The Diocese of Duluth Release Their List of 17 Priests Accused of Sexually Abusing Minors

The Diocese of Duluth released a list today of  17 priests accused of sexually abusing minors.  They also disclosed 5 more with ties to the area.  The release comes several weeks after a lawsuit was filed seeking the release of information on the 17 priests.  These lists have been hidden until now.  Along with the list the Bishop of Duluth, Rev. Paul Sirba released a statement and answered questions.

The List

The list of 17 credibly accused priests includes:

1. Rev. Kirby Blanchard
Date of birth: 11/16/1928
Date of ordination: 5/30/1953
Cleric’s prior assignments in diocese:
Asst. Pastor: Cathedral of Our Lady of the Rosary, Duluth – 7/ 22/1953 – 1/ 7/1965
Pastor: Our Lady of Fatima Church, Garrison – 1/ 7/19 65 – 8/24/1966
Pastor: St. Joseph’s Church, Deerwood – 1/7/1965 – 8/24/1966
Pastor: St. Augustine’s Church, Cohasset – 8/24/1966 – 2/ 27/1969
Pastor: St. Mary’s Church, Deer River – 8/24/1966 – 2/27/1969
Pastor: St. Christopher Church, Nisswa – 2/27/1969 – 3/17/1971
Pastor: St. Alice Church, Pequot Lakes – 2/ 27/1969 – 3/17/1971
Pastor: Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Pine River – 2/ 27/1969 – 3/17/1971
Pastor: St. Anthony’s Church, Duluth – 3/17/1971 – 6/1/1976
Chaplain: St. Joseph’s Hospital, Brainerd – 9/1/1976 – 12/5/1993
Retired: 12/ 5/1993
Diocese or religious order: Diocesan Priest
Date removed from ministry: 12/27/1995
Current location: Deceased
Current status: Died 8/11/2006

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2. Rev. Louis Brouillard
Date of birth: 07/27/1921
Date of ordination: 12/17/1948
Cleric’s prior assignments in diocese:
Temporary Administrator: St. Joseph, Beroun – 7/27/1981 – 7/11/1984
Pastor: St. Mary, Kewatin – 7/11/1984 – 11/12/1985
Pastor: St. Anne, Kelly Lake – 7/11/1984 – 11/12/1985
Diocese or religious order: Priest of the Diocese of Agana, Guam
Date removed from ministry: 11/12/1985
Current location: Pine City, MN
Current status: Not in ministry, Faculties revoked

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3. Rev. Victor Chateauvert, MSF
Date of birth: 5/25/1919
Date of ordination: 8/25/1973
Cleric’s prior assignments in diocese:
Pastor: Holy Family, Hillman – 6/1/1982 – 12/28/1992
Diocese or religious order:
Priest of the Holy Family Missionaries
Date removed from ministry: 12/28/1992 – Returned to Order
Current location: Deceased
Current status: Died 3/3/1999

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4. Rev. Leonard Colston
Date of birth: 10/10/1936
Date of ordination: 1980
Cleric’s prior assignments in diocese:
Deacon: Asst. at St. Michael’s Church, Duluth – 6/ 6/1979 – 5/17/1980
Asst. Pastor: St. Francis Church, Brainerd – 6/18/1980 – 10/14/1981
Administrator: St. Louis, Floodwood, & missions – 10/14/1981 – 9/9/1983
Diocese or religious order: Diocesan Priest
Date removed from ministry: 9/6/1986 Resigned from the Diocese of Duluth
Current location: Deceased
Current status: Died 11/4/2004

