Erie Diocese Releases Updated List of People Credibly Accused of Sexual Abuse
The Erie Diocese on Friday released its updated list of names of people who have been credibly accused of actions that disqualify them from working with children.
Four laypersons, one of whom is deceased, and one former priest have been added to the list.
Two of the laypeople are new; one layperson and the former priest have been moved from “under investigation” to “credibly accused.” The fifth person is now awaiting sentencing and has been moved to the “credibly accused” list.
Two other priests and an additional layperson, all of whom are deceased, have been added to the list of those under investigation.
New names added to the list of credible allegations (living)
• Jonathan J. Borkowski — Fairview, Pennsylvania
Former lay employee (previously under investigation)
• Former Fr. Thomas M. Lechner—Sewickley, Pennsylvania
Laicized (previously under investigation)
• Ann Marie Hanes (Strall) — Spokane, Washington
Former lay teacher
• Robert D. Viszneki —Erie, Pennsylvania
Former parish volunteer (previously awaiting trial, now awaiting sentencing)
New name added to the list of credible allegations (deceased)
• Albert S. Davies
Former lay teacher
Date of Death: September 2005
New names under investigation
• Fr. Stephen A. Anderson — deceased
• Michael L. DiFrancisco — deceased
• Msgr. Conrad L. Kraus — deceased
Modification made to existing name on the list:
• Fr. Edward W. Jungquist was thought to be deceased. He is now listed as “whereabouts unknown,” and is forbidden to function as a priest.
The Diocese said it will work with its independent investigators at the Pittsburgh-based K&L Gates law firm to continue investigating all allegations.
Full list of credibly accused
Every person named on this list was credibly accused of actions that the Diocese believes disqualifies that person from working with children. Such actions could include the use of child pornography, furnishing pornography to minors, corruption of minors, violating a child-protection policy, failure to prevent abuse that they knew to be happening, and — in some cases — direct physical sexual abuse or sexual assault of minors.
The individuals on this list are believed to be alive and living in the locations noted:
Ronald Keith Allison — Erie, Pennsylvania
Former lay teacher
Former Fr. Michael J. Amy — Niceville, Florida
Laicized (removed from ministry and later voluntarily resigned from the clergy)
Fr. Michael G. Barletta — Erie, Pennsylvania
Forbidden to function as a priest
Jonathan J. Borkowski — Fairview, Pennsylvania
Former lay employee
Fr. Robert F. Bower — Edinboro, Pennsylvania
Forbidden to function as a priest
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
Charles R. "Rick" Cooper — Lanexa, Virginia
Former lay teacher
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
James E. Herzing — St. Marys, Pennsylvania
Former lay teacher
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
Fr. Salvatore P. Luzzi — Bradford, Pennsylvania
Forbidden to function as a priest
Eve Minter (née Spangler) — Henrico, Virginia
Former lay teacher
David R. Montgomery — Otisville, New York (in federal prison until 2041)
Former lay teacher
Fr. Leon T. Muroski — Erie, Pennsylvania
Forbidden to function as a priest
Denise J. (née Geitner) Myers (Meyer) — Greensburg, Pennsylvania
Former lay teacher
Hattie B. Nichols — Erie, Pennsylvania
Former lay agency employee
Philip J. Pochatko — Erie, Pennsylvania
Former lay school teacher
Former Fr. David L. Poulson — Camp Hill, Pennsylvania (in state prison until at least 2021)
Laicized
Brian J. Radachy — Elkton, Ohio (in federal prison until 2024)
Former lay school teacher
Fr. Charles R. Schmitt — Port Allegany, Pennsylvania
Forbidden to function as a priest
Former Fr. Samuel B. Slocum — Cyclone, Pennsylvania
Dismissed from the clergy
Former Fr. Thomas E. Smith — Erie, Pennsylvania
Dismissed from the clergy
Ann Marie Hanes (Strall) — Spokane, Washington
Former lay teacher
Fr. Daniel J. Taylor — Tucson, Arizona
Forbidden to function as a priest
Ron Thomsen — Erie, Pennsylvania
Former lay volunteer
John (Jack) E. Tome — Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Former seminarian
Former Fr. Patrick B. Vallimont — Union City, Pennsylvania
Laicized
Dennis E. Vickery — Erie, Pennsylvania
Former lay teacher
Robert D. Viszneki — Erie, Pennsylvania
Former parish volunteer (awaiting sentencing)
Joseph M. Votino — Masury, Ohio
Former lay teacher/coach
Craig T. Ward — Erie, Pennsylvania
Former lay agency employee
Additionally, we recognize that some of the individuals who failed our children and other vulnerable populations are now deceased. The list below names those individuals who — but for their death — would be on the above list of people prohibited from employment. In furnishing the names of these deceased individuals, the diocese wishes to acknowledge those victims/survivors who were harmed by their actions, to encourage any other victims/survivors to come forward who have not already done so, and to reaffirm the commitment of the diocese to offer support and assistance to victims/survivors of abuse. 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 of the schools or agencies within the diocese.
Fr. Jules "Raymond" Balko, OSB
Was able to function (abuse reported after death)
Date of death: 1985
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
Msgr. Bonaventure M. Ciufoli
Returned to Italy
Date of death: July 1987
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
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 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
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
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
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. John P. Schanz
Forbidden to function as a priest
Date of death: April 2010
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
Vincent “Vance” Valentine
Former lay school employee
Date of death: 1967
Bishop Alfred M. Watson
Bishop of Erie (failed to act to stop abuse which was credibly reported to him)
Date of death: January 1990
* The diocese had no records indicating that the abuse had been reported years ago, but new information confirms allegations had been submitted but were not on record.
These individuals are currently under investigation, and each is presumed innocent unless proved otherwise:
Fr. Stephen A. Anderson — deceased
Michael L. DiFrancisco — deceased
Fr. Sean P. Kerins — Erie, Pennsylvania
Msgr. Conrad L. Kraus — deceased
Fr. Richard D. Lynch — deceased
Msgr. H. Desmond McGee — DuBois, Pennsylvania
Frank J. Mariella, Sr. — deceased
Fr. Jan C. Olowin — retired, Peoria, Arizona
Fr. Robert A. Pudlo (failed to act to stop abuse which was credibly reported to him) — deceased
Fr. William A. Rice — retired, Fryburg, Pennsylvania
Msgr. L. Thomas Snyderwine — retired, Erie, Pennsylvania
Awaiting trial
Gregory S. Mancini
Former assistant coach – Erie, Pennsylvania