Public Disclosure List
(Updated May 3, 2024)
The Diocese of Erie wishes to acknowledge all survivors of abuse who have come forward, to encourage any others to come forward who have not already done so, and to reaffirm the commitment of the Diocese of Erie to offer support and assistance to those survivors of abuse.
All reports of abuse made to the Diocese of Erie are submitted in a timely fashion to both law enforcement and to the independent investigators retained by the Diocese of Erie and result in some form of investigative response. Each report of abuse is considered and investigated on a case-by-case basis.
The following is a list of individuals who, in the judgment of the Diocese of Erie, were credibly accused of actions that disqualify and prohibit them from working or volunteering with children or youth in any Diocese of Erie parish, school, agency, institution or any other Catholic entity located within the Diocese of Erie.
This list is not limited to individuals who sexually abused children. Instead, there are numerous reasons why a name might appear on this list. Among these are credibly corroborated actions that include, but are not limited to, the following: the possession/use of child pornography, furnishing pornography to minors, corruption of minors, violation of a child-protection policy, failing to prevent abuse that they knew to be happening, and — in some cases — direct physical sexual abuse or sexual assault of minors, as well as other types of abuse such as physical abuse and mental abuse.
Allegations were corroborated and determined to be credible by at least one of the following: (1) secular legal proceedings, (2) canon law proceedings, (3) self-admission by the individual, or (4) threshold evidence as defined in the Diocese of Erie’s Policy for the Protection of Children.
The Diocese of Erie takes all reports and allegations of abuse seriously. The Diocese of Erie is grateful for those who have come forward and welcomes any additional information that may shed light on any past or present cases of abuse.
The Diocese of Erie will update the list in the future as necessary based on any new information or investigations.
I. THOSE WHO ARE LIVING:
Individuals on this list are prohibited from working or volunteering with children or youth in any Diocese of Erie parish, school, agency, institution, or any other Catholic entity located within the Diocese of Erie. None of the priests listed are permitted to engage in public ministry in the Diocese of Erie.
Individuals are listed with their current (in the case of priests) or last known (in the case of laypersons) status with the Diocese of Erie or any Diocese of Erie parish, school, agency, institution, or any other Catholic entity located within the Diocese of Erie.
The individuals on this list are believed to be alive and living in the locations noted:
- Former Fr. Michael J. Amy — Niceville, Florida
Laicized (removed from ministry and later voluntarily resigned from the clergy) - Jonathan J. Borkowski — Fairview, Pennsylvania
Former lay employee - Andre C. Butler — Rosedale, New York
Former lay agency employee - Randolph A. Byrd — Crozet, Virginia
Former lay teacher - Former Fr. Dennis C. Chludzinski — Erie, Pennsylvania
Laicized - Megan E. Fecko — Cleveland, Ohio
Former lay teacher - Kevin J. Feyas — Erie, Pennsylvania
Former lay teacher and parish musician - Former Fr. Gregory P. Furjanic, OFM — Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Laicized - Former Fr. Chester J. Gawronski — Sahuarita, Arizona
Dismissed from the clergy - Timothy G. Hanson, Sr. — North East, Pennsylvania
Layman prohibited from volunteer work or entering school property - Former Fr. Barry M. Hudock — Albany, Minnesota
Laicized - Fr. Stephen E. Jeselnick — Colorado Springs, Colorado
Forbidden to function as a priest - Fr. Edward W. Jungquist — Whereabouts unknown
Forbidden to function as a priest - Former Fr. Gary L. Ketcham — Erie, Pennsylvania
Laicized - Lewis A. Kocher — Springfield, Ohio
Former choir director - Fr. Thaddeus T. Kondzielski — Waterford, Pennsylvania
Forbidden to function as a priest - Kevin S. Kulhanek — Erie, Pennsylvania
Former lay school volunteer - Former Fr. Thomas M. Lechner — Sewickley, Pennsylvania
Laicized - Gregory S. Mancini – Currently incarcerated in federal prison
Former assistant coach - Frank Mariella, Jr. – Erie, Pennsylvania
Former parish volunteer - Eve Minter (née Spangler) — Henrico, Virginia