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5. Rev. Raymond Cossette
Date of birth: 12/24/1929
Date of ordination: 6/4/1955
Cleric’s prior assignments in diocese:
Asst. Pastor – Blessed Sacrament Church, Hibbing – 8/10/1955 – 8/16/1962
Instructor, Dean of Discipline, Athletic Director, Principal, Chaplain – Duluth Cathedral High School;
Duluth – 8/16/1962 – 7/21/1965
Chaplain: Carmel Heights, Duluth – 8/16/1962 – 7/ 21/1965
Superintendent: Cathedral High School – 7/21/1965 – 8/24/1966
Pastor: St. Peter’s Church, Duluth – 8/ 24/1966 – 9/9/1969
Diocesan Superintendent of Schools: 8/24/66-9/9/69
Pastor: St. John’s Church, Biwabik – 9/ 9/1969 – 7/29/1975
Chaplain: Brainerd State Hospital – 7/29/75 – 1/1 1995
Administrator: Holy Family Church, Hillman – 1/4/1993 – 12/29/1994
Retired: 1/1/1995
Diocese or religious order: Diocesan Priest
Date removed from ministry: Re-investigation initiated
Current location: Brainerd, MN
Current status: Retired

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6. Rev. Frederick Fox
Date of birth: 08/28/1926
Date of ordination: 7/7/1952
Cleric’s prior assignments in diocese:
Asst. Pastor: St. James Church, Duluth – 7/ 30/1952 – 9/14/1956
School: Catholic University of America – 9/14/1956 – 7/5/1957
Asst. Pastor: St. John the Evangelist Church, Duluth – 7/5/1957 – 1/18/1965
Director: St. James Children’s Home, Duluth 1/18/1965 -8/19/1970
On Leave: to work with Family Services-Duluth Drug Abuse Program 12/13/1970
Retirement: 6/1/1987
Diocese or religious order: Diocesan Priest
Date removed from ministry: 1/28/1988
Current location: Deceased
Current status: Died 6/17/1999

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7. Rev. John Golobich
Date of birth: 03/03/1923
Date of ordination: 6/5/1948
Cleric’s prior assignments in diocese:
Asst. Pastor: Blessed Sacrament Church, Hibbing – 8/5/1948 – 8 /10/1955
Pastor: St. Michael’s Church, Kerrick -8/10/1955 – 11/13/1958
Pastor: St. Joseph’s Church, Lakewood – 11/13/1958 – 2/4/1960
Pastor: St. Joseph’s Church, Gnesen – 11/13/1958 – 2/ 4/1960
Administrator: St. Martin’s Church, Tower – 2/4/1960 – 4/ 28/1960
Pastor: St. Martin’s Church, Tower – 4/28/1960 – 6/29/1965
Pastor: Finland Air Station – 6/29/1965 – 7/1/1981
Pastor: St. Mary’s Church, Silver Bay – 6/ 29/1965 – 7/1/1981
Pastor: St. Anthony’s Church, Duluth – 7/1/1981 – 7/11/1984
Pastor: St. James Church, Duluth – 7/11/1984 – 7/14/1993
Administrator: St. Elizabeth Church, Duluth – 7/12/2001 – 1/15/2002
Retired: 7/14/1993
Diocese or religious order: Diocesan Priest
Date removed from ministry: Reprimanded – inappropriate behavior involving hugging and kissing
Current location: Deceased
Current status: Died 6/5/2011

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8. Rev. Ralph Goniea, OMI
Date of birth: 12/23/1937
Date of ordination: 1963
Cleric’s prior assignments in diocese:
Asst. Pastor: St. Jean’s, Duluth – 9/1/1965 – 12/22/1966
Diocese or religious order:
Priest of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate
Date removed from ministry: Cleric no longer in diocese at time of allegation
Current location: Deceased
Current status: Died 3/24/2003

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9. Rev. Robert Klein
Date of birth: 10/17/1931
Date of ordination: 6/2/1956
Cleric’s prior assignments in diocese:
Asst. Pastor: St. Anthony’s Church, Duluth – 8/17/1956 – 9/27/1956
Asst. Pastor: Cathedral of Our Lady of the Rosary, Duluth – 8/29/1957 – 6/29/1965
Pastor: St. Joseph’s Church, Gnesen – 6/29/1965 – 3/23/1966
Pastor: St. Peter’s Church, Duluth – 9/9/1969 – 6/16/1970
Assoc. Pastor: Sacred Heart Cathedral, Duluth – 6/16/1970 – 3/1/1976
Director Office of Education: 9/1972 – 6/1980
Director of Liturgy: 1981 – 1983
Leave: Unassigned, Disability Leave – 8/1/1983
Diocese or religious order: Diocesan Priest
Date removed from ministry: 9/18/1987
Current location: Deceased
Current status: Died 2/16/2000

