ATLANTA – The Archdiocese of Atlanta has released a list of priests and other clergy “credibly” accused of sexually abusing minors, dating back to 1956.
Wilton D. Gregory, the Archbishop of Atlanta, said in a release on Wednesday that the Church was compelled to release the names as part of compliance with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People -- in response to accusations of abuse at the hands of priests worldwide.
“Along with the publication of this information, I also renew my apology for the damage that young lives have suffered and the profound sorrow and anger that our families have endured,” Gregory said. “It is in a response of faith that must accompany this listing.”
Darren Penn has represented 50 victims of abuse by the Catholic Church and said the scope of the report is crushing.
"One of the things that jumps out to me about this report is that it covers all the way back to 1956. So the Archbishop puts out information in 2018 that confirms information was concealed for years and years and years," Penn said.
He also questioned the timing of the release - just one day after a massive midterm election.
"The very next day you get an incredibly damaging report. Maybe they were trying to bury it," he theorized.
The Arch Bishop of Atlanta wrote in the release they put the names out under the advice of a review board. There are 15 Priests on the list - 7 of them are dead. Only 4 were ever convicted of wrong doing, though all on the list are either deceased or removed from the church. But Penn said that's not enough.
"How many files are there? How many reports were there? How many of the reports that came in through the Catholic Church were actually forwarded on for follow up," he questioned. "The really sad part is that we don't know how many victims were involved."
In the release the Archbishop renewed the church's apology for the behavior, but would not talk on camera. Regardless, Penn said he expects a lot more victims will come forward after this release.
The Archdiocese said the list of following names will be updated if more credible allegations of sexual abuse of minors is determined.
Priests with credible allegations of child abuse in the Archdiocese of Atlanta:
Jacob Bollmer
Date of Ordination: 5/18/1968
Places of Service:
- xxx-1987 Catholic Charities, Atlanta
- 1969-1987 St. Joseph Village (Priest in Residence)
- 1968-1969 Cathedral of Christ the King
Status: Removed from ministry in 1987, Deceased 2000
Sergio Mauricio Calle Perez
Date of Ordination: 4/25/1998
Places of Service:
- 1998-1999 St. John Neumann
- 1998-1999 St. Marguerite d'Youville
- 1999 Prince of Peace
Status: Permanently removed from ministry (Laicization) 2004
Jorge Christancho
Date of Ordination: 5/20/1978
Places of Service:
- 2001 Saint George (Newnan)
- 1996-2001 St. Michael (Gainesville)
- 1992-1996 Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
- 1991-1997 Hispanic Liaison Personnel Board
- 1988-1992 Cathedral of Christ the King
- 1987-1988 Leave of Absence
- 1984-1987 St. Philip Benizi
- 1981-1984 St. Joseph (Dalton)
- 1978 Immaculate Heart of Mary
Status: Permanently removed from ministry (Laicization) 2004
John Douglas Edwards
Date of Ordination: 5/27/1961
Places of Service:
- 1987-1989 St. Catherine of Siena (Kennesaw)
- 1987 Sacred Heart of Jesus
- 1987 St. Pius X
- 1986-1987 Leave of Absence
- 1981-1986 St. Thomas More
- 1975-1981 St. Joseph
- 1974-1975 St. John the Evangelist
- 1973-1974 Leave of Absence
- 1972-1973 St. Thomas Aquinas
- 1967-1972 Our Lady of Perpetual Help
- 1966-1967 St. Jude the Apostle
- 1985-1966 Sacred Heart
- 1963-1965 Our Lady of Assumption
- 1962-1963 St. Mary
- 1961-1962 St. Anthony of Padua
- 1961 Cathedral of Christ the King
Status: Deceased 1997
Raymond Horan
Date of Ordination: 5/18/1968
Places of Service
- 1992-1993 Most Blessed Sacrament
- 1989-1992 St. John the Evangelist (Hapeville)
- 1988-1989 St. Jude the Apostle
- 1987 - Sabbatical
- 1981-1987 Sts. Peter and Paul (Decatur)
- 1977-1981 Transfiguration
- 1974-1977 Mother of Our Divine Saviour (Toccoa)
- 1973-1974 Sacred Heart (Atlanta)
- 1971-1973 St. Joseph (Athens)
- 1969-1971 St. Joseph High School
- 1968-1969 St. Thomas More (Decatur)
Status: Removed from Ministry 1992, Deceased 2017
Stanley Dominic Idziak
Date of Ordination: 4/8/1962, Incardination AoA-9/19/1983
Places of Service
- 1985-1988 St. Michael
- 1981-1985 Corpus Christi
- 1978-1981 All Saints
Status: Removed from Ministry 1966, Deceased 2012
Leonard Frances Xavier Mayhew
Date of Ordination: 5/28/1955
Places of Service
- Holy Cross (Atlanta)
- 1960 St. Anna (Monroe)
- 1960 St. Joseph's (Atlanta)
- 1959 St. Anthony (Atlanta)
- 1955 St. Thomas More (Decatur)
Status: Removed from Ministry 1966, Deceased 2012
