Oregon Priests Accused of Abuse

The Catholic Diocese in Oregon has a troubling history of clergy sexual abuse, leaving numerous victims in its wake. Recently, legal and community efforts have proactively addressed child sexual abuse issues, sought justice for survivors, and held the perpetrators accountable. Still, there is a lot of work to be done, which is where Injury Lawyer Team come in.

Injury Lawyer Team is a team of passionate clergy abuse attorneys who excel in handling sensitive cases, such as those involving child sexual abuse. We aim to provide the essential legal support needed to help survivors obtain justice and proper compensation.

Oregon Catholic Diocese Priest Sex Abuse List

Archdiocese of Portland OR

William Norbert Bischoff

• Accused
  

The Society of Jesus, Oregon Province, publicly identified Bischoff on its website among members named as perpetrators of sexual abuse in proofs of claim filed during the archdiocesan bankruptcy proceedings. His inclusion applied to individuals who had not denied the allegations. The disclosure reflected claims submitted through the legal process rather than new ecclesiastical findings.

Henri Arata

• Sued
  

A civil lawsuit alleged that Arata sexually molested a boy between 1967 and 1970 while assigned to Immaculate Conception Parish. The claim entered the public record through litigation, placing the alleged abuse within the period of his parish assignment. No criminal conviction was reported in connection with the lawsuit.

Joseph A. Baccellieri

• Sued
  

Placed on leave in 1992, Baccellieri was sent to rehabilitation and later reassigned to several parishes before retiring in 2002. That same year, he was removed from active ministry after two men filed civil lawsuits alleging sexual abuse during the 1970s. The allegations were addressed through civil proceedings.

Arnold R. Beezer

• Accused
  

Beezer was publicly named as credibly accused on December 7, 2018, when the Jesuits West Province released a list identifying clergy accused of abusing minors. The allegations involved misconduct in the 1970s. He was removed from ministry, placed under a safety plan, and later died in 2020.

Edward D. Altstock

• Settled
  

A civil lawsuit filed in September 2011 alleged that Altstock groomed, seduced, and sexually abused a girl on at least a dozen occasions between the ages of 14 and 18, beginning in 1985. The allegations were resolved through settlement, concluding the civil action.

Cathal Brennan

• Sued
  

Ordained for the Archdiocese of Portland and originally from Ireland, Brennan was named in a 2018 civil lawsuit alleging sexual abuse of an altar boy between 1993 and 1996 at Holy Cross Parish. Deacon James Creel was also named in the suit. Brennan had died on January 19, 2013, in Ireland.

Melvin Bucher

• Settled
  

Bucher was accused of sexual abuse occurring in the early 1970s. The Archdiocese stated that he was on a leave of absence at the time and therefore not under its supervision. A civil case was resolved in January 2001 through a settlement totaling $512,500.

Vincent Cao

• Accused
  

Vincent Cao Dang Minh, a priest from Vietnam, was accused of raping a woman in 1983 and molesting two young girls during the 1980s. He was sent for treatment following the allegations and later transferred to a Redemptorist care facility in Missouri.

Louis Charvet

• Settled
  

A monk of Mount Angel Abbey, Charvet was accused by at least fifteen individuals of sexually abusing them as children from the late 1950s through the early 1970s. He died in 2007. One related civil case was scheduled to proceed to trial in 2010 before resolution.

Emanuel W. Clark

• Sued
  

Clark was accused of sexually abusing a male student at Mount Angel Abbey Seminary High School in 1975. The allegation entered the public record through civil litigation. Clark died in 1992, prior to resolution of the claim through court proceedings.

Thomas J. Bunnell

• Accused
  

Bunnell was publicly named as credibly accused by the Jesuits West Province in 2022. Following the disclosure, he was removed from ministry and placed under a safety plan. The action reflected the order’s acknowledgment of abuse allegations involving a minor.

Thomas E. Connolly

• Accused
  

Connolly spent much of his clerical career serving Native American communities. He retired in 2010 to the Regis Jesuit Community at Gonzaga University in Spokane. His name has appeared on multiple public listings identifying perpetrators of sexual abuse, and he later resided in Los Gatos, California.

Pius Brazauskas

• Settled
  

A Lithuanian priest who arrived in the United States in the 1940s, Brazauskas served at Holy Redeemer Parish and St. Catherine’s Residence Nursing Home. Known locally as “Dr. Bubblegum,” he was accused of sexually abusing children in the 1980s. A civil lawsuit was settled in July 2019 for $4 million.

