Diocese of Green Bay releases list of names
By Scott Bellile
Numerous priests who once worked in Catholic churches throughout the Waupaca County area were accused of sexually abusing children during their careers.
The Catholic Diocese of Green Bay on Thursday, Jan. 17, released a list of 46 names of clergymen who have substantiated allegations against them of sexually abusing minors. The list includes names of priests who are living as well as those who have since died.
Of the 46 men named, more than a dozen served parishes in Waupaca County or surrounding communities.
The Catholic Diocese of Green Bay stated in a press release it “remains committed to the protection of children and vulnerable adults” by removing priests from ministry if they have substantiated claims of abuse against them.
An investigative firm, Defenbaugh & Associates Inc. of Texas, recently reviewed the files of all diocesan priests and deacons and reported its findings to the diocese’s Independent Review Board at the end of 2018. The board then recommended the diocese release the names of all clergy who have substantiated sexual abuse claims.
Allegations are considered substantiated when the accuser is certain the abuse took place, specific details related to the incident are consistent, and other details regarding the church at that time – such as who else worked there or physical characteristics of the building – appear to be accurate, according to the Very Rev. John Girotti, vicar for the diocese’s Office of Canonical Services.
“The release of these names may open up old wounds and may create new hurt. For this, I am profoundly sorry,” Bishop David Ricken said at a news conference. “But I want to recognize the victim survivors for their strength over the years in coming forward to tell their stories. The hurt they endured at the hands of their perpetrators cannot be undone. I can apologize, but more importantly I need to show them through action that we are being open in addressing this issue head-on.”
The diocese asks anyone who is aware of a child sexual abuse incident, recent or in the past, to call the Office of Safe Environment for the Catholic Diocese at 1-877-270-8174. Recent incidents should be reported to law enforcement first.
Area priests on the diocese’s list include:
Dennis Bouche
Where he served locally: Assistant at Tigerton and Marion, 1950 to 1951; and St. Joseph Residence in New London, 1971 to 1973.
Substantiated allegations: One allegation, 1955 to 1956. He served St. Paul in Manitowoc and at St. Peter in Oconto during that time.
Living or dead: Died in 1995.
Michael Carroll
Where he served locally: St. Anthony in Tigerton and St. Mary in Marion, both 1994 to 2002.
Substantiated allegations: Multiple allegations between 1978 and 1985. During that time, Carroll served Catholic Central High School in Marinette and St. Bernard Parish in Green Bay and directed the Diocesan Youth Program.
Punishment: Carroll was placed on leave in 2002 and ordered to “live a life of prayer and penance” after two canonical trials found him guilty of sexual abuse of a minor in 2016.
Living or dead: Living.
August Dusold
Where he served locally: St. Mary Magdalene in Waupaca, 1922 to 1923.
Substantiated allegations: Multiple before 1924, when Dusold served St. Mary Magdalene in Waupaca and churches in Green Bay, Kaukauna, Glenmore and Cooperstown; in 1947, when Dusold served the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and Langlade Memorial Hospital.
Living or dead: Died in 1960.
John Feeney
Where he served locally: St. Rose in Clintonville, 1955 to 1956.
Substantiated allegations: Multiple allegations between 1961 and 1982. During those two decades he served 13 churches in Two Rivers, Appleton, Chilton, Clarks Mills, Flintville, Francis Creek, Maplewood, Wautoma, Elcho, De Pere, Suamico, Freedom and Stockbridge.
Punishment: Feeney was convicted of first-degree sexual assault of a child and three counts of attempted sexual assault of a child in 2003. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison in 2004. Feeney was laicized (dismissed from the clerical state) in 2005. He was released early from prison to a halfway house in 2011. In 2013, the Diocese of Green Bay paid a $700,000 settlement to brothers Troy and Todd Merryfield, according to the National Catholic Reporter. Feeney sexually abused the Merryfields when they were boys in the late 1970s at St. Nicholas in Freedom.
