Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston Clergy Disclosure List

 Clergy for whom allegations of sexual abuse of a minor have been admitted, substantiated or determined or considered to be credible.

On January 31, 2019, the Archdiocese provided to the faithful of the Church in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston a list of priests about whom the Archdiocese had received credible allegations of sexual abuse of minors from 1950 through the end of 2018 that occurred in the Archdiocese.

A credible allegation is one which there is reason to believe is true, based on reasonably available, relevant information, in consultation with the Archdiocesan Review Board – which is comprised of legal, psychological and other relevant experts. A determination by the Review Board and Cardinal DiNardo that an allegation against a member of the clergy is credible is a pastoral judgment, and is not the equivalent of a finding of guilt by a jury or judge in a court of law. At the time the list was first provided to the faithful of the Church, the Archdiocese stated that the list would be updated as warranted as additional information was received. Today, the Archdiocese is adding four priests to the list. One of them, Manuel La Rosa Lopez, was noted on the 2019 list as under investigation. In December 2020, he pled guilty to charges of indecency with a child. The other three priests are members of Religious Orders that are based outside of the Archdiocese, but assigned some of their priests to work within the geographic boundaries of the Galveston-Houston Archdiocese. These three priests, John Patrick Barry, C.S.B., Franz B. Lickteig, O.Carm. and William “Herb” Schreiner, C.S.B., have been deceased for decades.

The Archdiocese thanks the members of the community who came forward about these priests. Without assistance from the community – which requires courage – it may not always be possible to determine credibility of these allegations. It is hoped that this ongoing process will help the victims of sexual abuse and their families find healing and peace.

As the Archdiocese and the Archdiocesan Review Board continue their work, we will supplement this list as warranted. As always, we urge anyone who becomes aware of any acts of sexual abuse of minors to please report it to local law enforcement authorities immediately.

El 31 de enero de 2019, la Arquidiócesis publicó para los fieles de la iglesia de Galveston-Houston una lista de sacerdotes acerca de los cuales la Arquidiócesis había recibido acusaciones creíbles de abuso sexual contra menores desde 1950 hasta fines de 2018 que ocurrieron en la Arquidiócesis.

Una alegación creíble es aquella que hay razones para creer que es cierta, basada en información razonablemente disponible y relevante, en consulta con la Junta de Revisión Arquidiocesana, que es compuesto por expertos legales, psicológicos y otros expertos relevantes. Una determinación de la Junta de Revisión y el cardenal DiNardo de que una acusación contra un clérigo es creíble es un juicio pastoral, y no es el equivalente a una declaración de culpabilidad por parte de un jurado o juez en un tribunal de ley. En el momento en que la lista se proporcionó por primera vez a los fieles de la Iglesia, la Arquidiócesis declaró que la lista se actualizaría según se justificara a medida que se recibiera información adicional. Hoy la Arquidiócesis está agregando cuatro sacerdotes a la lista. Uno de ellos, Manuel La Rosa López, se destacó en la lista de 2019 como bajo investigación. En diciembre de 2020, se declaró culpable de los cargos de indecencia con una persona de menor edad. Los otros tres sacerdotes son de órdenes religiosas que se basan fuera de la Arquidiócesis, pero asignaron a algunos de sus sacerdotes para trabajar dentro del área geográfica de la Arquidiócesis de Galveston-Houston. Estos tres sacerdotes, John Patrick Barry, C.S.B., Franz B. Lickteig, O.Carm., y William "Herb" Schreiner, C.S.B., han fallecido por décadas.

La Arquidiócesis agradece a los miembros de la comunidad que se dieron a conocer sobre estos sacerdotes. Sin la ayuda de la comunidad, que requiere valentía, no siempre puede ser posible determinar la credibilidad de estas acusaciones. Se espera que este proceso en curso ayuda a las víctimas de abuso sexual y sus familias a encontrar la curación y la paz.

A medida que la Arquidiócesis y la Junta de Revisión de la Arquidiócesis continúen con su trabajo, complemente esta lista según se justifique. Como siempre, instamos a cualquiera que tenga conocimiento de cualquier acto de abuso sexual de menores para informarlo a las autoridades civiles de inmediato

Cardinal Daniel DiNardo released the following statement, Jan. 31, 2019, disclosing the names of clergy who at some time served in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston and who have been credibly accused of child sexual abuse.

"Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

"Today the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston joins with the other Catholic dioceses of Texas to publish the names of priests credibly accused of sexual abuse or misconduct with minors since 1950.

"The Bishops of Texas have decided to release the names of these priests at this time because it is right and just and to offer healing and hope to those who have suffered. On behalf of all who have failed in this regard, I offer my sincerest apology. Our Church has been lacerated by this wound and we must take action to heal it..." 

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This list is being presented to the faithful of the Church in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston as part of an effort to bring about the restoration of trust.

The list contains the names of priests about whom the Archdiocese has received credible allegations of sexual abuse of a minor which occurred within the geographic boundaries of the Archdiocese. The allegations encompass the years 1950 through the end of 2018, almost a 70 year time span. Many of the allegations made were received years after the reported abuse occurred.  In several instances, the allegations were made after the priest had died. Some of the allegations have been the subject of civil litigation and several have previously been reported in the media. The assignments for the priests on this list can be accessed from the list posted on the Archdiocese website. The assignments are listed alphabetically.

The Archdiocese of Galveston Houston, like other Dioceses in the United States, adopted a Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People in 2002 and since then the number of credible allegations has dropped significantly. At the same time Dioceses created Diocesan Review Boards which are comprised primarily of lay persons of multiple professions and of various religious affiliations. Since 2002, the Archdiocesan Review Board has reviewed allegations received by the Archdiocese and has made recommendations to Bishop Fiorenza and later to Cardinal DiNardo

The list below has been compiled after identification of files by Kinsale Management Consulting for examination by the Review Board. The Review Board worked in consultation with Cardinal DiNardo.  The Archdiocese has determined that a credible allegation is one where there is reason to believe the allegation is true, after review of reasonably available, relevant information in consultation with the Review Board.   A determination by the Review Board and Cardinal DiNardo that an allegation against a member of the clergy is credible is a pastoral judgment and is not the equivalent of a finding of guilt by a jury or judge in a court of law.  A determination of credibility for purposes of the list relates to the allegation, but it does not establish that the allegation is substantiated or proven.

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