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10. Rev. Mark Makowski
Date of birth: 10/31/1956
Date of ordination: 6/7/1987
Cleric’s prior assignments in diocese:
Asst. Pastor: St. Anthony’s Church, Ely – 7/15/1987 – 7/13/1988
Assoc. Pastor: St. Francis Church, Brainerd – 7/13/1988 – 2/14/1989
Pastoral Administrator: St. Benedict’s Church, Duluth – 2/15/1989 – 7/18/1990
Pastor: St. Benedict’s Church, Duluth – 7/18/1990 – 7/14/1993
Pastor: Queen of Peace Church, Hoyt Lakes – 7/14/1993 – 9/1/1993
Pastor: St. John’s Church, Grand Marais – 9/1/1993 – 1/12/1995
Pastor: Holy Rosary Church, Grand Portage – 9/1/1993 – 1/12/1995
Diocese or religious order: Diocesan Priest
Date removed from ministry: 1/12/1995
Current location: Sun City, AZ
Current status: Not in ministry, Faculties revoked

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11. Rev. (Thomas) Gregory Manning
Date of birth: 05/25/1918
Date of ordination: 3/25/1944
Cleric’s prior assignments in diocese:
Asst. Pastor: St. Joseph’s Church, Chisholm – 4/28/1944 – 7/25/1946
Asst. Pastor: St. John the Evangelist Church, Duluth – 7/25/1946 – 7/20/1950
Pastor: St. Louis Church, Floodwood, & missions of Goodland & Warba – 7/20/1950 – 7/22/1953
Pastor: St. John the Baptist Church, Biwabik – 7/22/1953 – 10/16/1957
Left Diocese: 12/1/1957
Diocese or religious order: Diocesan Priest
Date removed from ministry: 10/16/1957
Current location: Deceased
Current status: Died 8/15/1979

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12. Rev. John Nicholson
Date of birth: 01/23/1918
Date of ordination: 6/5/1948
Cleric’s prior assignments in diocese:
Asst. Pastor: St. James Church, Duluth – 6/24/1948 – 7/22/1953
Director: Diocesan Director of Scouting – 8/5/1948 – 5/2/1961
Asst. Pastor: St. Joseph’s Church, Grand Rapids – 7/22/1953 – 4/4/1956
Pastor: St. John’s Church, Hill City & Swatara – 4/4/1956 – 4/28/1960
Administrator, St. Mary’s Church, Deer River, and
mission of St. Augustine, Cohasset – 10/8/1959 – 4/28/1960
Administrator: St. John’s Church, Hill City & mission of Swatara – 4/28/1960 – 6/29/1960
Pastor: St. Mary’s Church, Deer River and St. Augustine, Cohasset – 4/ 28/1960 – 8/24/1966
Pastor: St. Rose Church, Proctor – 8/24/1966 – 1/6/1970
Leave of absence: 1/6/1970 – 8/18/1970
Pastor: St. Joseph’s Church, Deerwood – 8/18/1970 – 12/6/1988
Diocese or religious order: Diocesan Priest
Date removed from ministry: Deceased
Current location: Deceased
Current status: Died 12/6/1988

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13. Rev. Dennis Puhl
Date of birth: 03/28/1947
Date of ordination: 6/15/1974
Cleric’s prior assignments in diocese:
Co-pastor: Holy Spirit Church, Virginia – 7/1/1974 – 7/15/1978
Pastor: St. Casimir’s Church, Cloquet and mission at Cromwell – 7/15/1978 – 7/15/1979
Pastor: Mission at Saginaw – 7/15/1979 – 11/1/1980
Sick Leave: 11/1/1980
Diocese or religious order: Diocesan Priest
Date removed from ministry:
7/15/1986 signed a statement terminating priestly ministry and affiliation with Diocese of Duluth
Current location: Deceased
Current status: Died 12/11/1995