Former lay teacher - David R. Montgomery — Otisville, New York (in federal prison until 2040)
Former lay teacher - Denise J. (née Geitner) Myers (Meyer) — Greensburg, Pennsylvania
Former lay teacher - Hattie B. Nichols — Erie, Pennsylvania
Former lay agency employee - Michael O’Brien – Huntingdon, Pennsylvania (in state prison)
Former lay principal - Msgr. Jan C. Olowin – Peoria, Arizona
Forbidden to function as a priest - Philip J. Pochatko — Erie, Pennsylvania
Former lay teacher - Former Fr. David L. Poulson — Oil City, Pennsylvania
Laicized - Brian J. Radachy — Ayer, MA (in federal prison until 2024)
Former lay teacher - David A. Rinke, II – Allenwood, Pennsylvania (in federal prison at FCI Allenwood Low until 2027)
Former lay teacher - Msgr. L. Thomas Snyderwine — Erie, Pennsylvania
Forbidden to function as a priest - Ann Marie Hanes (Strall) – Spokane, Washington
Former lay teacher - Ron Thomsen — Erie, Pennsylvania
Former lay volunteer - John (Jack) E. Tome — Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Former seminarian - Dennis E. Vickery — Erie, Pennsylvania
Former lay teacher - Robert D. Viszneki — Marienville, Pennsylvania (in state prison)
Former lay parish volunteer - Joseph M. Votino — Masury, Ohio
Former lay teacher/coach - Craig T. Ward — Erie, Pennsylvania
Former lay agency employee
Individuals on this list are individuals who — but for their death — would be on the above list and would be prohibited from working or volunteering with children or youth in any Diocese of Erie parish, school, agency, institution, or any other Catholic entity located within the Diocese of Erie.
Individuals are listed with their date of death and their last known status with the Diocese of Erie or any Diocese of Erie parish, school, agency, institution, or any other Catholic entity located within the Diocese of Erie.
- Ronald Keith Allison
Former lay teacher
Date of death: October 2022 - Fr. Jules "Raymond" Balko, OSB
Was able to function (abuse reported after death)
Date of death: 1985 - Fr. Michael G. Barletta
Forbidden to function as a priest
Date of death: August 2022 - Fr. Donald C. Bolton, CSsR
Forbidden to function as a priest
Date of death: October 2006 - Fr. Edmund S. Borycz, OFM
Forbidden to function as a priest
Date of death: January 2018 - Fr. Robert F. Bower
Forbidden to function as a priest
Date of death: July 2020 - Msgr. Bonaventure M. Ciufoli
Returned to Italy
Date of death: July 1987 - Charles R. “Rick” Cooper
Former lay teacher
Date of death: October 2018 - Fr. Donald J. Cooper
Forbidden to function as a priest
Date of death: December 2011 - William E. Couse
Former lay school employee
Date of death: August 2000 - Fr. Kevin E. Cray, SDS
Was able to function (abuse reported after death)
Date of death: January 1999 - Father G. Matthew Daly
Was able to function (abuse reported after his death)
Date of death: 1982 - Albert S. Davies
Former lay teacher
Date of death: September 2005 - Michael L. DiFrancisco
Former parish music director
Date of death: October 1985 - Fr. David V. Dobrowolski
Was able to function
Date of death: December 1985 - William P. Garvey
Former lay teacher/coach (later served as college president)
Date of death: August 2017 - David M. Geitner
Former lay teacher
Date of death: 1990 - Fr. Herbert G. Gloekler
Was able to function
Date of death: January 1985 - Fr. Robert E. Hannon
Forbidden to function as a priest
Date of death: January 2006 - Fr. Patrick J. Healy
Was able to function (abuse reported after his death)
Date of death: June 1999 - James E. Herzing
Former lay teacher
Date of death: September 2020 - James P. Hewitt
Former lay teacher
Date of death: August 2011 - Msgr. James F. Hopkins
Was able to function (abuse reported after his death)
Date of death: July 1957 - Fr. Joseph W. Jerge
Forbidden to function as a priest
Date of death: April 2006 - Fr. Thomas C. Kelley
Forbidden to function as a priest
Date of death: February 2005 - Msgr. Conrad L. Kraus
Was able to function (compliant received after his death)
Date of death: May 2009 - Fr. Gerard (Gerald, Gerry) H. Krebs
Forbidden to function as a priest
Date of death: May 2005 - Fr. Jerry (John) Kucan, OFM
Forbidden to function as a priest
Date of death: December 2010 - Former Fr. Fidelis G. Lazar, OSB
Left ministry prior to his death
Date of death: March 2018 - Msgr. Louis H. Lorei
Believed to have died restricted from ministry (records unclear as to final status)
Date of death: April 1986 - Fr. Salvatore P. Luzzi