Francis W. Callan

• Accused
  

Callan served in numerous dioceses across the United States, including San Francisco, Spokane, Great Falls, Boise City, Baker, Seattle, Gallup, Tucson, and Portland. His name appears on the Jesuits West Province list of credibly accused priests, reflecting allegations of sexual abuse during his ministry.

James Creel

• Convicted
  

Creel, a deacon, was accused of sexually abusing a boy at Holy Cross Parish. Criminal proceedings resulted in conviction related to the abuse. His case was connected to broader litigation involving abuse allegations at the parish.

Gerald Dezurick

• Settled
  

In 2005, a man filed a civil lawsuit alleging that Dezurick sexually molested him as a boy. The suit further alleged that Dezurick persuaded the victim’s parents to commit the boy to a mental institution in an attempt to address perceived homosexuality. The case was resolved through settlement.

Martin W. Doherty

• Sued
  

A civil lawsuit alleged that Doherty sexually abused multiple boys in 1956 while serving at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Gervais. The claim entered the public record through litigation, addressing abuse alleged to have occurred during his parish assignment.

Martin Mark Donnelly

• Sued
  

Also known as Mark M. and Martin William Donnelly, he was accused of molesting two young sisters in Portland during the early 1950s. Both alleged victims filed a civil lawsuit in Multnomah County Circuit Court. His clerical status as of November 2006 was reported as unknown.

Francis Duffy

• Settled
  

Duffy was accused of sexually abusing sisters in 1967 and 1968 at St. Luke’s Parish in Woodburn. The allegations were settled in 2003. He was later named in a lawsuit against the Jesuits in 2007, which settled in 2008, and reached another settlement with Yakima, Washington, in 2012.

Donald A. Durand

• Settled
  

A lawsuit filed in 2004 alleged that Durand sexually molested a boy and three friends during the early 1970s. Additional allegations later emerged from more than a dozen men claiming abuse spanning from the 1960s through the 1990s. The claims were resolved through settlement.

Father Davis

• Settled
  

In 2001, the Archdiocese of Portland paid $550,000 to settle a single abuse claim involving Davis. Public reporting in 2006 confirmed the settlement. No additional details regarding the timing of the alleged abuse, victim identity, or subsequent clerical status were released.

Mary Eucharistica

• Settled
  

A civil lawsuit filed in February 2007 alleged abuse by Mother Mary Eucharistica and Mother Mary Freddrick. The claim was brought against the religious order rather than individual criminal charges. The matter was resolved through settlement.

Father Hansen

• Settled
  

In 1999, the Archdiocese of Portland paid a $22,500 settlement to resolve a claim of sexual abuse involving Hansen. Public disclosures did not identify the timing of the alleged abuse, the victim, or Hansen’s subsequent clerical status following the settlement.

Francis John Ford

• Settled
  

Allegations involved sexual abuse of a boy connected to ministry in both the Archdiocese of Portland and the Diocese of Santa Rosa. Ford died in 1984. His name was later included on diocesan disclosure lists released by Santa Rosa in 2019 and by Oakland in 2019, reflecting acknowledgment of historical abuse claims across multiple jurisdictions.

Jeanne Clare Frolick

• Sued
  

A female accuser filed a civil lawsuit alleging sexual abuse by Frolick. The claim did not specify the date or location of the alleged abuse. The matter entered the public record through litigation, with no criminal conviction reported in connection with the allegation.

Clement Frank

• Sued
  

In 2002, a man filed a civil lawsuit against the Archdiocese of Portland alleging that Frank raped him when he was seven years old. The case proceeded through the courts and was dismissed in 2008, ending the civil action without a judgment on the merits.

Mary Freddrick

• Settled
  

A woman filed a civil lawsuit alleging abuse by Mother Mary Freddrick and Mother Mary Eucharistica occurring between 1958 and 1962. The claim was brought against the religious order rather than as a criminal case. The matter was resolved through settlement, concluding the civil proceedings.

Massimo Ghilardi

• Accused
  

An allegation emerged when a man wrote from prison to a priest at a church in Bandon, Oregon, stating that Ghilardi had molested him at approximately age twelve. The priest notified the Archdiocese of Portland. Ghilardi died in 1985, prior to any formal adjudication.