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14. Rev. Thomas Stack
Date of birth: 05/11/1914
Date of ordination: 3/25/1944
Cleric’s prior assignments in diocese:
Asst. Pastor: Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Virginia – 4/20/1944 – 12/14/1950
Pastor: St. Joseph’s Church, Gnesen and
St. Joseph’s Church, Lakewood – 12/14/1950 – 8/10/1955
Pastor: new parish, Hoyt Lakes – 8/10/1955 – 9/29/1964
Pastor: Good Shepherd Church, Duluth – 9/29/1964 – 1/6/1968
Pastor: St. Cecilia’s Church, Nashwauk – 1/6/1968 – 9/27/1972
Pastor: St. Anthony’s Church, Ely – 9/27/1972 – 8/1/1973
Pastor: St. Joseph’s Church, Duluth – 8/1/1973 – 9/27/1983
Pastor: Queen of Peace Church, Hoyt Lakes – 9/27/1983 – 2/13/1987
Benedictine Health Center: 2/13/1987 – 2/24/1987
Diocese or religious order: Diocesan Priest
Date removed from ministry: Deceased at time of allegation
Current location: Deceased
Current status: Died 2/24/1987

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15. Rev. Joseph Thibaudeau, OMI
Date of birth: 10/17/1869
Date of ordination: 8/15/1896
Cleric’s prior assignments in diocese:
St. Jean’s, Duluth – 6/30/1910 – ?/1943
Diocese or religious order:
Priest of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate
Date removed from ministry: Deceased at time of allegation
Current location: Deceased
Current status: Died 1946, Manitoba, Canada

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16. Rev. Stephen Toporowitz
Date of birth: 5/13/1914
Date of ordination: 6/7/1941
Cleric’s prior assignments in diocese:
Asst. Pastor: Sacred Heart Cathedral, Duluth – 7/9/1941- 9/4/1941
Pastor: St. Mary, Star of the Sea Church, Duluth – 9/4/1941 – 10/12/1944
Pastor: Willow River and Split Rock – 10/17/1944 – 6/10/1964
(Split Rock attached to Sturgeon Lake 4/20/1960)
Pastor: St. Joseph’s Church, Deerwood
and mission of Our Lady of Fatima, Garrison – 6/10/1964 – 1/7/1965
Chaplain: St. Joseph’s Hospital, Brainerd – 1/7/1965 – 8/24/1966
Pastor: St. John’s Church, Virginia – 8/24/1966 – 6/16/1969
Diocese or religious order: Diocesan Priest
Date removed from ministry: Deceased at time of allegation
Current location: Deceased
Current status: Died 6/16/1969

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17. Rev. Angelo Zankl, OSB
Date of birth: 04/19/1901
Date of ordination: 5/29/1926
Cleric’s prior assignments in diocese:
St. Clement’s, Duluth – 7/18/1951 – 8/8/1967
Chaplain: St. Scholastica Priory – 10/1/1974 – 5/30/1987
Left the Diocese: 5/30/1987
Diocese or religious order:
Priest of the Order of St. Benedict03
Date removed from ministry: Deceased at time of allegation
Current location: Deceased
Current status: Died 7/12/2007

Additional accused priests with ties to the area:
Rev. Cornelius Kelleher
Date of birth: 9/9/1932
Date of ordination: 6/17/1956
Cleric’s prior assignments in diocese:
Asst. Pastor: St. James Church, Duluth – 9/14/1956 – 9/16/1959
Asst. Pastor: St. Joseph’s Church, Crosby – 9/16/1959 – 9/22/1960
Asst. Pastor: Holy Family Church, Eveleth – 9/ 22/1960 – 9/24/1966
Pastor: St. Mary’s Church, Cook,
and Mission of St. Bridget in Greaney – 8/24/1966 – 9/9/1969
Pastor: Mission Gnesen – 9/9/1969 – 9/ 21/1970
Pastor: Mission Lakewood – 9/ 9/1969 – 9/ 21/1970
Pastor: St. Benedict’s Church, Duluth – 9/ 9/1969 – 6/17/1975
Pastor: St. Joseph’s Church, Chisholm – 6/17/1975 – 7/ 11/1986
Pastor: St. Andrew’s Church, Brainerd – 7/11/1986 – 7/16/1997
Pastor: St. Patrick’s Church, Hinckley and
St. Joseph’s Church, Beroun – 7/16/1997 – 7/11/ 2012
Retired: July 11, 2012
Diocese or religious order: Diocesan Priest
Date removed from ministry: 10/2/2012
Current location: Proctor, MN
Current status: Removed from ministry, Faculties revoked

