Roanake, Virginia -- has confirmed that two of the priests listed in the letter released by the Diocese of Richmond have served in Roanoke-area churches.
Dennis Paul Murphy, Steven R. Rule, Dwight Edward Shrader, James Lee Rizer and Eugene John Teslovic were all named in the release and have ties to Southwest and Central Virginia.
Rule served at St Andrews in Roanoke. Rizer served at Our Lady of Nazareth when it was located in downtown Roanoke.
All of the priests are either dead or have been suspended or removed from the priesthood.
The Catholic Church has released a list with the names of clergy members who have a credible and substantiated claim of sexual abuse against a minor, according to Bishop Barry Knestout, head of the Diocese of Richmond which encompasses Southwest Virginia.
Several of the clergy members on the list are no longer serving and others are deceased.
In a letter to Catholics released Wednesday the Bishop of the Richmond Diocese said the following:
"I express my deep gratitude to the victims and survivors that have come forward and for your patience as we prepared this list," Knestout said.
"As your bishop, I am called to be a good shepherd, attentive to the care and needs of all our people, especially the most vulnerable. Therefore, I asked for an independent and comprehensive review of clergy personnel files, and the files from the Diocesan Safe Environment Office and the Diocesan Review Board."
List of Clergy (Updated February 15, 2019)
Name of Priest Status (2)
Beardsley, Frederick James Suspended/Deceased
Blankenship, John Paul Convicted/Laicized
Bostwick, John Raymond Removed
Butler, John Robert Laicized
Dozier, Carroll T. (1) Deceased
Goff, Richard Bernard Laicized
Goodman, Julian B. Removed
Hesch, John Beaman Deceased
Higgins, Philip J. Removed/Deceased
Leonard, John E. Convicted/Removed/Deceased
Leveille, Roland Edmund Dispensed/Deceased
Majewski, Joseph B. Suspended
McConnell, James Henry (1) Deceased
Murphy, Dennis Paul Suspended
Pham, Joseph Thang Xuan Suspended
Rizer, James Lee(1) Deceased
Rodriquez, Oscar Alexander “Paul” Convicted
Rule, Steven R. Suspended
Shrader, Dwight Edward Laicized/Deceased
Teslovic, Eugene John Removed
Findlay, Harris Markham (1) Deceased
Kamerdze, Paul Jude (1) Deceased
Krafcik, Andrew William Paul Laicized
Munley, John Joseph (1) Deceased
Nudd, Robert Eugene (1) Deceased
Rea, John (1) Deceased
Reinecke, William Thomas (1) Deceased
Ryder, Austin Lewis Deceased
Religious and Priests of Other Dioceses with allegations of abuse that occurred in the Catholic Diocese of Richmond
Name of Priest/ Religious Status (2) Religious, Other Diocese
Bourbon, Francis C., S.J. Deceased Jesuit
Brady, Martin D., T.O.R. Deceased Franciscan
Burkhardt, Gordian, O.S.B. (1) Deceased Benedictine
Earley, Richard R., S.S.J. Deceased Josephite
George, Frederick, O.S.B. Removed Benedictine
George, George Convicted Maronite
Melody, Roland (Owen John), m.s.ss.t Convicted Trinitarian
Philben, Francis M., C.S.Sp. (1) Deceased Holy Ghost
Ryan, Paul David Convicted/ Removed Ballarat, Australia
Smalls, Oliver Joseph Unknown Belize, S. A
Burton, Charles Jeffries, S.J. Removed/Deceased Jesuit
Dyer, Bernardine George, O.P. Dismissed/Deceased Dominican Friar
Fedor, James Laicized Scranton
Ludwig, Augustine, O.S.B. Abandoned Ministry/Deceased Benedictine
Scales, Donald, O.S.B. Deceased Benedictine
(1) – The allegation of abuse was made after the priest’s death.
(2)– A glossary of terms used is included with the Frequently Asked Questions.
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