Update, June 14, 2019: The Archdiocese of Indianapolis has updated a list from late last year that added four names and additional victims, bringing the total to 28 priests accused of sexually abusing more than 100 victims.

Michael E. Dorrler, Werner Holzer, Thomas Aquinas Schaefers and Charles E. Sullivan were religious order priests in the archdiocese when the abuse allegedly occurred. The allegations were made known by their respective religious communities after the archdiocese published its list in October.

Additionally, one victim came forward in the case of George Peter Ziemer, who had previously been listed as having a single, unsubstantiated claim of abuse reported after his death.

Michael E. Dorrler

Number of victims: 1

Alleged time period of abuse: 1990-93

Current state: Removed from priestly ministry; reported to Archdiocese in November 2018

Werner Holzer

Number of victims: 1

Alleged time period of abuse: 1978-79

Current state: Deceased

Thomas Aquinas Schaefers

Number of victims: 1

Alleged time period of abuse: early 1940s

Current state: Deceased

Charles E. Sullivan

Number of victims: 1

Alleged time period of abuse: 1958-59

Current state: Deceased

Oct. 11, 2018: The Archdiocese of Indianapolis on Thursday released the names of more than 20 priests associated with the archdiocese who have at least one "credible" claim of sex abuse of a child or adolescent against them, including two priests who the church said each had more than a dozen victims.

The list includes 19 priests for the archdiocese and four who were members of religious orders who served in the archdiocese, dating back to 1940.

The diocese also released the names of priests accused of improper relationships with “vulnerable” adults and others who were deceased before their allegations were reported and the allegations were not substantiated.

Collectively, the diocese identified 103 victims.

“I pray the release of this list of credibly accused clergy will help all survivors of sexual abuse find the strength to come forward and will set them on the path to healing,” Archbishop Charles C. Thompson said in a written statement. “I apologize to all victims for the abuse that was done to them and for the failure of the Church to keep them from harm. I pledge to do everything within my power to protect our youth.”

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The number of victims listed for each priest ranges from one to 23. Of the 19 accused of abuse of a child or adolescent, only nine are alive, according to the diocese.

All of the allegations have been reported to the Department of Child Services and law enforcement, the diocese said.

Advocates for church abuse victims speak out

Victims advocates welcomed the decision by the diocese to release the names but also said such investigations should begin with authorities and not the church.

Tim Lennon, board president for the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, said every list like this provides survivors recognition from the church and reminds others they aren’t alone.

“The vast majority of victims, especially of child sex abuse, never come forward,” Lennon said. “So when the archdiocese provides an opportunity for these victims to tell their family and reach out and get help, it’s a good thing.”

Thompson announced his intentions to compile and release the list on Aug. 30, weeks after a sweeping Pennsylvania grand jury report identified 300 “predator priests” and more than 1,000 victims across the state.

Several Indiana dioceses announced plans to release the names of priests accused of sexually abusing minors following the report, including a list of 20 in the Fort Wayne-South Bend diocese and 10 in the Diocese of Gary. None of the priests on either list served in Indianapolis in a ministerial capacity, according to those dioceses.

Lennon said although it’s progress to see these lists, the names should have been made public long ago. And the work can’t stop here.

“They need to take action on the harm that’s been done,” he said. “The church needs to be responsible for restorative justice.”

Robert Hoatson, a former priest and the president of Road to Recovery, a New Jersey-based group that assists victims of sex abuse, said the most reliable information would come from a state investigation, not a church trying to protect its own interests.

“Unfortunately, the church only does it kicking and screaming, when it’s confronted with the possibility of indictments, investigations, et cetera,” he said. “It’s hard to trust the church. It’s hard to trust the church to do the right thing.”

After the Fort Wayne-South Bend diocese released its list Sept. 18, SNAP leadership called for probes nationwide similar to what occurred in Pennsylvania.

Attorney General Curtis Hill’s office told IndyStar such investigations must begin locally.

“While the alleged conduct, according to the Pennsylvania grand jury report is beyond reprehensible, in Indiana, any investigation of criminal sex abuse must begin at the local level with specific allegations against a person or organization,” the office said last month in a written statement.

Indianapolis Archdiocese identifies 'credible' allegations

The Indianapolis list was created based on recommendations made by the Archdiocesan Review Board, which is tasked with investigating and reviewing each of the allegations. A "credible" allegation is considered “more likely to be true than not,” according to the archdiocese.

The board comprises five laypersons and one clergy member, according to the diocese. Current and past members of the board have held positions in law enforcement, the prosecutor’s office, child protective services, education, childhood development, psychology, social work and law.

Some of the men included in the Indianapolis list have recently come under scrutiny.

Father Patrick Doyle, who was suspended last month after allegations were reported, resigned as pastor of the Nativity Parish on Oct. 8. He had served in numerous ministerial capacities at parishes across the area, according to the archdiocese. He was an administrator at Bishop Chatard High School at the time of the alleged incident in 1987.

Father John Maung was removed from public ministry in August after allegations against him surfaced. Maung, who retired in 2009 but continued to assist at various parishes, has denied the claims, according to the archdiocese.

