines in 8/18. Multiple allegations of abuse dating to his time at St. Benedict’s in Covington, KY 1965-67. Per the Archabbey, the allegations were received in 1993, and Rettger was removed from active ministry. Included on the Diocese of Covington’s list 7/31/20 of those with substantiated allegation(s). Died 6/10/99.
Ordained:Â 1965
Status:Â Accused
Status:Â Accused
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Permanently removed in 1/03 due to a 1983 allegation that he plied a 13-year-old boy with alcohol, then sexually molested him during a campout. The boy was a resident of Campbell Lodge Boys Home (for troubled boys), run by Schhmacher. The alleged victim reported the abuse to police in 1983 and Schumacher was removed. By 1986 Schumacher was back at Campbell Lodge and in 1996 he was given a parish assignment. Included on the Diocese of Covington’s list 7/31/20 of those with substantiated allegation(s). It notes a “Charter Suspension” 9/13/02.
Ordained:Â 1952
Status:Â Accused
Status:Â Accused
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Included on the Covington diocese’s list 7/31/20 of those with substantiated allegation(s). Retired 1990. Died 11/26/96.
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Status:Â Accused
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Sister of the Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd (R.G.S.). Worked at the Good Shepherd Home 1950-51.
Status:Â Accused
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Name included on the Diocese of Covington’s list of those with substantiated allegation(s). Worked at Villa Madonna Academy 1955-58. Dispensed from vows 6/3/66. Died 4/15/05.
Status:Â Accused
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Sister of the Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd (R.G.S.). Name included on the Diocese of Covington’s list 7/31/20 of those with substantiated allegation(s). Worked at Good Shepherd Home 1950-51.
Status:Â Accused
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Member of the Sisters of Divine Providence (C.D.P.). Name included on the Covington diocese’s list 7/31/20 of those with substantiated allegation(s). Worked at St. Bernard Elementary School 1958-66. Died 3/16/87.
Status:Â Sued
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Nun. In 10/02 former student nun filed a lawsuit alleging that she was fondled in 1959 or 1960 at St. Walburg Convent by a Sister Terrance, whose real name was unknown. In same suit, woman also alleges that she had been previously abused at Villa Mado
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Ordained:Â 1993
Status:Â Accused
Status:Â Accused
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Removed 4/20/04 after allegations that he had inappropriately touched a minor in the fall of 1994 at Marydale Retreat Center, where he was chaplain. He denied all allegations. Included on the diocese’s list 7/31/20 of those with substantiated allegation(s). Noted to have been a resident of RECON/Wounded Brothers Proect, a facility for troubled priests near St. Louis, MO as of 7/2/00.
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Status:Â Accused
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Name included on the Diocese of Covington’s list of those with substantiated allegation(s). Assigned to Covington Catholic High School 1966-72. Withdrew from the Order 4/16/73.
Ordained:Â 1954
Status:Â Accused
Status:Â Accused
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Ordained for the Diocese of Covington. Incardinated into the Diocese of Lexington when it was created in 1988. Included on the Covington diocese’s list 7/31/20 of those with substantiated allegation(s). Died 2/23/04.
Ordained:Â 1947
Status:Â Accused
Status:Â Accused
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Included on the Diocese of Covington’s 7/31/20 list of those with substantiated allegation(s). Left the diocese in 1968. Died 1/1/87.
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Ordained:Â 1947
Status:Â Accused
Status:Â Accused
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Ordained for the Diocese of Covington. Incardinated into the Diocese of Lexington when it was created in 1988. Included on the Covington diocese’s list 7/31/20 of those with substantiated allegation(s). DIed 5/6/98.
Status:Â Accused
Died: 09/6/2011
Entered the De La Salle Christian Brothers in 1942. Took final vows in 1948. Name included on the Diocese of Covington’s list 7/31/20 of those with substantiated allegation(s). Assigned to Newport Catholic High School 1963-77. Also taught in Chicago IL, St. Paul MN, Jefferson City MO, Memphis TN, Santa Fe NM, Cincinnati OH. Died 9/6/11.
Ordained:Â 1950
Status:Â Accused
Status:Â Accused
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Included on the diocese’s list 7/31/20 of those with substantiated allegation(s). Parish priest, teacher, Navy chaplain. Retired to Palm Beach FL 7/1/88. Died 5/25/04.
Ordained:Â 1958
Status:Â Accused
Status:Â Accused
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Included on the diocese’s list 7/31/20 of those with substantiated allegation(s). Died 8/31/88.
Ordained:Â 1960
Status:Â Accused
Status:Â Accused
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Included on the Covington diocese’s list 7/31/20 of those with substantiated allegation(s). Died 12/14/78. On the Lexington diocese’s list in 8/20, where he was assigned 1960-65.
Ordained:Â 1949
Status:Â Accused
Status:Â Accused
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Parish priest, teacher, KY state police chaplain. Included on the diocese’s list 7/31/20 of those with substantiated allegation(s). Left active ministry in 1973. Died 5/1/83.
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