Hawaii Priests Accused of Abuse
Clergy sexual abuse in Hawaii spans back as far as the 1980s, with as many as 70 alleged abuse cases filed against the Honolulu Diocese alone.
Updates to laws and expanded civil suit options have led to more Hawaii survivors coming forward with numerous accusations of clergy misconduct and priests sexually abusing them when they were minors. The more time progresses, the longer the list of Hawaii priests accused of abuse gets.
Injury Lawyer Team is committed to serving the child sexual abuse victims of Hawaii, whether they’re ready to come forward and report sexual abuse in the Catholic Church or file a lawsuit against church officials.
Hawaii Catholic Diocese Priest Sex Abuse List
| Last Name | First Name | Diocese | Status | Accusations (Summary) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Batoon | Roberto | Diocese of Honolulu HI | Accused | Batoon was an extern priest from the Philippines who was accused of sexual abuse of a minor and was laicized. |
| Avery | Joseph E. | Diocese of Honolulu HI | Sued | Accused in a 2016 lawsuit of sexually abusing a boy at Good Shepherd Parish in Honomu and at St. Joseph’s Parish in Hilo in the 1970s. Died 8/15/1997. |
| III | Joseph Bukoski, | Diocese of Honolulu HI | Settled | Bukoski was placed on leave in 2002 after allegations of sexually abusing a boy in the 1970s while a Sacred Heart brother, and a second accuser also came forward. Two civil suits were filed, and one settled in 2005. |
| Christensen | Robert | Diocese of Honolulu HI | Sued | Christensen allegedly tortured and sexually abused a boy at Damien Memorial High School. |
| Daubert | Francis J. | Diocese of Honolulu HI | Settled | Daubert was accused of raping a 12-year-old altar boy in 1967, and years later of sexual abuse by Rev. Anthony Pascale and Rev. William Queenan at St. Stephen’s Diocesan Seminary in Kaneohe. |
| Otero | Roberto A. de | Diocese of Honolulu HI | Settled | In 1977-1981 de Otero had two parish assignments and sick leave in the Portland OR archdiocese, before being loaned to then excardinated to Honolulu. He was accused of abusing two altar boys and another boy in 1985. |
| Blazek | Eugene E. | Diocese of Honolulu HI | Sued | A man filed a civil suit against Blazek for sexually abusing him as a minor. The suit also mentions abuse of other youngsters. |
| Bouwmeister | Alphonsus | Diocese of Honolulu HI | Sued | Bouwmeister was accused of abuse of an 11-year-old boy in 1961, but the case was dismissed in 2005. |
| Alexander | Marc R. | Diocese of Honolulu HI | Settled | Holding many key positions in the Diocese of Honolulu, including Vicar General, before leaving to accept a position as the Governor’s homeless coordinator. Resigned from the homeless position in 1/2012 after admitting to having a sexual relationship with a woman. |
| Desmond | William | Diocese of Honolulu HI | Sued | Per Attorney Jeff Anderson, Desmond was accused in a 2014 lawsuit of sexually abusing a minor in 1974-1975 while assigned to St. Joseph’s in Hilo. He died in 1985. |
| Duffin | Thomas Gregory | Diocese of Honolulu HI | Settled | The Edmund Rice Christian Brothers, North American Province, agreed to a $16.5M settlement with 400 plaintiffs in 2013 alleging abuse by multiple order priests and brothers. Duffin was one of 10 brothers and two laymen accused of abuse. |
| DeCosta | George | Diocese of Honolulu HI | Settled | Two men filed a lawsuit against DeCosta in 2012, claiming he abused children in the 1960s. He was laicized in 2020, and is now pastor of Hale Lokahi in Hilo and works with teenagers via Music Ministry Alive. |
| Ferrario | Joseph A. | Diocese of Honolulu HI | Sued | A 15 year old boy was abused by a priest in Hawaii. A bishop was appointed, but the case was dismissed due to the statute of limitations. |
| Graff | Donald J. | Diocese of Honolulu HI | Sued | Accused in a lawsuit filed 4/13/2016 of sexually abusing a 13-year-old boy in 1964, while assigned to the Cathedral of Her Lady of Peace. |
| Fisher | Merle Joseph | Diocese of Honolulu HI | Settled | Fisher was accused of sexually abusing a boy, ages 8-11, in the rectory of Holy Cross Parish in Kalaheo, HI, during 1967-1970. |
| Gonsalves | James Ronald | Diocese of Honolulu HI | Convicted | Accused of sexual abuse of a boy for three years, sentenced to one year in prison and 20 years probation. |
| Gielen | Evarist | Diocese of Honolulu HI | Sued | Attorney Jeff Anderson alleges that Gielen sexually abused a minor in the early 1960s. |
| Mannetta | Andrew | Diocese of Honolulu HI | Settled | Assigned to Aiea and Pearl City HI parishes and on Guam. Accused of abuse of two altar boys and a mentally-challenged man, and settled a lawsuit for $375K in 1/2007 just before trial. |
