Diocesan Priests with Substantiated Allegations of the Sexual Abuse of a Minor Against Them
Date of Release: January 17, 2019
About this list
This list comprises the names of incardinated priests of the Diocese of Green Bay against whom there is one or more substantiated allegations of sexual abuse of a minor. Incardinated priests are those who were ordained for service within the Diocese of Green Bay or who requested a transfer into the Diocese after their ordination elsewhere. This list does not contain priests ordained for service within a religious order.
Since 1906, the ordination date of the priest with the earliest documented allegation of sexual abuse of a minor, a total of 630 ordained priests have served within the Diocese of Green Bay. Of that number, 48* priests have had a substantiated (defined below) allegation of the sexual abuse of a minor made against them. Additionally, there are 16 priests and 2 deacons accused of the sexual abuse of a minor who, after investigation, and review by the Independent Review Board, were either exonerated or the allegation against them unsubstantiated.
The Diocese of Green Bay follows the directives of the 2002 Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People written by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. All allegations received by the Diocese are taken seriously and investigated as thoroughly as possible. Additionally, this work is reviewed and confirmed by the work of an Independent Review Board. All allegations categorized substantiated are immediately reported to the District Attorney or other law enforcement of the county where the alleged abuse had taken place. An allegation is categorized to be “substantiated” when, based upon the facts and circumstances of the case, there is a reasonable cause to suspect that the sexual abuse of a minor has occurred. This is comprised, in part, of the certainty of the accuser that the abuse took place, that the allegations is internally consistent regarding a time, place and date, and that other facts surrounding the accuser’s claims appear to be accurate. Any substantiated allegation of the sexual abuse of a minor which is subsequently proven in a civil or canonical forum leads to the priest’s permanent removal from public ministry and possible criminal prosecution. Additional penalties in church law are imposed upon that priest up to and including dismissal from the priesthood. Currently there are no known priests serving in active ministry in the Diocese of Green Bay who have had a substantiated allegation of the sexual abuse of a minor against them.
The following list of priests is based upon investigations that have been completed. The results of these investigations were confirmed through the services of the investigative firm of Defenbaugh and Associates, Inc. which was given full and complete access to all diocesan files. The Independent Review Board, after receiving and reviewing their report, recommended to the Bishop that the list be published. The independent work of Defenbaugh and Associates, Inc. and the Independent Review Board is consistent with the internal findings of the Diocese regarding the number of priests who have abused.
It is important to note that inclusion on this list does not, by itself, mean that the accused priest has been found guilty of a crime or liable for any civil claim. In some, but not all cases an accused priest was tried and found guilty or liable by civil authorities. In every case, however, the Diocese conducted an investigation based upon church law which often resulted in the priest being permanently removed from ministry.
Many of the substantiated allegations were made decades after the alleged abuse took place, making it difficult to conduct a complete civil or church investigation. Also, because most of the substantiated allegations were made many years after the civil statute of limitations had passed, the civil authorities were unable to fully investigate the matter or bring charges. Some of these allegations were made after the accused priest had died and therefore the priest did not have the opportunity to respond to the allegation.
Update as of Dec. 9, 2021:
*Since the initial release of the disclosure list of diocesan clergy with a substantiated allegation of sexual abuse of a minor on Jan. 17, 2019, further updates were made to the list on Apr. 4, 2019, after more victims came forward. An additional diocesan priest with a substantiated allegation of sexual abuse of a minor was identified, and the disclosure list was updated on May 23, 2019. Two additional diocesan priests with a substantiated allegation of sexual abuse of a minor have been identified and the disclosure list was updated on Dec. 9, 2021.
**Any future updates to the disclosure list will be made following the recommendation of the Independent Review Board and the notification of the District Attorney in the county where the abuse was alleged. These updates will be reflected below, noting next to the priest’s name, the date information was updated.
1. Priests of the Diocese of Green Bay with a substantiated allegation of the sexual abuse of a minor.
This section contains the names of the priests of the Diocese of Green Bay against whom a substantiated allegation of sexual abuse of a minor was received and investigated while the priest was alive or against whom multiple substantiated allegations were received and investigated after the priest had died. While an allegation received after a priest is deceased does not provide the opportunity for the priest to respond, multiple allegations against him may indicate a corroborative pattern of abuse which supports the conclusion of a substantiated allegation. Each substantiated allegation was received and investigated by the Diocese of Green Bay and then reviewed and confirmed by the Diocesan Independent Review Board. All substantiated allegations were reported to the District Attorney of the county where the alleged abuse had taken place whether the priest was living or deceased.
To view details regarding each person, click on their name.
Donald Becker
Dennis Bouche
David Boyea
Stanley Browne
Donald Buzanowski (Updated 5/6/20)
Michael Carroll
John Conrad
August Dusold
William Eberhardy
Simeon Engl
John Feeney
Bernard Geimer
Daniel Gilsdorf
Ralph Hermsen
Richard Heyman
Philip Hoffmann
LeRoy Hogan
William Kiernan (Updated 4/4/19)
Jerome Koerner (Updated 2/4/21)
John Koprowski
Nicholas Langenfeld
Clarence Leitermann (Updated 4/4/19)
Norbert Rank (Updated 4/4/19)
Francis Reinke
Kenneth Rodgers
Donald Rose (Updated 4/4/19)
Tito Sammut
Eugene Schmidt
Ronald Schneider
Earl Schuh (Updated 5/6/20)
Thomas Stocker (Updated 4/4/19)
Richard Thomas
Robert Thompson
Gerald Van Nuland (Updated 4/4/19)
Alphonse Wagner (Updated 4/4/19)
Jerome Watry (Updated 4/4/19)
Walter Williams (Updated 12/9/21)
2. Priests of the Diocese of Green Bay with a single substantiated allegation of the sexual abuse of a minor made after the priest’s death.
This section contains the names of priests of the Diocese of Green Bay against whom a single substantiated allegation of the sexual abuse of a minor was received after his death. While any allegation received is investigated to the extent possible, an allegation received after a priest is deceased does not provide the opportunity for him to respond. Each substantiated allegation was received and investigated by the Diocese of Green Bay and then reviewed and confirmed by the Diocesan Independent Review Board. All substantiated allegations were reported to the District Attorney of the county where the alleged abuse had taken place even if the priest was deceased.
To view details regarding each person, click on their name.
Brian Coleman (Added 12/9/21)
Arthur Danks
Raymond Hietpas (Added 4/4/19)
Rudolph J. Hodik
George Kiefer
Dennis Lally (Added 12/9/21)
Lawrence Loerke
Florian Milbauer
Glen Ochs
Fridolin Olschowski
Elroy Reimer
Francis Rose
Steven Scherer (Added 5/23/19)