Juan Jose Gonzalez Rios

• Acquitted
  

Originally from Jalisco, Mexico, Rios was dismissed from Mount Angel Seminary in 2003. In 2008, he was arrested on charges related to encouraging child sexual abuse. The criminal charges were later dropped, and no conviction resulted from the arrest.

John Maloy Goodrich

• Settled
  

A man alleged that Goodrich fondled, kissed, and bit him on church premises over a period spanning 1974 to 1988. Goodrich died in 1995. The allegations were later addressed through a civil settlement, placing the claims into the public record.

Erasto Guzman-Chavez

• Accused
  

A visiting priest, Guzman-Chavez was accused of molesting several pre-teen and teenage girls. Despite the allegations, he was permitted to continue Spanish-language ministry. The disclosure acknowledged the accusations without reference to criminal proceedings or removal from clerical duties.

Maurice R. Grammond

• Settled
  

Accusations involved sexual abuse of a boy beginning in the late 1960s or early 1970s. Grammond was removed from ministry in 1985, placed on sick leave in 1986, retired in 1988, and died in 2002. By April 2007, four individuals had brought 54 claims. Civil litigation resulted in settlements totaling nearly $40 million, with additional suits filed in 2017 and one later dismissed on statute-of-limitations grounds.

Lawrence M. Halsey

• Sued
  

Known as Brother Halsey, he was accused of molesting a teenage girl while associated with Marist High School in Eugene, Oregon. The allegation entered the public record through civil litigation. No criminal conviction was reported in connection with the claim.

William Hamilton

• Settled
  

In 2003, the Archdiocese of Portland resolved a sexual abuse claim involving Hamilton through a settlement totaling $675,000. Public disclosures did not provide additional details regarding the timing, location, or nature of the alleged abuse.

Rayner Harrington

• Accused
  

A Franciscan friar, Harrington was publicly identified as accused by the Santa Barbara Province in 1966. The disclosure cited recent sexual abuse of minors. The acknowledgment placed the allegations into the public record during his period of religious service.

James M. Harris

• Sued
  

Harris was accused of sexually abusing three children from the same family, ages five to fourteen, beginning in 1968. He was identified as the brother of Bernard M. Harris, who was also alleged to have abused the same children. The claims proceeded through civil litigation.

James P. Hurley

• Accused
  

Hurley was included on a list published by the Society of Jesus, Oregon Province, identifying members recognized as perpetrators of sexual abuse. His inclusion resulted from agreements tied to reorganization and bankruptcy proceedings requiring public disclosure of abuse claims.

Gary Jacobson

• Sued
  

Allegations asserted that Jacobson engaged in sexual abuse during the 1980s and 1990s. Three alleged victims filed civil lawsuits. Church authorities reportedly cautioned him regarding inappropriate behavior with children. The claims were addressed through civil litigation.

Jose Jaime

• Sued
  

A civil lawsuit filed in federal court named Jaime as the abuser of one individual. The alleged abuse occurred while he was a seminarian at Mount Angel Abbey. He was identified in court records as a former Benedictine priest, and the matter proceeded through civil litigation.

John E. Larkin

• Sued
  

In 2004, a man filed a civil lawsuit alleging that Larkin sexually abused him at age twelve during a single incident at St. Luke’s Parish in Woodburn. Larkin died on August 1, 1995, prior to the filing of the suit.

Kenneth Jacques

• Sued
  

Jacques was accused of sexually abusing a sixteen-year-old boy in 1968 and a second boy during the same year. In 2002, three additional men filed civil lawsuits alleging abuse. The allegations entered the public record through multiple legal actions.

William Karath

• Settled
  

A man alleged that Karath engaged in sexually inappropriate behavior toward him during childhood while Karath was assigned to Holy Trinity Parish in Bandon. The allegation was resolved through settlement, concluding the civil claim.

Patrick Kiernan

• Sued
  

Kiernan was accused of sexually abusing a girl on at least seventy occasions over a period of two to three years. The allegations were brought forward through civil litigation, placing the claims into the public record.

James McCarthy

• Accused
  

A woman alleged that McCarthy fondled her at least once in 1950 or 1951 when she was a very young child. The accusation entered the public record through later disclosure of historical abuse claims connected to his ministry.

