To the Members of the Diocese of Corpus Christi,
In an effort to restore trust where it has been damaged, I am presenting the names of the Roman Catholic clerics who have been credibly accused of sexually abusing a minor within the Diocese of Corpus Christi.
An Independent Committee comprised of outside legal professionals reviewed all cleric files to determine whether an allegation was credible. This Committee reviewed approximately 1500 priests’ files and 180 deacon’s files. In some cases, files were also reviewed by the Diocesan Review Board. The Diocese of Corpus Christi accepted all recommendations from the Independent Committee and the Diocesan Review Board regarding the names to be included on this list.
The list of names is arranged and grouped into the following: Religious Order Clerics & Extern Clerics and Clerics From or Incardinated into the Diocese of Corpus Christi. If a cleric is a member of a religious order, the initials of the order follow the name. If a cleric was originally ordained for a religious order, that is also indicated. The Diocese has worked diligently to be accurate with the information presented. If any information is found to be incorrect, please contact Mrs. Stephanie Bonilla, Victim Assistance Coordinator at 361-693-6686.
Historically, a small part of the Diocese of Victoria, part of the Dioceses of Brownsville and Laredo belonged to the Diocese of Corpus Christi. It is important to note that some of the clerics on the attached list served in what is now either the Diocese of Brownsville or Laredo.
Any person with knowledge of a cleric member who is suspected of sexually abusing a minor within the Diocese of Corpus Christi should report such allegation to local law enforcement. Please report such information to Office of Victim Assistance at 361-693-6686.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
+Most Reverend Michael Mulvey, STL, DD
Bishop of Corpus Christi
N.B. A determination that an allegation against a member of the clergy is credible is not equivalent to a finding by a judge or jury that the cleric is liable or guilty of the sexual abuse of a minor under canon, civil or criminal law.
RELIGIOUS ORDER CLERICS & EXTERN CLERICS
(Clerics not from the Diocese of Corpus Christi)
Name:
Bishop Joseph V. Sullivan
Date of Birth:
8/15/1919
Ordination & Prior Status:
Ordination: 6/1/1946 (Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph)
Episcopal ordination: 4/3/1967 (Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph; Diocese of Baton Rouge)
Extern cleric who visited the Diocese of Corpus Christi
Current Status:
Deceased 9/4/1982
Name:
Rev. Russell Gerard Appleby, MSF
Date of Birth:
10/3/1934
Ordination & Prior Status:
Ordination: 3/26/1966 (Missionaries of the Holy Family)
Current Status:
Removed from ministry in Diocese of Corpus Christi, September 1983
Laicized & Dismissed from the Missionaries of the Holy Family Order 3/18/1995
Deceased 2005 in Pinella County Jail
Name:
Rev. Robert J. Bedrosian, MSF
Date of Birth:
7/7/1937
Ordination & Prior Status:
Ordination: 3/26/1965 (Missionaries of the Holy Family)
Current Status:
Left Diocese of Corpus Christi 1979
Left Missionaries of the Holy Family order 1985
Deceased 10/1/2014
Name:
Rev. John M. Fiala, SOLT
Date of Birth:
10/14/1960
Ordination & Prior Status:
Ordination: 6/2/1984 (Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity)
Current Status:
Criminal conviction (I): 5/17/12
Criminal conviction (II): 12/2/2014
Deceased 2017
Name:
Rev. Edward J. Horan, SOLT
Date of Birth:
3/1/1918
Ordination & Prior Status:
Ordination: 6/27/1987 (Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity)
Current Status:
Retired 1996
Deceased 1997
Name:
Rev. Patrick Koch, SJ
Date of Birth:
11/8/1927
Ordination & Prior Status:
Ordination: 6/12/1957 (Society of Jesus)
Current Status:
Left Diocese of Corpus Christi 1966
Deceased 9/9/2006
Name:
Rev. Eusebio (“Chevy”) Pantoja, CMF
Date of Birth:
Unknown
Ordination & Prior Status:
Ordination: 1968 (Claretian Missionaries)
Current Status:
Removed from ministry in Diocese of Corpus Christi 1980
Expelled from Claretian Order 1980
Name:
Rev. Alfredo Prado, OMI
Date of Birth:
1930
Ordination & Prior Status:
Ordination: 1958 (Oblate of Mary Immaculate)
Current Status:
Suspended 1991
Name:
Rev. Christopher Joseph Springer, CSSR
Date of Birth:
11/7/1925
Ordination & Prior Status:
Ordination: 6/26/1952 (Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer)
Current Status:
Left Diocese of Corpus Christi 1972
CLERICS FROM OR INCARDINATED INTO THE DIOCESE OF CORPUS CHRISTI
Name:
Rev. Jerome Caponi
Date of Birth:
9/15/1925
Ordination & Prior Status:
Ordination: 6/11/1960 (Order of St. Benedict)
Incardinated into Diocese of Corpus Christi 1971
Excardinated from Diocese of Corpus Christi 1982
Current Status:
Left Diocese of Corpus Christi 1982
Deceased 2/27/2009
Name:
Msgr. Hugh Clarke
Date of Birth:
12/30/1924
Ordination & Prior Status:
Ordination: 7/16/ 1950 (Dublin, Ireland)
Incardinated into Diocese of Corpus Christi 8/15/1975
Current Status:
Retired 1997
Deceased 12/16/2002
Name:
Rev. William Daly
Date of Birth:
