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Catholic Diocese of Wichita names 15 priests accused of abuse

Catholic Diocese of Wichita names 15 priests accused of abuse

Catholic Diocese of Wichita names 15 priests accused of abuse

The Catholic Diocese of Wichita has released the identities of 15 priests who have substantiated claims of child sexual abuse against them.

The information was released through the diocese website Thursday.  The majority of the priests have died, while the remaining have been removed from ministry.

The list was released following what the diocese described as a comprehensive audit conducted over several months by attorney Stephen Robison, a non-Catholic lawyer with Fleeson, Gooing, Coulson and Kitch, Attorneys at Law.  On the list, 9 of the priests served in the diocese, while 6 others served the diocese at various times, and were named in reports released by other diocese.

The 9 Wichita dicocese priests are identified as Paul Alderman, Robert Blanpied, Peter Duke, Robert K. Larson, Charles O’Connor, Robert Schleiter, Alonzo Smithhisler, Charles Walsh and William Wheeler.  Alderman, O’Connor, and Smithhisler have been removed from the ministry, while the others are listed as deceased.

The 6 other priests are identified as Michael Baca, John Habethier, Stephen Muth, Thomas O’Donohue, Arthur J Van Speybroeck, and John Walsh.  Only  Muth is still living and he was placed on administrative leave by Eparchy of Parma, October 22, 2018.

Schleiter appeared on both lists with allegations in both the Wichita and Salina Diocese.  The report indicates he last served in a ministerial role in 1969 and died in 1995.

The vast majority of the priests accused of abuse do not to appear to have been involved in ministry for several decades.

In a video posted to the the diocese website, Bishop Carl A. Kemme apologized to the survivors of abuse and their families and asked that others pray for them.

“I express my most sincere and deepest apologies for the suffering you may have experienced due to these criminal, sinful and horrific acts by priests of this diocese,” said Kemme.

He encourages other victims to come forward and report abuse to their local authorities. You can also call the diocese’s Abuse Response Hotline at 316-269-3945.

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation is still conducting their investigation into abuse allegations against clergy in the state. You can contact the KBI to make a report at 1-800-KS-CRIME.

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