Thomas B. Laughlin

• Convicted
  

Laughlin was accused of sexually abusing between 20 and 40 boys over a period spanning 1967 to 1996. In 2004, ten men filed separate civil lawsuits alleging abuse. One additional claim filed in 2007 was later identified as false. Laughlin died on March 1, 2013, in Omaha, Nebraska, after the allegations had entered extensive civil litigation.

Gerald McCray

• Settled
  

At least one complaint alleging sexual abuse was reported to the Archdiocese of Portland during the period between 1986 and 1995. The matter was addressed through civil proceedings and resolved by settlement. Public disclosures did not provide details regarding the victim, location, or specific timeframe of the alleged misconduct.

John MacNaughton

• Sued
  

A civil lawsuit was filed against MacNaughton in 2004 alleging sexual abuse. The claim proceeded through the court system. MacNaughton died by suicide in 2005, after the litigation had been initiated but before resolution through trial or settlement.

Archibald M. McDowell

• Settled
  

McDowell taught at the University of Portland from 1949 to 1959. He was accused of molesting an 11-year-old boy in 1956. In response to the allegation, he was permanently removed from ministry in 1962. McDowell died in 1994, and the abuse claim was later resolved through settlement.

Louis F. McKean

• Settled
  

McKean was accused of sexually abusing a minor during the years 1972 and 1973. A civil claim arising from the allegation was resolved in 2003 through a settlement totaling $750,000. No criminal conviction was reported in connection with the claim.

J. William McLeod

• Settled
  

A civil lawsuit filed in 2001 alleged that McLeod molested the plaintiff approximately 50 times between 1938 and 1941. The case was settled in 2002. A second individual also alleged abuse but did not pursue litigation. The claims addressed abuse dating to McLeod’s early period of ministry.

Robert Michele

• Sued
  

Michele was accused of sexually assaulting a girl in 1964 and again in 1972 and 1973 while assigned to St. Philip Neri Parish in Portland, Oregon. Civil litigation brought the allegations into the public record. In 2018 and 2019, he was prohibited from ministering as a priest.

Aloysius A. O’Doherty

• Sued
  

A civil lawsuit filed in 2002 alleged that O’Doherty sexually abused an 11-year-old girl in 1950. His clerical history included work alongside other clergy during that era. The allegation proceeded through civil litigation, placing the claim into the public record decades after the alleged abuse.

James P. McSorley

• Settled
  

McSorley spent approximately fifteen years as a missionary in the Philippines before moving frequently between assignments. Allegations of sexual abuse dated to the 1960s and resurfaced again in 2002. In 2003, a civil claim connected to the allegations was resolved through a settlement totaling $100,000, concluding the matter through civil proceedings.

William T. Nash

• Accused
  

Nash was included on a list published by the Society of Jesus, Oregon Province, identifying members recognized as perpetrators of sexual abuse. The disclosure provided no additional details regarding dates, locations, or victims. His inclusion reflected claims acknowledged through the order’s public reporting process.

J. Michael Morrissey

• Sued
  

Identified in civil litigation under the name Fr. Andrew Mannetta, he was accused of sexually abusing an altar boy in the early 1980s while assigned to Santa Teresita Parish in Mangilao, Guam. The allegation entered the public record through a lawsuit addressing abuse during that period.

James Patrick O’Flynn

• Accused
  

Also known as J.P. or James P., O’Flynn’s first clerical assignment dated to 1910. He was accused of molesting a girl more than one hundred times between 1962 and 1970, beginning when she was ten years old, while serving at Blessed Sacrament Parish in Portland. O’Flynn died on January 23, 1980.

Aldo Carlo Orso-Manzonetta

• Settled
  

Orso-Manzonetta was accused of sexually abusing four altar boys between 1958 and 1974. The Archdiocese of Portland resolved seven related civil claims by paying more than $1.6 million in settlements. The agreements concluded litigation arising from the multiple allegations.

Michael T. Patrick

• Convicted
  

Originally from Sri Lanka, Patrick served as pastor of St. Wenceslaus Parish in Scappoose, Oregon. He was charged with attempted luring of a fourteen-year-old girl and denied the allegations. Patrick was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport upon returning from a visit to Australia and later received a criminal sentence following prosecution.

Sylvester D. Penna

• Accused
  

Penna’s name appeared on a list published by the Society of Jesus, Oregon Province, following its 2011 reorganization. The list identified members recognized as perpetrators of sexual abuse. His inclusion reflected acknowledgment of allegations through the order’s disclosure process.

