La Crosse Diocese names 25 former priests who abused children

LA CROSSE - At least 25 priests who served in the Diocese of La Crosse over the past several decades sexually assaulted children, the diocese disclosed Saturday.

The disclosure, posted at 4 p.m. on the diocese website at diolc.org, brings the total number of Catholic priests with substantiated accusations of sexual abuse in Wisconsin to nearly 160.

The La Crosse diocese serves nearly 200,000 Catholics in counties across central and western Wisconsin, including those in Marathon, Portage and Wood counties.

The list was published after an audit of the diocese clergy files dating back to 1868 by the Texas-based firm Defenbaugh & Associates Inc..

The list included 18 clergy members who were part of the La Crosse diocese:

Bruce Ball, Raymond Bornbach, Eugene Comiskey, Thomas Dempsey, James Ennis, James Finucan, John Thomas Finucan, Tom Garthwaite, Richard Herrmann, William Hertzenberg, Thomas Langer, James E. Mason, Garland Muller, Charles Rasmussen, Albert Sonnberger, James Stauber, Patrick Umberger and Raymond J. Wagner.

The diocese also named two priests who were part of other Catholic orders but were accused of abuse while serving in the La Crosse diocese: Timothy Svea and Bogdan Werra.

The list also included five priests who spent time in the diocese and whose names appeared on other Catholic diocese and religious order lists of suspected abusers: Dennis Bouche, Daniel Budzynski, Orville Munie, Joseph Smetana and Francis Zimmerer.

In addition to the 25 names, the diocese released the service history for each priest including ordination date, pastoral assignments and their current status, including dates of death. Most of the priests are now dead, and the diocese said none of the surviving abusers is serving in the ministry.

Parish leaders across the diocese also were instructed to read a letter from La Crosse Bishop William Patrick Callahan during Masses this weekend. Callahan did not make himself available for reporter interviews Saturday.

In a letter and video posted to the diocese website, the bishop told viewers the disclosure is an important step for the diocese and offered prayers to victims and their families.

“I realize that our promise of continued prayer and support may not seem to be enough; for your pain, suffering and anguish will always be a part of you,” the bishop wrote in the letter.

The letter also notes that the list will remain public and names will be added as claims are sufficiently confirmed.

La Crosse's announcement comes at a time of heightened scrutiny for the Catholic church over clergy abuse, and as survivor advocates in Wisconsin demand greater accountability beyond diocesan investigations. In May, Pope Francis issued a universal church law making it mandatory for all Catholic leaders to report cases of clerical sex abuse — including those committed by bishops and cardinals, a key provision.

Peter Isely, a founder of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, or SNAP, said he's glad the diocese released names but criticized the bishop for failing to take questions. Isely also noted the firm that conducted the review isn't releasing information about the process that led to the list.

"The bottom line is transparency is only as legitimate as the person or organization making the claim," he said.

David Clohessy, the Missouri director of SNAP and a vocal advocate for survivors, said he's skeptical of the information that was released. Clohessy visited Catholic parishes in the Wausau area in September, distributing flyers during Masses that urged churchgoers to pressure diocese leaders for transparency.

"My suspicion is that the histories aren't accurate," he said, after reviewing the diocese list.

Outside Wisconsin, at least 14 attorneys general have launched investigations into dioceses in their states — and they are beginning to lead to criminal charges. Prosecutors in Michigan charged five priests accused of sexual misconduct in May.

Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul has so far not committed to a criminal investigation into clergy abuse, despite victims' calls for a state review.

The Archdiocese of Milwaukee has identified 48 known abusers, first releasing its list in 2004, but attorneys for victims say more than 100 others are named in bankruptcy records still under seal.

Just last year, the Diocese of Green Bay and De Pere's St. Norbert Abbey published lists of their priests who abused children — totaling 70 members of the clergy over several decades. The Madison and Superior dioceses have also said they are investigating abuse within their ranks but have yet to disclose their findings.

Prior to Saturday's disclosure from the La Crosse diocese, more than 130 Wisconsin priests had been credibly accused of sexual assault and identified publicly. There has been no tally of their victims, however.

The Diocese of La Crosse serves 19 counties: Adams, Buffalo, Chippewa, Clark, Crawford, Dunn, Eau Claire, Jackson, Juneau, La Crosse, Marathon, Monroe, Pepin, Pierce, Portage, Richland, Trempealeau, Vernon and Wood.

Diocesan clergy

Those with substantiated allegations:

Bruce Ball, ordained 1978 and died in 2002. Served in Colby, Eau Claire Regis High School, La Crosse Aquinas High School, Marshfield Columbus High School, Wisconsin Rapids. Multiple allegations.

Raymond Bornbach, ordained 1941 and died 2006. Serviced in Cazenovia, Hewitt, Junction City, Marshfield, Mosinee, New Lisbon, Owen, Withee, Wausau. Multiple allegations.

Eugene Comiskey, ordained 1945 and died in 1982. Served in Adams, Brooks, Pilot Knob, Boyd, Chippewa Falls, Halder, La Crosse, Marshfield Columbus High School, Spencer. Multiple allegations.

Thomas Dempsey, ordained 1955 and died in 1998. Served in Bangor, Bloomer, Boaz, Northern Colony and Training School in Chippewa Falls, Eastman, Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire, Genoa and Aquinas High School, La Crosse, Mauston Madonna High School, Rudolph, Soldiers Grove. Served outside the Diocese of La Crosse. Multiple allegations.