| Martines | Gilbert | Diocese of Honolulu HI | Accused | Marianist aspirant, Province of the Pacific. Not in ministry. Arrested in 1982 at the Center Marianist Community in Honolulu. Left the Order. Included on the Order’s list of accused 6/24/2020. |
| Medvit | John Paul | Diocese of Honolulu HI | Sued | Accused of abusing a freshman boy at Damien Memorial School on Oahu, Medvit was temporarily removed from the school and later returned where he again physically attacked the student. Medvit died in 8/2012. |
| Jackson | James A. | Diocese of Honolulu HI | Sued | Jackson was accused of abusing boys in Hawaii 1948-1992, but no criminal charges were filed. He admitted to abusing boys for over 25 years, and was treated by psychiatrist Robert Browne, who was later found to be a pedophile. |
| Henry | Joseph Michael | Diocese of Honolulu HI | Sued | Fr. Henry was assigned to Bedford MA, Manchuria, Cincinnati OH, Hawaii, and was named pastor of St. Anthony’s in Oahu in 1950. He was accused of sexually abusing children, and was named as an abuser in a 2012 civil suit. |
| Mueth | Edward V. | Diocese of Honolulu HI | Sued | Fr. Joseph Henry was named in a civil suit as an abuser of at least one person at St. Anthony’s Church in Kailua, HI in the 1950s. |
| Niland | Jack | Diocese of Honolulu HI | Sued | Capuchin Franciscan Friar Nilan, who worked on Guam 1976-1999 and Pearl City, HI 1999-2008, was accused of abusing at least 7 minors and convicted by the Vatican in 2018. He died 8/5/2009 in New York. |
| O’Leary | Bartholomew J. | Diocese of Honolulu HI | Sued | O’Leary is accused of sexually abusing a boy at St. Stephen’s Seminary in 1977-1978. Bishop Joseph Ferrario is also accused of abuse. |
| Sabog | Henry B. | Diocese of Honolulu HI | Sued | Accused in a 2005 lawsuit of molesting a 12-year-old girl in 1964, while assigned to Our Lady of Good Counsel. Sabog denied the allegations. Died 5/22/2017. |
| Pascale | Anthony | Diocese of Honolulu HI | Settled | Pascale was accused of sexually abusing a 14-year-old boy. He died in 2003, age 85. |
| Queenan | William J. | Diocese of Honolulu HI | Settled | A man filed a civil suit against Queenan and Ferrario, claiming they abused him at St. Stephen’s Seminary and Damien Memorial High School. Another man received a settlement from the Irish Christian Brothers. |
| Stone | Dominic | Diocese of Honolulu HI | Sued | A man alleged that William Henry Stone molested him for over a year in the 1970s. |
About Clergy Abuse
Clergy sexual abuse occurs when a priest or clergy member misuses their power or influence to sexually abuse or exploit a child or vulnerable adult. Although clergy abuse can happen to anyone, it’s most common in cases of child sexual abuse. Many child sexual abuse survivors take years to come forward.
Many clergy sexual abuse reports also claim that the Catholic Church diocese knew of the abuse occurring but did nothing to stop it or, in some cases, even attempted to cover it up. Mandating reporter laws are often in place to help protect victims. These laws require mandated reporters to report any child abuse or neglect, including child sex abuse by a Catholic priest.
Reporting clergy abuse is important to influence change in the Catholic Church. Sexually abused children and adults in the Catholic Diocese are left with feelings of mistrust, anger, and resentment for many decades. While a new civil suit against credibly accused clergy may not take away the pain and suffering, it can provide justice and help prevent the sexual misconduct from continuing.
Legal Support for Child Sex Abuse Survivors in Hawaii
Both criminal and civil charges may be available in child sex abuse cases. Injury Lawyer Team represents victims and families of child sexual abuse in the church. Our legal team has the expertise and experience necessary when handling sensitive cases involving Hawaii religious organizations accused of child sex abuse.
What Laws Govern Priest Abuse Lawsuits in Hawaii
Hawaii, alongside many other states, has enacted various laws to help protect children from sexual assault, including child sex abuse at the hands of church officials. Laws are in place detailing how long child sex abuse victims have to file a civil lawsuit against accused priests. There are also laws that require certain professionals to report sexual abuse.
The Statute of Limitations
Hawaiian child sex abuse victims have until their 26th birthday to file a civil lawsuit against an abuser. A three-year statute of limitations is also available to survivors, which starts on the date of discovery of a sexual abuse-related injury.