Patrick Joseph O’Reilly

• Accused
  

O’Reilly was included on a list released by the Society of Jesus, Oregon Province, identifying members determined to be perpetrators of sexual abuse. The disclosure was part of an agreement to publicly identify individuals connected to substantiated abuse claims.

Angel Armando Perez

• Convicted
  

A twelve-year-old boy reported that Perez touched him inappropriately and photographed him. Perez was charged with first-degree sexual abuse. Criminal proceedings resulted in conviction, and he received a sentence of seventy-five months in prison.

Rocco Francis Perone

• Settled
  

Perone was accused of molesting more than a dozen boys in Oregon between 1951 and 1956, another boy in Casper, Wyoming, in 1956, and a boy in Austin, Texas, during service there from 1957 to 1988. He died on May 5, 1992. Civil claims connected to the allegations were resolved through settlement.

M. Price

• Sued
  

Identified as Sister Theresa Joseph, Price was accused in a civil lawsuit filed in May 2004 of engaging in severe sexual conduct with a six-year-old boy between fifteen and twenty-five times during 1972 and 1973. She died on September 19, 2008. The allegation proceeded through civil litigation.

Leonard E. Plocinski

• Sued
  

A federal civil lawsuit filed in May 2010 alleged that Plocinski groomed and raped the plaintiff during the 1970s. The claim entered the public record through federal court proceedings addressing abuse during that period.

Michael J. Raleigh

• Sued
  

Also known as Edmund Raleigh or Friar Raleigh, he was accused of abusing a boy in 1956 at St. John the Apostle Parish in Oregon City. Four men later filed civil lawsuits alleging forced sexual acts committed against them as children or young teenagers during the 1950s. The allegations were addressed through civil litigation.

Louis G. Rodakowski

• Settled
  

A woman accused Rodakowski of sexually abusing her during childhood. He denied the abuse but admitted to improper touching. Following the allegation, he was placed on leave and later retired in 1977. The civil claim was resolved through settlement.

Michael J. Raleigh

• Accused
  

In a separate disclosure, Raleigh was accused of abusing a boy beginning in 1956 when the boy was approximately twelve or thirteen years old at St. John the Apostle Parish in Oregon City. He held numerous parish assignments and served as a dean and tribunal judge. Raleigh died on April 12, 1979.

Claude Riffel

• Sued
  

A civil lawsuit filed in 2009 alleged that Riffel sexually abused youth while serving as dean of discipline at St. Francis Minor Seminary in Troutdale, Oregon. Additional allegations involved abuse of youth in Santa Barbara, California. The claims proceeded through civil litigation.

Remy Rudin

• Sued
  

Also known as William Louis Rudin, he was accused of sexually abusing minors at the MacLaren Youth Correctional Facility in Oregon. Rudin died in 1991. The allegations were later pursued through civil court proceedings.

Edmund K. Ryan

• Accused
  

Ryan was accused of sexually abusing a high school boy in Eugene, Oregon. He was removed from public ministry in 2003 following the allegation. Ryan died in 2020, with the accusation publicly acknowledged prior to his death.

Robert Ryan

• Settled
  

Ryan was accused of sexually abusing a boy between 1975 and 1977 at Marist High School in Eugene, Oregon, and at St. Mary’s College Preparatory School in Manhasset, New York. Additional students also accused him of abuse. Settlements were paid in 1993 and 2006, though later lawsuits alleged fraud in connection with those agreements.

John Schwartz

• Settled
  

Schwartz was accused of sexually abusing a student at Jesuit High School in Portland during the 1986 to 1987 school year. He took a voluntary leave of absence and later returned to active ministry in 2005. The abuse claim was resolved through settlement.

Vincent P. Scott

• Accused
  

Scott’s name appeared on a list dated July 18, 2011, published by the Society of Jesus, Oregon Province, identifying members who had not denied allegations of sexual abuse. The disclosure reflected acknowledgment of claims through the order’s reporting process.

Martin Richard Senko

• Accused
  

A woman reported to archdiocesan officials that Senko sexually abused her between 1965 and 1969 while she was a student at North Catholic High School. In March 1993, Senko resigned as pastor of St. Peter’s Parish in Portland and was sent for treatment following the allegation.

Genevieve Marie

• Sued
  

A man and a woman, both aged sixty, accused Sister Genevieve Marie of physical and mental cruelty. The claims were brought through civil litigation addressing conduct alleged to have occurred during their youth.