James Ennis, ordained 1950 and died in 2000. Served in Arcadia, Blenker, Dilly, Eau Claire, Elroy, Ettrick, Blair, Hillsboro, La Crosse, North Creek, Schofield, Wilton, Yuba, Mount Tabor. Multiple allegations.

James Finucan, ordained in 1947 and died in 2009. Served in Cooks Valley, Eastman, Eau Claire, La Crosse, Owen, Prairie du Chien, Stevens Point, Wausau. Single allegation. Served outside of diocese in Ontario Canada. Single allegation.

John Thomas Finucan, ordained 1955 and died in 2018. Served in Fountain City, Viterbo University in La Crosse, Pine Creek, Richland Center, Stevens Point, Wausau Newman High School, Wisconsin Rapids Assumption High School. Outside of diocese: UW-Milwaukee, archdiocese of St. Paul/Minneapolis, St. Mary’s College of Minnesota in Winona, Minnesota. Single allegation.

Tom Garthwaite, ordained 1955 and removed in 2004. Served in Arcadia, Augusta, Fall Creek, Drywood, Jim Falls, Kendall, Elroy, Wilton, Marshfield, Mauston Madonna High School, Sparta and St. Mary Hospital, Stevens Point. Multiple allegations.

Richard Herrmann, ordained in 1944 and died in 2016. Served in McDonell High School, Chippewa Falls; La Crosse, Lima, Marshfield, Milladore, Poniatowski, Rudolph, Sigel, Wausau, Wisconsin Rapids, Boulder Junction, Ladysmith, Presque Isle, Sayner. Multiple allegations.

William Hertzenberg, ordained in 1956 and died in 1995. Served in Chippewa Falls, Durand, Independence, La Crosse, Nekoosa, Assumption High School in Wisconsin Rapids. Multiple allegations.

Thomas Langer, ordained in 1956 and died in 2004. Served in Babcock, Bloomer, Cooks Valley, Gays Mills, Rolling Ground, Aquinas High School, La Crosse;

St. Joseph Hospital, Marshfield; Columbus High School, Marshfield; New Auburn, Poniatowski, Newman High School, Wausau; Port Edwards, Rock Falls, Regis High School, Eau Claire; Assumption High School, Wisconsin Rapids; Parkersburg (West Virginia) Catholic High School. Single substantiated allegation.

James E. Mason, ordained in 1967 and laicized in 2004. Served in McDonell High School, Chippewa Falls; Regis High School, Eau Claire; Newman Center, Eau Claire; La Crosse, Richland Center. Multiple allegations.

Garland Muller, ordained in 1938 and died in 1978. Served in Bakerville, Cooks Valley, Keyesville, Marathon, Rudolph, Wausau, Wilton, Wuerzburg, Germany. Multiple allegations.

Charles Rasmussen, ordained in 1977 and died in 2011. Served in La Crosse, Plover, Stevens Point. Multiple allegations.

Albert Sonnberger, ordained in 1956 and entered “inactive ministry” in November 2018. Served in Chippewa Falls, Cooks Valley, La Crosse; Aquinas High School, La Crosse; Soldiers Grove, Boaz, Tilden. Single allegation.

James Stauber, ordained in 1959 and died in 2010. Served in Brackett, Colby, St. Patrick Jr. High School and Regis High School, Eau Claire; La Crosse, Lima, Marathon, Prairie du Chien, Nekoosa, Assumption High School, Wisconsin Rapids; Milwaukee, Riverside, California. Multiple allegations.

Patrick Umberger, ordained in 1980 and died in 2010. Served in Arcadia, Blair, Whitehall, Elroy, Union Center, Wonewoc, La Crosse, Mauston, Onalaska, Plover, West Allis, Burlington. Multiple allegations.

Raymond J. Wagner, ordained 1952 and died in 2009. Served in Arcadia, Black River Falls, Cazenovia, Eau Claire, Eastman, Gays Mills, Kendall, Poniatowski, Rock Falls, Sparta, Stevens Point, Wausau. Multiple allegations.

Non-diocese priests accused of abuse in diocese

Timothy Svea, ordained in 1992 and last assignment in the diocese was in 2000. Served in St. Mary’s Ridge, Tomah, Wausau. Multiple substantiated allegations

Bogdan Werra, ordained in 1981 and suspended from the La Crosse Diocese in 1994. Served in Keyesville, Bear Valley, Lone Rock, Cazenovia, Stevens Point. Single substantiated allegation.

Non-diocese priests who served in diocese and listed on other abuse lists

Dennis Bouche, no information on ordination. Died in 1995. Served in Independence. Single substantiated allegation of abuse in Diocese of Green Bay.

Daniel Budzynnski, no information on ordination. Laicized in 2004. Served in Eau Claire, Stevens Point. Multiple substantiated allegations in Archdiocese of Milwaukee.

Orville Munie, no information on ordination. Died in 1993. Served in Arkansaw. Unspecified number of allegations, according to Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate.

Joseph Smetana, no information on ordination. Permanently removed from ministry. Served in Eau Galle. Unspecified number of allegations, according to Capuchin Fransiscan Province of St. Joseph.

Francis Zimmer, no information on ordination. Died in 1983. Served in Amherst, Chippewa Falls, Edgar, Stevens Point, Tomah. Unspecified number of allegations in the Diocese of Fort Worth.

Laura Schulte is a reporter based at the Wausau Daily Herald. If you have any information about the priests listed in this disclosure or other cases involving clergy abuse in Wisconsin that have not been reported, you may reach her at leschulte@gannett.com, by phone at 715-496-4088 or on Twitter @schultelaura.

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