A HISTORY OF SEXUAL ABUSE BY EPISCOPAL CLERGY

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — An organization calling itself SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests) will file a lawsuit against an Episcopal priest who abused a California youngster years ago, and still serves in a parish today. David Clohessy, 46, a national director of SNAP, expressed concern: “I fear that some 400 ex-Roman Catholic priests will surface in other denominations including the Episcopal Church.” (Aug. 2, 2003)

Selected global cases (U.S., Australia, Canada, U.K.) include:

• South Australia: 217 victims and 48 possible offenders identified in Anglican Church abuse investigations (The Age, July 16, 2003)

• Rev. Robin Everett (UK): Convicted of indecently assaulting two young girls (UK Telegraph, June 7, 2003)

• Fr. Sapsford (Queensland, AUS): Molested dozens of altar boys while married; Archbishop accused of covering up (ABC Online, May 8, 2003)

• Provincetown, RI pastor: Resigned after admitting he molested a teenage boy more than 25 years earlier (Boston Globe, Dec. 25, 2002)

• Donald Shissler (Denver): Sentenced to 24 years for sexually assaulting at least two boys; evidence suggests up to 20 additional victims (Oct. 17, 2002)

• Peter Hollingworth (Governor-General of Australia & former Anglican Archbishop): Resigned amid multiple abuse cover-up scandals (2002)

• Fr. Robert K. Orr (Philadelphia): Convicted of possessing and distributing child pornography (1998–1999)

• Fr. Bruce Jacques (Connecticut): Defrocked for offering oral sex to a 13-year-old boy as a “confirmation gift” (1998)

• Fr. Greydon Copeland (Florida): Allegedly molested a minor; committed suicide after church investigation (1999)

• Fr. Thomas Berlenbach (New Jersey): Accused of raping a 14-year-old altar server and fondling a 40-year-old parishioner (1999)

• Fr. Michael W. Jones (Virginia): Accused (but not criminally charged) in multi-victim abuse case involving baby sitter Richard Weaverling (1998)

• Rev. Sandra Wilson (Colorado): Acknowledged “relationships” with two women in her congregation; reinstated after internal inquiry (1998)

• Fr. Alex MacDonell (New Jersey): Sued for sexual intimacy with female parishioner during counseling; court upheld breach-of-trust claim (1997)

• Brooklyn priests: Episcopal Church investigation confirmed Penthouse allegations of sex orgies with youths, including from Brazil (1997)

• Eugene Maxey (Wisconsin/Texas): Imprisoned 20 years; admitted abusing multiple boys at Nashotah House seminary (1997)

• Bishop Steven Plummer (Utah/Navajo): Reinstated after admitting 2-year sexual relationship with teenage boy (1995)

• Rev. Antoine Campbell (South Carolina): Cleared in one church trial, relieved of duties during second trial on misconduct charges (1994)

• Rev. Robert L. Ducker (California): Sentenced to 12 years for repeatedly molesting two parishioner boys (1994)

• Fr. Douglas Hodges (Ohio): Charged with sexual battery during counseling (1993); later sued civilly

• Byron Bruce Newell (Virginia): Accused by six women of sexual misconduct; $4M lawsuit filed (1993)

• St. Andrew’s music minister (Missouri): Confessed to molesting 15-year-old parishioner; terminated after 17 years (1993)

• Rev. W. Graham Pulkingham (Virginia): Suspended after admitting sexual relationship with counselee, destroying the man’s marriage (1992)

• Rev. Paul Robinson (U.S.): Settled $575,000 for extramarital affair during counseling (1992)

• Bishop Owen Dowling (Australia): Charged with soliciting male officer for prostitution (1992)

• Rev. Stephen P. Apthorp (Arizona/Mass.): Pleaded guilty to ~830 rapes of stepdaughter; sentenced to 12 years (1992)

• Adam Tannous (Pennsylvania): Sexton sentenced to 35–70 years; claimed 400 victims over 40 years (1992)

• Rev. Wallace A. Frey (New York): Resigned as top U.S. Episcopal priest after charges of abusing young men (1992)

• Rev. Charles Griggs (Canada): Pleaded guilty to molesting 13-year-old; received suspended sentence; church secretly settled civil suit (1989)

• Rev. William Thompson, Jr. (Maryland): Headmaster pleaded guilty to child pornography and molesting 7 boys (1989)

• Rev. James Leech (Minnesota): Charged with molesting 15-year-old; resigned; criminal charges filed (1988)

• Rev. Francis Papworth (California): Sentenced to 7 years; $120M lawsuit filed claiming church knew and failed to act (1987)

• Rev. Thomas Dobson (Washington): Chaplain convicted of trading meth for sex acts with homeless boys (1987)

• Kenneth Behrel (Maryland): Found guilty of abusing 14-year-old at St. James School (2000s, incident in 1980s)

Note: Numerous Australian state cases (1990s–2000s) involving priests, chaplains, teachers, and youth leaders convicted of abuse—many involving systemic cover-ups by bishops and church institutions.