Mary Luke

• Sued
  

Luke was accused of molesting a ten-year-old boy at St. Mary’s Home for Boys. She denied the allegations, and her religious order stated it did not find the claims credible. The matter proceeded through civil court filings.

Patricia Mary Anne

• Sued
  

A man born in 1955 alleged that a nun sexually abused him as many as one hundred times over a two-year period. The accusation entered the public record through civil litigation addressing repeated abuse during childhood.

Jocelyn St. Arnaud

• Sued
  

St. Arnaud was accused of sexually abusing three men during the 1970s. After being transferred to another parish, he was alleged to have abused two additional men. The claims were pursued through civil lawsuits.

Michael Sprauer

• Settled
  

Sprauer was accused of sexually abusing as many as twenty teenage boys at the MacLaren Youth Correctional Facility between 1972 and 1975. He was found liable for abuse of two of three plaintiffs, who were awarded $1.4 million in damages. The remaining claims were resolved through settlement.

Theodore J. St. Hilaire

• Accused
  

St. Hilaire was identified by the Society of Jesus, Oregon Province, as a member connected to sexual abuse allegations and included on its publicly released list of perpetrators. The disclosure formed part of the province’s reporting of individuals named in abuse-related claims. No additional details regarding dates, locations, or victims were provided alongside his inclusion on the list.

Anthony Smith

• Sued
  

In 2003, a man filed a civil lawsuit alleging that Smith sexually abused him during the mid-1980s at Holy Redeemer Church in Portland. Smith was immediately placed on leave following the allegation. His personnel file reflected prior concerns involving interactions with young boys. The claim proceeded through civil litigation.

Philip Steigerwald

• Settled
  

A civil lawsuit filed in 2002 alleged that Steigerwald sexually abused the plaintiff during a lengthy trip in 1978. The Archdiocese of Portland resolved the claim through a settlement in 2003, paying $450,000. The settlement concluded the civil action related to the alleged abuse.

Gregory Sullivan

• Sued
  

A man filed a civil lawsuit in 2004 alleging that Sullivan sexually abused him at approximately age fifteen in 1981 while Sullivan was assigned to St. Peter’s Parish in Portland. Sullivan served as a priest in the Archdiocese of Portland from 1979 to 1984. The allegation entered the public record through civil proceedings.

Michael Susbauer

• Accused
  

Susbauer left ministry in 1971. He was later accused of sexually molesting a minor during 1968 or 1969. The allegation concerned conduct occurring shortly before his departure from active ministry and was publicly acknowledged through archdiocesan disclosure.

John R. Thatcher

• Accused
  

Thatcher was accused of showing pornographic material to a six-year-old boy and sexually abusing him in 1963. The allegation involved conduct toward a minor during Thatcher’s period of ministry and was later disclosed as part of abuse reporting within the Archdiocese of Portland.

Emmerich Vogt

• Reinstated
  

A Dominican priest, Vogt was accused of sexually abusing a ten-year-old altar boy. The allegation was later withdrawn after the boy’s brothers testified that no abuse had occurred. Following review, Vogt was returned to ministry in late May 2017, restoring his clerical faculties.

Martin H. Thielen

• Settled
  

Thielen was accused of molesting a boy during the late 1950s and early 1960s. He retired from ministry in 1995. The Archdiocese of Portland resolved three related civil cases through settlements totaling $1.8 million, concluding litigation connected to the historical allegations.

Carl Wachter

• Settled
  

Two sisters filed a civil lawsuit alleging that Wachter sexually abused them while they were students at Christie School. The Archdiocese of Portland settled the claims by paying $440,000. The settlement resolved the civil action arising from the allegations.

Cosmas White

• Settled
  

Prior to July 2002, a man filed a civil lawsuit alleging that White sexually abused him during the 1964–1965 school year at Mount Angel Seminary Prep School. White retired without ministerial privileges after the suit was filed. The claim was settled for a nominal amount approximately two months later. A review board found no evidence supporting the allegation, and by September 2004 he was cleared and permitted to resume public ministry. White died on April 27, 2017.