Living or dead: A registered lifetime sex offender, Feeney resides at Vianney Renewal Center, a facility that treats sexually abusive priests in Dittmer, Missouri.
Daniel Gilsdorf
Where he served locally: Most Precious Blood in New London, 1960 to 1963.
Substantiated allegations: One, between 1973 and 1989. During that time, he served St. Joseph in Sturgeon Bay and St. Therese in Appleton.
Punishment: He took a leave of absence in 2002 and ordered to “live a life of prayer and penance.”
Living or dead: Died in 2012.
Richard Heymen
Where he served locally: St. Mary Magdalene in Waupaca, 1956.
Substantiated allegations: Multiple allegations between 1958 and 1961 when he served St. Paul in Manitowoc.
Punishment: He was “ordered to live a life of prayer and penance” by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in 2008.
Living or dead: Living.
Philip Hoffmann
Where he served locally: St. Lawrence in Navarino, Sacred Heart in Manawa and St. Rose in Clintonville, all 1964.
Substantiated allegations: Multiple in 1977 to 1978, when he served St. Paul in Manitowoc.
Punishment: Hoffmann was placed on leave in 2002 and “ordered to live a life of prayer and penance” after a canonical process.
Living or dead: Living.
Clarence Leitermann
Where he served locally: St. Patrick in Lebanon, 1960 to 1969.
Substantiated allegations: Multiple allegations in the 1960s during his time at St. Patrick. He also is accused of having abused children in 1947 when he served St. Joan of Arc in Goodman or St. Joseph in Phlox, and during the 1950s when he served St. Joseph in Phlox.
Living or dead: Died in 1995.
Lawrence Loerke
Where he served locally: St. Mary in Greenville, 1945 to 1950.
Substantiated allegations: One in 1950 at St. Mary in Greenville or at Sacred Heart in Shawano, reported after Loerke died.
Living or dead: Died in 1973.
Florian Milbauer
Where he served locally: St. Denis in Shiocton, 1966 to 1969.
Substantiated allegations: One at St. Denis in Shiocton between 1966 and 1969, reported after Milbauer died.
Living or dead: Died in 1969.
Norbert Rank
Where he served locally: Sacred Heart in Manawa, 1942 to 1948.
Substantiated allegations: Multiple allegations in 1950 when he served St. Matthew in Green Bay.
Living or dead: Died in 1983.
Francis Reinke
Where he served locally: St. Patrick in Lebanon, 1988 to 1994.
Substantiated allegations: One in 1962 or 1963 when he served Our Lady of Lourdes in Marinette.
Punishment: He was “ordered to live a life of prayer and penance” by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in 2008.
Living or dead: Died in 2017.
Donald Rose
Where he served locally: St. Patrick in Lebanon, 1972.
Substantiated allegations: One in 1962 when Rose served St. Elizabeth Hospital in Appleton.
Punishment: On leave since 1992 and “ordered to live a life of prayer and penance” after a canonical process.
Living or dead: Living.
Francis Rose
Where he served locally: St. Denis in Shiocton, 1947 to 1957.
Substantiated allegations: One at St. Joseph Orphanage in Green Bay between 1943 and 1944, reported after Rose died.
Living or dead Died in 1983.
Tito Sammut
Where he served locally: Most Precious Blood in New London, 1987 to 2000.
Substantiated allegations: Multiple allegations in the 1960s when he served the Diocese of Amarillo in Texas.
Punishment: He was restricted by the Diocese of Green Bay and moved to Malta after he retired in 2000. Multiple cautions were sent to Malta.
Living or dead: Died in 2017.
Gerald Van Nuland
Where he served locally: St. Denis in Shiocton, 1957 to 1963, St. Anthony in Tigerton and St. Mary in Marion, 1968 to 1981.
Substantiated allegations: Multiple between 1963 and 1970. During that time Van Nuland served St. Denis in Shiocton, Sacred Heart in Shawano and St. Anthony in Niagara, St. Anthony in Tigerton and St. Mary in Marion.
Living or dead: Died in 1990.