The Catholic Diocese of San Jose on Thursday released the names of 15 clergy members who were known by the church to be child sex abusers.
At least nine priests on the list are dead, and the rest are permanently banned from the ministry. Many of the allegations were already publicly known through lawsuits and news reports.
One of the priests, Don Flickinger, who was sued for sexual abuse years ago, is assigned to the Fresno Diocese. He was permanently banned from the ministry in 2006, meaning he may not celebrate Mass, wear clerical attire or perform other priestly duties with the exception of participating in a funeral Mass for another priest within the diocese.
“Fr. Flickinger has maintained his innocence and has cooperated with the restrictions placed upon him,” said Teresa Dominguez, a spokeswoman for the Fresno Diocese. She stressed that the allegations against him were “part of one civil suit” and noted that it settled before going to trial.
The sexual misconduct allegations against the 15 men, which were not described in detail, spanned 1961 to the early 2000s and occurred at parishes within the Santa Clara County diocese. No cases of recent or ongoing abuse were included.
The list includes one priest, Leonel Noia, who served jail time after he was convicted of molesting a boy during a 1976 camping trip. Noia was suspended for three years in the 1970s but was allowed to return, spending the next 24 years at three San Jose parishes. He died in 2005.
Another, Joseph Pritchard, was sued for repeatedly molesting a 13-year-old altar boy in the 1970s. The lawsuit, which included allegations against other priests, resulted in a $21.2 million settlement in 2005. Pritchard died in 1988.
List of accused
The priests on the list released by the San Jose Diocese on Thursday are:
Thomas Bettencourt: Last served at St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception in Los Gatos from 1982 to 1988. Died in 1990.
Don Flickinger: Currently at the Diocese of Fresno. However, also listed as having been permanently banned from the ministry in 2006.
Robert Gray: Currently in Sunnyvale, last served administrative assignments from 1995 to 2002.
Arthur Harrison: Last served at Church of the Ascension in Saratoga from 1987 to 1989. Died in 2006.
Laurent Largente: Last served at St. Joseph Cathedral in San Jose from 1992 to 1993. Died in 2015.
Alexander Larkin: Currently in San Jose, last served at Sacred Heart Parish in Saratoga from 1996 to 2005.
Philip McCrillis: Last served in the Chancery in San Jose from 1996 to 1999. Died in 2007.
George Moss: Last served at St. Joseph Parish in Mountain View from 1963 to 1976. Died in 1986.
Leonel Noia: Last served at Five Wounds Parish in San Jose from 1986 to 2002. Died in 2005.
Joseph Pritchard: Last served at St. Nicholas Parish in Los Altos from 1979 to 1988. Died in 1988.
Noel Senevirante: Last served at St. Maria Goretti Parish in San Jose in 1970. Died in 2009.
Toro Hernan: Currently in San Leandro, last served in Detention Ministry from 1988 to 1990.
Joseph Dondero: Last served at Sacred Heart Jesuit Center in Los Gatos from 1980 to 1997. Died in 1997.
Angel Mariano: Last served at Most Holy Trinity Parish in San Jose from 1993 to 1998. Dismissed in 2002.
Phil Sensor: Currently in San Jose, last served Holy Family Parish in San Jose in 1987.
The list included only clergy members who admitted misconduct, were criminally convicted or were found to be culpable by a review board convened by the diocese.
Robert Gray, also on the list, was sentenced to probation for sexually abusing a teenage boy in 1993 whom he had been teaching karate. After his conviction, Gray took a leave of absence until 1995 and then completed administrative assignments for the church until 2002, when he was permanently banned. A 2017 directory for the Diocese of San Jose listed him as being on a leave of absence. He lives in Sunnyvale.
Allegations against Flickinger surfaced in 2002, 2005 and 2006, according to the list, and he was also the subject of legal complaints. In 2011, he was accused of abusing a 13-year-old boy a decade earlier at a San Jose church, and was accused of abusing children at a Saratoga parish throughout the 1990s. In 2013, victims settled with the dioceses of San Jose and Fresno for $985,000 stemming from allegations against Flickinger.
“I express my deepest apologies for the actions of those who were in positions of authority and who violated that sacred trust by abusing children,” San Jose Bishop Patrick McGrath said in a statement. “The sexual abuse of children and young people is an appalling crime and a sin. When these perpetrators are members of the clergy, there are not only psychological wounds but spiritual wounds.”
Full story at SF Gate.
These listings seem to include only ‘ancient’ history from twenty or more years ago. Are there any cases from more recent times? I realize it takes some time for adjudication of claims as credible. But I find it hard to believe all the ‘bad guys’ suddenly became ‘good guys’
Are you saying that clergy in general are “bad guys”? The effect this scandal has had on you, mike m—as it has for many others of your feather—has been disastrous for your faith in Our Lord whose ministry continues through the Church, in particular through the clergy. Let me tell you why there is a big drop in cases: the Dallas Charter, better screening and instructions in seminaries, holier priests. People, you’re letting this crisis separate you from the shepherds of the Church. You’re letting Satan dupe you.
typical… making unwarranted assumptions about what people mean and putting words in their mouth just so you can jontificate [sic] as all high and mighty
“Joe” I am rightfully assuming that “mike m” says what he means: he is questioning how “bad guys” became suddenly “good guys”. And the “guys” he is wondering about are priests. There is no need for me to “put words in his mouth” because the meaning of his words is plain.
Jon, if you think this crisis is over, you’re wrong by a long shot. The lavendar mafia is in complete control of the Church hierarchy, that’s just a fact. The Dallas Charter didn’t do jack in recognizing the real source of the problem. I agree with you though, we shouldn’t let this crisis harm our faith.
“If Jon thinks the crisis is over, he’s wrong” is a red-herring. No one has said that. But admit it folks, the abuses being reported happened decades ago. The whole “shock” thing is being ginned up by those who hate Francis on one side, and those who hate what the Church stands for in the other. Beware.
“The lavender mafia is in complete control of the Church hierarchy” is a hyperbole.
True; much of the information has already been disseminated, either through the ecclesiastical process or through public action through civil authorities.
It appears to be more misdirection, distraction and deception.
Due to the age of the information, the statute of limitations has already run; so the San Joe Diocese and Bp. McGrath “appear” to be forthright without the potential for liability.
Perhaps I was unclear. I am in no way suggesting all clergy are ‘bad guys’. My understanding is that the vast vast majority of clergy have never engaged in child sex abuse. My point was that perhaps those who had been ‘bad guys’ reformed into ‘good guys’.
Why now? Normally someone with a well-formed conscience would come clean; however, it is doubtful that Bishop McGrath has a conscience, let alone a well-formed one.
Keep it up if ot makes you feel good Your Excellency.
No one believes in the sincerety og the leadership of the Church anymore!
We are thankful, however, for the promise od Divine assistance that Our Lord made to His Church — “I will be with you until the end of the age.” (Matt: 28)
Symbolism Over Substance!
PJ…“The sexual abuse of children and young people is an appalling crime and a sin.” Is promotion of homosexuality “an appalling crime and a sin”? If so, why did you host the 12 Annual National Association of ‘Catholic’ Diocesan Lesbian and Gay Ministries in 2005? Why did you allow X-rated gay pornography to be sold at exhibits during the conferences?