In some cases, clergy sexual abuse victims may also have legal options available against clergy members who knew of or attempted to cover up the child sex abuse to protect the Catholic priest. Victims have until their 20th birthday to file a civil suit in these cases.
Also known as a discovery rule, Hawaii law allows an additional two years beyond this time limit to create a civil lawsuit against the religious organization or institution for ignoring or covering up credibly accused cases of sexual misconduct or abuse.
Mandated Reporters
In Hawaii, mandated reporter laws specify that certain professionals are required to report abuse or neglect as soon as they think it’s happened. However, they must also file a report if they think it is likely to happen in the future. For example, if a mandated reporter thinks child sex abuse or sexual assault is going to happen, it must be reported. They are required to file a written report within 24 hours of contacting officials.
Clergy Members and Confidential Communication
Clergy members are also required to report abuse and neglect, including sexual assault, unless they learn of it during confidential communication, such as during a religious rite or confession. They must also file a report against other clergy members if they suspect abuse, such as allegations against accused priests.
Filing an Abuse Against Accused Priests and Clergy Members Lawsuit in Hawaii
A civil suit filed allows a survivor to allege abuse against their abuser, helping to serve justice and hold the responsible parties accountable. Here is what you can expect when filing a clergy sexual abuse lawsuit in Hawaii:
- Schedule a Complimentary Consultation – A complimentary, confidential consultation lets Hawaii victims learn more about their legal options. We’ll discuss when the abuse happened, what filing a civil lawsuit against Hawaii priests looks like, and how being sexually assaulted has impacted your life.
- Collect Evidence and Build a Case – If you decide to file a lawsuit, our legal team will build your case through evidence collection. Our team works hard to build a strong case, including witness reports, previous accusations from other victims of sexually abusing minors, and diocese records. This can also include reports of filing criminal charges.
- Explore Settlement Options – Catholic Church dioceses commonly settle lawsuits against accused clergy, usually to shield the church’s reputation. However, not every settlement offer covers the damages incurred through clergy abuse, especially in cases of repeated abuse.
- Prepare for Trial – In certain cases, it may make more sense to prepare for trial and share your story with a jury.
Support Resources for Child Sexual Abuse Survivors in Hawaii
Victims of clergy sexual abuse may experience long-lasting psychological consequences. Support services are available in Hawaii to help victims overcome some of these consequences and begin the healing process, including the following:
- Child & Family Service: The Child & Family Service organization connects Hawaii survivors to sexual abuse resources, including 24-hour hotline numbers based on county.
- Sex Abuse Treatment Center of Hawai’i: The Sex Abuse Treatment Center helps women and children who have been sexually assaulted.
- Roman Catholic Church in the State of Hawaii: Honolulu Diocese: The Roman Catholic Church of Hawaii offers victims tools for reporting sexual abuse and misconduct.
- The Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests (SNAP): The SNAP network offers resources to those who were sexually or physically attacked by a priest or religious clergy members.
Emotional support is crucial when overcoming abuse in the church. Legal support can also help survivors collect the compensation they need to access additional important recovery resources.
Notable Cases and Outcomes in Hawaii
The majority of child sex abuse lawsuits against the Honolulu Diocese were filed in the early 2010s when survivors started coming forward with credible accusations against priests and church officials.
Among these, most reports claimed abuse occurred at two locations, the Damien Memorial School and Saint Anthony’s Church in Kailua, Hawaii. The Catholic dioceses settled many of these cases outside of court, some for undisclosed amounts.
However, it’s estimated that Hawaii diocese officials have paid millions of dollars in settlements. While the details of each credibly accused clergy member differ, in each, the lawsuit alleged sexual abuse.
Why Choose Injury Lawyer Team
The attorneys at Injury Lawyer Team have reviewed public and private settlement data related to Hawaii clergy abuse settlements. Depending on the details of your case, these cases may be fairly valued in the $400,000 to $950,000 range. In cases of extreme conduct or if a case were to go before a jury, damages could exceed $1 million.
Injury Lawyer Team aims to help Hawaii victims overcome the impacts of sexual abuse in the clergy. You put your trust in the priest and clergy members; when they break that trust, they deserve to be held accountable.
Our legal team has a proven track record of helping survivors of sexual abuse come forward to share their stories. Reporting and filing a civil lawsuit against your abuser or the clergy members who covered it up is incredibly brave, and our sexual abuse lawyers are here with years of experience to guide you every step of the way.
Whether the abuse allegedly occurred a few months ago or a few decades ago, we encourage you to set up a complimentary, confidential consultation with our legal team. Contact us today.
All content undergoes thorough legal review by experienced attorneys, including Jonathan Rosenfeld. With 25 years of experience in personal injury law and over 100 years of combined legal expertise within our team, we ensure that every article is legally accurate, compliant, and reflects current legal standards.