Diocese of Baker OR

Harold H. Ernsdorff

• Accused
  

Ernsdorff was included on a list posted by the Society of Jesus, Oregon Province, identifying members connected to sexual abuse allegations under its reorganization plan dated July 18, 2011. Claims raised in 2009 alleged sexual abuse of a minor between 1949 and 1951 while he was assigned to St. Andrew’s Mission in Pendleton, Oregon. He worked in the San Francisco, Seattle, and Baker dioceses, died on August 21, 1958, and was later included on the Jesuits West Province list released December 7, 2018.

Jose Joaquin Estrada Arango

• Convicted
  

Estrada, a priest from Colombia, was arrested in Morrow County, Oregon, after allegations that he sexually abused a fourteen-year-old girl. He pleaded guilty in 2003, resolving the criminal case through conviction. Following the plea, he was deported to Colombia. Prior to the offense, he had served in the Diocese of Yakima and was transferred to the Diocese of Baker in February 2003, shortly before the criminal proceedings concluded.

Joseph B. Hayes

• Sued
  

In October 2002, a man filed a civil lawsuit alleging that Hayes sexually abused him for approximately three years, beginning in 1980 when the complainant was ten years old and Hayes was assigned to Sacred Heart Parish. Hayes died in 1995, prior to the filing of the civil action, which nonetheless proceeded to public disclosure.

David Hazen

• Settled
  

One civil suit alleging sexual abuse by Hazen was settled in 1997 for a small sum. In December 2001, eighteen additional individuals joined a separate lawsuit alleging abuse occurring in the late 1950s and again in the late 1970s. The claims were resolved through civil settlement, concluding litigation involving multiple accusers.

Ronald James Anthony Warren

• Sued
  

In 2004, three accusers filed a civil lawsuit naming Friar Anthony James Warren as an abuser while assigned within the Archdiocese of Portland. The allegations led to his forced retirement from ministry. A settlement had been reached with one claimant when archdiocesan bankruptcy proceedings intervened, affecting resolution of the remaining claims.

About Clergy Sexual Abuse in Oregon

Clergy sexual abuse involves sexually inappropriate behavior or exploitation committed by clergy members, including priests and church officials. Such abuse can cause severe physical and emotional trauma, affecting victims for the rest of their lives.

Reporting clergy sexual abuse and taking strict legal action, such as filing a sex abuse claim, is crucial for addressing these injustices. In Oregon, robust laws against sexually explicit conduct enable survivors of clergy and child sex abuse to file civil suits in court. These laws help hold those credibly accused and their institutions accountable, ensuring justice and support for the victims.

Legal Support for Sexually Abused Survivors in Oregon

Injury Lawyer Team is a team of dedicated professionals providing legal support to survivors of clergy sexual crimes in Oregon. With a solid commitment to fairness and extensive expertise, we offer comprehensive services to secure justice and compensation for those affected by the Church’s actions.

Our approach ensures that sex abuse survivors receive the necessary legal assistance to hold perpetrators accountable and address the impact of the abuse.

Know that with extensive experience, our team is well-versed in the complexities of filing civil suits in federal court against clergy members involved in severe sexual conduct. We have experience dealing with sexual abuse allegations, clergy members encouraging child sex abuse, and the comprehensive legal process.

What Laws Govern Priest Abuse Lawsuits in Oregon?

In Oregon, the laws and regulations to protect survivors of sexual abuse are designed to provide guidelines, such as when a sex abuse claim can be filed. Laws require offenders to register with a sex abuse list known as a registry to keep others informed. There are also mandatory reporting laws that require individuals to report suspected child sex abuse.

Statute of Limitations

Oregon practices one law for cases that occurred before June 2025. As per the state’s law, the survivor of sexual abuse can file a claim within 12 years after the abuse allegedly occurred or was reported to the authorities. If the victim is under 18 years of age, they have the right to file a sex abuse claim against the accused before they turn 30.

New legislation eliminates the civil statute of limitations for sex abuse claims that happened after June 2025, meaning a person can file whenever they are ready.

Mandatory Reporting Laws

Clergy members are required by law to report any reasonable suspicion of child abuse, including sexual abuse, to the Department of Human Services or law enforcement. Failure to report can result in criminal charges against the clergy member.

Age of Consent

The age of consent in Oregon is 18. There is a Romeo and Juliet defense that states if the youngest person involved is at least 15, and the other person is not more than 3 years older than them, and the only reason consent is not given is due to age, then the older person may be able to get out of criminal charges, provided they can prove consent.

