Katie Sullivan Borrelli, Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin
A day after the beginning of the Advent season in the Catholic Church, the Diocese of Syracuse has released the names of 57 priests who have been credibly accused of sexual abuse of a minor in the diocese, dating back to 1950.
While Bishop Robert Cunningham had previously refused to release the list, citing respect for the wishes of those victims who've asked to keep the names of their abusers private, a letter Cunningham distributed to parishioners over the weekend — the diocese covers Broome, Chenango, Cortland, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga and Oswego counties — detailed his decision to release the names.
"Upon serious reflection and prayer, I have concluded that this practice has become a roadblock to moving our local Church forward," Cunningham said.
None of the priests named are actively serving members of the clergy, 28 are deceased. At least eight served at one time in Broome County.
According to a statement from the diocese, the list of clergy includes all those with credible allegations against them since 1950, and defines credible as an allegation that, based upon the facts of the case, is one or more of the following: natural, reasonable, plausible and probable; corroborated with other evidence or another source or acknowledged/admitted to by the accused.
The list was compiled as a result of reviews by the Diocesan Review Board.
Here are the names of the accused priests across the Diocese of Syracuse (those marked with an asterisk are deceased):
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Thomas Bayley*
Robert Birchmeyer
Paul Brigandi*
John Broderick
Robert Bogan*
Roger Bowen*
Daniel Casey*
Felix Colosimo*
Donald Crosby*
John Donovan*
Edmund Durr
Charles Eckermann*
Francis Furfaro*
Luke Gallagher*
Bernard Garstka*
Donald Gorman*
Thomas Guyder*
John Harrold
Ferdinand Hattala*
James Hayes
Edgar Holihan*
Edward Humphrey*
Donald Hebert
Leo Heizman*
David Jutton*
Edward Kieley*
Thomas Keating*
Robert Kloster
C. Vincent Lane Jr.
Steven Litz Jr.*
William Lorenz
William Lynch*
Edward Madore
George Mattice Jr.
John McCarthy*
Chester Misercola
William Morris*
John "Jack" Morse*
Thomas Neary Jr.
Robert Ours
Thomas Powell*
Joseph Pace
David Pichette
Albert Proud
Edward George Quaid*
James A. Quinn
James F. Quinn
Francis Sammons*
Walter Sinnott*
H. Charles Sewall
Paul Slavetskas*
Martin Tracy*
David Walker*
John Wagner
Jerome Weber
Thomas Zedar*
John Zeder*
"While I am aware that the release of these names will cause pain for some victims, families of the accused, friends and parishioners," Cunningham said in the letter to parishioners, "I know that we are at a critical juncture in the history of the Church. It is my fervent hope and prayer that this effort will bring some peace and healing to those who have been directly harmed and to all members of our community of faith."
In February, Cunningham instituted the Independent Reconciliation and Compensation Program for at least 70 abuse victims, with cases relating to about 40 priests, administered by lawyers who oversaw compensation programs for 9/11 survivors, the BP oil spill and three compensation programs in downstate dioceses.
Those settlements, which have been paid using the diocese's liability insurance fund, pertain only to claims made prior to the program's establishment with a possibility of expanding to include more cases in the future.
One Broome County victim told Press & Sun-Bulletin/pressconnects.com he was offered a $5,000 settlement from the diocese in July. He used $1,240 for Mass intentions for abusers and their victims — an intention is a time set aside during a Mass to pray either for an individual or family, living or dead — in each of the 124 parishes in the diocese.
He donated the remaining $3,760 between two Catholic Charities of Broome County food pantries: Mother Teresa's Cupboard in Endicott, and the Community Empowerment Center in Binghamton.
As of Sept. 12, the diocese had sent 84 claim packets to individuals.
Follow Katie Sullivan Borrelli on Twitter @ByKatieSullivan.