4/21/1924
Ordination & Prior Status:
Ordination: 6/17/1957 (Ordained in Dublin, Ireland for the Diocese of Corpus Christi)
Current Status:
Left Diocese of Corpus Christi 1971
Deceased 11/9/1982
Name:
Rev. Domingo De Llano
Date of Birth:
10/19/1939
Ordination & Prior Status:
Ordination: 5/28/1966 (Ordained in Laredo, TX for the Diocese of Corpus Christi)
Current Status:
Retired 1999
Deceased 5/4/2013
Name:
Rev. Steven T. Dougherty
Date of Birth:
10/11/1956
Ordination & Prior Status:
Ordination: 6/14/2003 (Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity)
Incardinated into Diocese of Corpus Christi 7/8/2008
Current Status:
Removed from ministry 12/16/2011
Criminal conviction: 2/28/2018
Currently incarcerated
Name:
Rev. John J. Feminelli
Date of Birth:
10/12/1946
Ordination & Prior Status:
Ordination: 6/6/1987 (Corpus Christi, TX)
Current Status:
Retired 4/16/2007
Name:
Rev. Adelhard M. Francois
Date of Birth:
Unknown
Ordination & Prior Status:
Ordination: 2/24/1935, Wuerzburg, Bavaria (Mariannhill Missionary Society)
Incardinated into Diocese of Corpus Christi: 1/14/1950
Current Status:
Left Diocese of Corpus Christi 1959
Name:
Rev. J. Frank Gomez
Date of Birth:
10/28/1928
Ordination & Prior Status:
Ordination: 5/27/1961 (Corpus Christi, TX)
Excardinated from Diocese of Corpus Christi 1965
Current Status:
Left Diocese of Corpus Christi 1965
Name:
Rev. Clement Hageman
Date of Birth:
Unknown
Ordination & Prior Status:
Ordination: 6/10/1930, St. Meinrad, IN
Current Status:
Removed from ministry in Diocese of Corpus Christi April 1939
Deceased 7/2/1975
Name:
Msgr. Michael Heras
Date of Birth:
6/7/1958
Ordination & Prior Status:
Ordination: 6/15/1984 (Corpus Christi, TX)
Current Status:
Removed from ministry 6/24/2014
Name:
Rev. Jesus Garcia Hernando
Date of Birth:
10/7/1957
Ordination & Prior Status:
Ordination: 6/2/1984, Burgos, Spain
Incardinated into Diocese of Corpus Christi: 12/17/1983
Excardinated from Diocese of Corpus Christi: 2/11/2000
Current Status:
Removed from ministry 7/15/2011
Name:
Rev. Flover Antonio Osorio Herrera
Date of Birth:
10/7/1954
Ordination & Prior Status:
Ordination: 3/19/1985 (Diocese of Villavicencio, Meta, Columbia)
Incardinated into Diocese of Corpus Christi 12/4/2003
Current Status:
Removed from ministry 10/29/2007
Name:
Rev. Peter J. Hughes
Date of Birth:
Unknown
Ordination & Prior Status:
Ordination: 6/10/1956 (Ordained in Carlow, Ireland for the Diocese of Corpus Christi)
Current Status:
Left Diocese of Corpus Christi 1963
Deceased 12/7/1990
Name:
Msgr. William J. Kelly
Date of Birth:
10/11/1916
Ordination & Prior Status:
Ordination: 6/24/1944 (Ordained in Dublin, Ireland for the Diocese of Corpus Christi)
Current Status:
Deceased 3/12/1983
Name:
Msgr. William C. Kinlough
Date of Birth:
8/29/1918
Ordination & Prior Status:
Ordination: 6/20/1943 (Ordained in Ireland for the Diocese of Corpus Christi)
Current Status:
Retired 1999
Deceased 9/29/2000
Name:
Rev. Msgr. Thomas Meany
Date of Birth:
5/12/1928
Ordination & Prior Status:
Ordination: 5/31/1955 (Corpus Christi, TX)
Current Status:
Retired 2004
Deceased 7/20/2008
Name:
Rev. Robert Trevino
Date of Birth:
11/10/1958
Ordination & Prior Status:
Ordination: 12/28/1985 (Corpus Christi, TX)
Current Status:
Removed from ministry 1995
Laicized 12/6/2012
“for even a single act of sexual abuse of a minor, whenever it occurred, which is admitted or established after an appropriate process in accordance with canon law, the offending priest or deacon is to be permanently removed from ministry, and, if warranted, dismissed from the clerical state”. Art. 5, Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People
Prayer for Healing & Strength for the Church & the Diocese of Corpus Christi
Father of Mercy and Source of consolation, we adore you and give you thanks.
We acknowledge that we have sinned and offended you by our disrespect and neglect for the life and dignity of the most innocent among us.
Lord Jesus Christ, though sinless, you suffered for the sins of the world. Now, we unite ourselves with you on the Cross to help bring your redemption and peace to all who are seeking you.
Come, Holy Spirit, heal us and make us holy by the transforming grace of your seven-fold gifts. Renew us in hope. Help us to live our vocations faithfully, chastely, and joyfully, according to our states in life.
Strengthen us to be your presence for those who have been hurt or forgotten. May we become beacons of faith, hope, and love to all. Let no one be lost because of the lack of our love.
St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle;
Be our safeguard against the wickedness and the snares of the devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray;
And do thou, O Prince of the heavenly hosts, by the power of God,
Cast into hell, Satan and all the evil spirits
Who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.
St. Joseph, patron of the Universal Church, protect us as you protected Jesus and Mary.
O Mary, Seat of Wisdom, Virgin of Guadalupe, and Patroness of our diocese, accompany us with your prayers and maternal affection now and always. Amen.