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Rev. J. Vincent Fitzgerald, OMI
Date of birth: 12/9/1919
Date of ordination: 5/28/1950
Cleric’s prior assignments in diocese:
Pastor: St. Michael’s, Northome; Our Lady of the Snows, Bigfork and
St. Theresa, Effie – 11/13/1957 – 9/10/1961
Pastor: Holy Cross, Orr – 9/1/1963 – 9/1/1964
Pastor: Immaculate Conception, Nett Lake – 9/1/1963 – 8/2/1966
Pastor: St. Catherine, Squaw Lake – 8/1/1968 – 12/12/1979
Asst. Pastor: St. Catherine, Squaw Lake – 12/12/1979 – 10/28/1983
Diocese or religious order:
Priest of Oblates of Mary Immaculate
Date removed from ministry: Deceased at time of allegation
Current location: Deceased
Current status: Died 2009

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Rev. Othmar Hohmann, OSB
Date of birth: 1/28/1900
Date of ordination: 6/7/1931

Indicates he was at St. Francis Church  Commonwealth of The Bahamas
Cleric’s prior assignments in diocese:
Asst. Pastor: St. Joseph’s Church, Grand Rapids – 8/1/1966-1976
Diocese or religious order:
Priest of the Order of St. Benedict
Date removed from ministry: Retired in 1976
Current location: Deceased
Current status: Died 1/24/1980

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Rev. Richard Jeub
Date of birth: 2/21/1940
Date of ordination: 1966
Cleric’s prior assignments in archdiocese:
Associate priest, St. Joseph, Hopkins, 1966-1967;
Associate priest, Our Lady of Grace, Edina, 1967-1970
Associate priest, St. Mark, St. Paul, 1970-1976;
Associate priest, Christ the King, Minneapolis, 1976-1978;
Chaplain, Methodist Hospital, St. Louis Park, 1978-1982;
Chaplain, Fairview Southdale Hospital, Edina, 1978-1982;
Pastor, St. Kevin, Minneapolis, 1981-1990;
Associate priest, Sacred Heart, Robbinsdale, 1996-1997;
Associate priest, Sacred Heart/St. Lawrence, Faribault, 1997-2000;
Associate priest, St. Rose of Lima, Roseville, 2000-2002;
Retired, 2002
Diocese or religious order: Priest of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis
Date permanently removed from ministry: 2002
Current location: Crosby, Minn.
Current status: Permanently removed from ministry

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Rev. Brennan (misidentified as Brennen)  Maiers, OSB
Date of birth: 4/27/1936
Date of ordination: 6/1/1963
Cleric’s prior assignments in diocese:
Chaplain: St. Scholastica Priory – 1/ 4/1991 – 4/1996
Adjunct Chaplain: St. Mary’s Medical Center, Duluth – 1/4/1991 -4/1996
Chaplain: Federal Prison Camp – 6/1/1992 – 4/1996
Diocese or religious order:
Priest of the Order of St. Benedict
Date permanently removed from ministry: 6/2002
Current location: St. John’s Abbey, Collegeville, MN
Current status: Permanently removed from ministry

The names are now disclosed, there are more lists that exist in Minnesota, and there are many more names to find.

Abuse of children and the continued silence by the offenders needs to be prevented. If you suffered, saw, or suspected such events, it is important to know that there is help out there.