Prior to his retirement, Maung served at St. Lawrence in Indianapolis; St. Gabriel in Connersville and St. Joseph in Shelbyville. He also resided at Holy Spirit Parish in Indianapolis.

In a written statement, the archdiocese said officials will update the list if new credible claims surface.

Clergy accused of misconduct

The Archdiocese of Indianapolis on Thursday released the names of nearly 30 priests accused of misconduct. Specifically where each priest served and when was not immediately available.

The 19 priests for the archdiocese accused of sexually abusing minors:

William Leroy Blackwell

Number of victims: 8

Alleged time of abuse: 1958; 1964-68

Current state: Deceased

Edward Theodore Bockhold

Number of victims: 2

Alleged time of abuse: 1949, 1961

Current state: Deceased

Conrad Louis Cambron

Number of victims: 2

Alleged time of abuse: 1978, 1980

Current state: Resigned from the priesthood in 1985

Jeffrey James Charlton

Number of victims: 3

Alleged time period of abuse:1982, 1984, 1986-87

Current state: Resigned 1995, removed from clerical state in Nov. 2014

Samuel Thomas Curry

Number of victims: 7

Alleged time period of abuse: 1970s

Current state: Deceased

Albert Vincent Deery

Number of victims: 23

Alleged time period of abuse: 1950s-1970s

Current state: Deceased

Jack F. Emrich

Number of victims: 1

Alleged time period of abuse: 1970s

Current state: Removed from ministry in 2003

Donald J. Evrard

Number of victims: 5

Alleged time period of abuse: 1977, 1985

Current state: Deceased

Micheal Howard Kelley

Number of victims: 2

Alleged time period of abuse: 1990, 1992

Current state: Removed from ministry in 2003

Joseph Stanley Kos

Number of victims: 3

Alleged time period of abuse: 1980s

Current state: Deceased

Laurence Michael Lynch

Number of victims: 1

Alleged time period of abuse: 1972-73

Current state: Deceased

John S. Maung

Number of victims: 1

Alleged time period of abuse: 1993-1997

Current state: Removed from ministry in 2018

Harold E. Monroe

Number of victims: 16

Alleged time period of abuse: 1976-1982

Current state: Removed from clerical state in April 2011

Eugene Jack Okon

Number of victims: 4

Alleged time period of abuse: 1974

Current state: Deceased

Roger Gerard Rudolf

Number of victims: 1

Alleged time period of abuse: 1987-88

Current state: Removed from clerical state in May 2015

Frederick Adam Schmitt

Number of victims: 3

Alleged time period of abuse: 1973-74

Current state: Deceased

John Bernard Schoettelkotte

Number of victims: 5

Alleged time period of abuse: 1964-67

Current state: Removed from ministry in 2003

Myles Hale Patrick Smith

Number of victims: 3

Alleged time period of abuse: 1976-1988

Current state: Deceased

Jonathan Lovill Stewart

Number of victims: 1

Alleged time period of abuse: 1993

Current state: Removed from ministry in 2003

The four religious order priests who have served in the archdiocese:

Brennan Harris

Number of victims: 1

Alleged time period of abuse: 1971

Current state: Deceased

Bernard Knoth

Number of victims: 1

Alleged time period of abuse: 1978

Current state: Removed from clerical state

Donald O’Shaughnessy

Number of victims: 2

Alleged time period of abuse: 1965

Current state: Deceased

Roman Pfalzer

Number of victims: 2

Alleged time period of abuse: 1953-54

Current state: Deceased

The archdiocese named two priests who are the subjects of “credible” allegations involving adults who were adolescents when the emotional aspects of the relationship began:

Patrick Andrew Doyle

Number of victims: 1

Alleged time of abuse: 1987

Current state: Removed from ministry in 2018

Karl Joseph Miltz

Number of victims: 1

Alleged time of abuse: 1974

Current state: Removed from clerical state in Dec. 2005

The release also includes the names of four members of the clergy who had claims of abuse against them but were deceased before the allegations were reported. The board had no way to substantiate the claims against them. Their names are being released “out of an abundance of caution and transparency,” the archdiocese said. The four:

John Stanley Kramer

Number of victims: 1

Alleged time of abuse: 1947-1952

William Kreis

Number of victims: 1

Alleged time of abuse: 1944-46

James Joseph Shanahan

Number of victims: 1

Alleged time of abuse: 1958

George Peter Ziemer

Number of victims: 1

Alleged time of abuse: 1955-57

How to report

Those who have been the victim of sexual abuse or harassment by a member of the clergy are encouraged to contact civil authorities and the archdiocesan victim assistance coordinator, Carla Hill. Hill can be reached 317-236-1548 or 800-382-9836, ext. 1548, or by e-mail at carlahill@archindy.org. Reports can also be submitted online at archdioceseofindianapolis.ethicspoint.com.

Call IndyStar reporter Holly Hays at (317) 444-6156. Follow her on Twitter: @hollyvhays.

Call IndyStar reporter Crystal Hill at 317-444-6094. Follow her on Twitter: @crysnhill.