However, this doesn’t apply to most clergy sexual abuse cases. In these situations, the clergy member is typically in a position of power, further leading to an inability to give consent. A professional lawyer can help you learn more about how Oregon’s age of consent laws impact your case.

Filing a Clergy Child Sex Abuse Lawsuit in Oregon

The procedure for initiating criminal lawsuits filed against an alleged abuse in Oregon involves:

• Initial Consultation: Schedule a confidential consultation with Injury Lawyer Team to discuss your case and explore your legal options.
• Evidence Collection: Connect with our team of professional lawyers to gather all relevant evidence to strengthen the standing of the civil suit. The evidence often includes personal accounts, medical records, and any records of communications that occurred at the time of the offense.
• Complaint Filing: After all the evidence is collected, our attorneys will prepare and file a civil suit with the court, detailing the allegations of sexual abuse and the damages being sought.
• Discovery Phase: Both sides exchange evidence and information through depositions, interrogatories, and document requests.
• Negotiation and Settlement: Settlement discussions aim to achieve a fair resolution outside of court. If a settlement is unlikely, the suit proceeds to trial.
• Trial: This is the stage where both the accused and the victim, through their lawyers, present evidence and arguments before a judge or jury.

Are you a survivor of sex abuse in Oregon? Contact Injury Lawyer Team today for a confidential consultation. Our experienced legal team is ready to help you seek justice.

Support Resources for Survivors in Oregon

Accessing both legal and emotional support is essential for a holistic recovery. These resources are tailored to offer sexually abused individuals the help they need to navigate their healing process effectively.

• Oregon Coalition Against Domestic & Sexual Violence (OCADSV) – Offers immediate crisis intervention, therapeutic counseling, and advocacy to support survivors of sexual violence. Visit their website to learn more about their services.
• Rape Crisis Centers – These centers, scattered across Oregon, provide confidential counseling, support groups, and legal guidance tailored to survivors’ needs.
• National Sexual Assault Hotline – Contact 24/7 at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) for immediate assistance and connection to local resources and support networks.

Notable Cases and Outcomes of Alleged Abuse in the Catholic Church in Oregon

Oregon Province has witnessed recent sex abuse cases within the Roman Catholic Church, resulting in significant legal and social outcomes.

A prominent case surfaced where a man filed suit alleging abuse by Catholic priests Fr. Martin W. Doherty and Edmund Raleigh at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, which highlighted systemic issues within the diocese.

A similar case, allegedly including oral abuse, was reported against Plocinski Leonard E., ordained at St. Phillip’s Catholic Church. Likewise, there were numerous civil suits filed in the context of recent sexual abuse involving members of the Church, such as Patrick Michael, Harris James, Steigerwald, Raleigh Michael, and several others, which led to the Church facing less than honorable circumstances.

Another notable case involved Baccelliere Joseph A., clergy of the Central Catholic High School, wherein they were credibly accused of sexually abusing teenage boys, which led to the widespread acknowledgment of misconduct.

Meanwhile, the Multnomah County Circuit Court also handled numerous civil suits against Mark M. and Martin William Donnelly for severe sexual misconduct, including physical and mental cruelty.

Furthermore, the sex abuse case involving Fr. Gerald Dezurick at Tillamook catholic high school also surfaced, who faced charges after a man filed a civil suit alleging abuse in the 1950s.

Fr. Henri Arata, ordained at a local grade school, and the case where a woman filed suit against Mother Mary Frederick and Mother Mary Eucharistica, ordained at Holy Child Academy and St. Rose’s catholic school who were later credibly accused of abuse, faced similar charges.

At Injury Lawyer Team, our attorneys have reviewed public and private settlement data related to Oregon clergy abuse settlements. Depending on the circumstances of your case, these cases may be fairly valued in the $400,000 to $950,000 range. In cases of extreme conduct or if that case were to go before a jury, damages could exceed $1 million.

Why Choose Injury Lawyer Team for a Sex Abuse Claim

When it comes to seeking justice for sexual violence in Oregon, Injury Lawyer Team stands out for our unwavering commitment and expertise. We bring a wealth of experience in handling sensitive cases and consistently achieving positive client outcomes.

Our team is dedicated to providing compassionate support throughout the legal process and recognizes the profound effects of sexual abuse on survivors. We are tenacious in holding perpetrators accountable and ensuring our clients receive the justice and compensation they deserve.

Contact us for a private consultation via call, email, or visit our website to complete a contact form.

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.