Forbidden to function as a priest
Date of death: April 23, 2024 - Msgr. Daniel J. Martin
Restricted from ministry (abuse reported during retirement/physical-health-leave and later, after death)
Date of death: May 2006 - Fr. Joseph F. Meisinger
Was able to function (abuse reported after his death)
Date of death: March 1979 - John S. Meko
Former lay teacher
Date of death: July 1998 - Fr. Leon T. Muroski — Erie, Pennsylvania
Forbidden to function as a priest
Date of death: June 2023 - Former Brother Edmundus Murphy, SVD
Left ministry prior to his death
Date of death: October 2014 - Fr. John L. Murray
Forbidden to function as a priest
Date of death: March 2018 - Fr. Giles L. Nealen, OSB
Was unable to function (was already confined to infirmary when abuse was reported)
Date of death: December 1996 - Fr. Andrew W. Pawlaczyk
Was able to function (abuse reported after death)
Date of death: March 1982 - Fr. John A. Piatkowski
Believed to have died with ability to function (records unclear as to final status)
Date of death: November 1970 - Former Fr. William F. Presley
Dismissed from the clergy
Date of death: April 2012 - Msgr. Joseph V. Reszkowski
Was able to function (abuse reported after his death)
Date of death: September 2003 - Fr. William A. Rice
Forbidden to function as a priest
Date of death: August 2023 - Fr. John P. Schanz
Forbidden to function as a priest
Date of death: April 2010 - Fr. Charles R. Schmitt
Forbidden to function as a priest
Date of death: January 2021 - Fr. Charles A. Sheets, Jr.
Forbidden to function as a priest
Date of death: November 2009 - Sr. Mary Carmel Skeabeck, SSJ
(Charlotte Skeabeck)
Former teacher
Date of death: May 2015 - Former Fr. Samuel B. Slocum
Dismissed from the clergy
Date of death: January 2020 - Former Fr. Thomas E. Smith
Dismissed from the clergy
Date of death: February 2021 - Fr. Daniel J. Taylor
Forbidden to function as a priest
Date of death: September 2023 - Vincent “Vance” Valentine
Former lay school employee
Date of death: 1967 - Former Fr. Patrick B. Vallimont
Laicized
Date of Death: October 2023 - Bishop Alfred M. Watson
Bishop of Erie (failed to act to stop abuse which was credibly reported to him)
Date of death: January 1990
III. THOSE WHOSE ALLEGATIONS ARE UNDER INVESTIGATION:
The Diocese of Erie will list an individual as Under Investigation to (1) provide notice to the public regarding ongoing investigations to prevent potential further harm to children or youth while a report is being investigated, and (2) determine if additional victims or witnesses exist who can help resolve the investigation.
An individual will be listed as Under Investigation if (1) a report of abuse is made against that individual, and (2) an initial investigation corroborates the basic facts of the report, provided that no court order, request from law enforcement, or some other extenuating circumstance stands in the way.
Individuals on this list are currently under investigation, and each is presumed innocent until shown otherwise:
- Sr. M. Stella Ochs, OSB – deceased, October 1988
- Fr. John M. (Jay) Schultz — Brentwood, Tennessee
- Fr. Michael Allison – deceased, June 2020
- Msgr. John Hagerty – deceased, January 2013
The Diocese of Erie seeks to resolve all investigations of individuals listed as Under Investigation in the most expedient manner possible in either of two ways. First, if, after a full and complete investigation, the report is corroborated and determined to be credible for purposes of this list, then the individual will be removed from the Under Investigation category and moved to the applicable Credibly Accused category above. Second, if, after a full and complete investigation, the report is unable to be corroborated, then the individual is removed from the list entirely.
Click here for pastoral care provided to survivors of abuse.
Click here for reporting abuse.
This list only includes the names of priests, religious sisters, teachers, employees or volunteers of the Erie Diocese or any Diocese of Erie parish, school, agency, institution or any other Catholic entity located within the Diocese of Erie. The federal sex-offender registry may be searched here, and the Pennsylvania sex-offender registry may be searched here. Any person who uses the information contained on this website or linked websites to threaten, intimidate, or harass a listed individual or his/her family — or who otherwise misuses this information — may be subject to criminal prosecution or civil liability.”