Indiana Catholic Diocese Priest Sex Abuse List | Injury Lawyer Team

List of Accused Priests In Indiana

Abuse in the Roman Catholic Church is an emotional issue that significantly impacts the trustworthiness of the church. The Indianapolis Archdiocese has a list of accused priests in Indiana, including 20 priests in the Fort Wayne-South Bend Diocese, 19 priests in the Archdiocese itself, and 4 priests who were members of religious orders in the Archdiocese dating back as far as the 1940s.

Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers is committed to supporting and seeking justice for survivors of sex abuse in Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, South Bend, and other cities. Our proven track record of holding credibly accused clergy members accountable has helped many clients recover from trauma incurred in Indiana. Read on to learn what legal steps survivors can take, the support available, and how our lawyers help you navigate Indiana laws.

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Last Name	First Name	Diocese	Status	Accusations (Summary)
Beever	Carlton J.	Archdiocese of Indianapolis IN	Sued	Sued in 2004. Accused with another (former) priest of abuse of a youth 1972-77. Spent 18 months on leave before cleared by Review Board and reinstated in 3/06.
Belen	Germain	Archdiocese of Indianapolis IN	Sued	Belen molested and raped a girl in the 1970s in Terre Haute, IN. He retired in 2001 after a stroke and claimed too much time had passed.
Amsden	Thomas J.	Archdiocese of Indianapolis IN	Sued	Resigned from ministry in 1995 to marry and start a family. Sued in 2004 by a man alleging Amsden and another priest abused him in the 1970s. Cleared by Review Board in 3/06.
Allen	Michael E.	Diocese of Evansville IN	Accused	Allen was accused of sexually abusing a 16-year-old boy in 1976. He admitted the abuse in 1994, was sent for treatment, then returned to ministry.
Bockhold	Edward Theodore	Archdiocese of Indianapolis IN	Accused	First accused publicly on archdiocese’s 10/12/18 list. Died 3/12/72. Abuse reported after his death of two minors, allegedly occurring 1949 and 1961. Was pastor 1938-1969 of Holy Trinity in Indianapolis.
Blum	Randall	Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend IN	Convicted	Seminarian named publicly as accused by the Congregation of Holy Cross on its list 6/12/19. Pleaded guilty to one charge after accusation he molested two boys, ages 13 and 16.
Blume	James R.	Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend IN	Convicted	Originally a member of the Bros of Holy Cross, Blume was forced to resign in 1989 after completing therapy. A second man filed suit in 1992 alleging abuse at a different assignment 1985-87.
Bohlinger	Kenneth	Diocese of Lafayette IN	Accused	After report of past abuse, priest was removed from public ministry and sent to treatment. He admitted being addicted to children.
Breidenbach	John	Diocese of Evansville IN	Accused	Named publicly as accused by the diocese on its list 2/22/19. One credible allegation noted. Admitted to sexually abusing minors prior to ordination as a deacon. Removed from public ministry 3/14/14.
Buczyna	Joseph	Diocese of Gary IN	Accused	First named as accused publicly by Gary diocese on list released 8/27/18. Noted to have one allegation against him. Died 1/12/76.
Blackwell	William Leroy	Archdiocese of Indianapolis IN	Sued	Blackwell was accused of sexually abusing a boy at St. Mary School in the late 1950s and another youth between 1956 and 1961. He died in 1990.
Sheehy	J. Patrick	Archdiocese of Indianapolis IN	Accused	Sheehy was credibly accused of sexually abusing a student in 1978, while a resident of the Brebeuf Jesuit High School, and was the school’s president from 1987-1992.
Buescher	Michael J.	Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend IN	Accused	Buescher was first named publicly as accused on 9/18/18, removed from parish ministry 11/89, laicized 5/14/91, and retired 9/28/18.
Cambron	Louis	Archdiocese of Indianapolis IN	Accused	First named publicly as accused on the archdiocese’s 10/12/18 list. Noted to have two victims, alleged time of abuse 1978 and 1980. Resigned from the priesthood in 1985.
Burtchaell	James T.	Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend IN	Accused	Notre Dame professor who resigned in 1991 after allegations that he subjected male students to sexual advances.
Charlton	Jeffrey James	Archdiocese of Indianapolis IN	Accused	First named publicly as accused on archdiocese’s list 10/12/18. Noted to have abused three minors, in 1982, 1984, 1986-87. Resigned from the priesthood in 1995. Laicized 11/17/14.
Chase	Terrence R.	Diocese of Gary IN	Accused	Chase was placed on leave after allegations of sexual misconduct with a minor, but denied the accusations in a written letter to parishioners.
Carsten	Brian	Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend IN	Accused	Fr. Skip was named publicly as accused on 9/18/18 list, laicized 6/23/07, and died 3/27/09.
Ciganovich	Joseph (Mark)	Diocese of Evansville IN	Guilty plea	Arrested in a nationwide child pornography sting in 1996, removed from public ministry, placed under supervision by his Order, pleaded guilty to a federal charge, separated from the Order in 1996, chose exclaustration and died in 2011.
Clements	James	Diocese of Evansville IN	Accused	Named publicly as accused by the diocese on its list 2/22/19. One credible allegation, to which he admitted. Laicized 4/18/77. Died 12/21/96.
Clauss	Joseph L.	Diocese of Evansville IN	Accused	Clauss was removed from public ministry in 1990 after allegations that he abused a youth in OH. He was living in a treatment facility in Jemez Springs, NM, and was not allowed to leave without supervision.
Colletti	Joseph A.	Diocese of Lafayette IN	Accused	Colletti was accused of sex abuse of minors in the Chicago archdiocese and was removed from public ministry in 1990. He went on to minister as a priest in the “Old Catholic” church in Orange, CA.
Daylor	Ann	Archdiocese of Indianapolis IN	Accused	Daylor was accused of sexual misconduct with a 10-year-old girl in 1961-62, but denied the allegation.
Curry	Samuel Thomas	Archdiocese of Indianapolis IN	Sued	Two sisters filed suit in 1/04 alleging sexual abuse by Curry 1976-79, when they were 9-12 and 12-15. He was assigned to St. Jude’s in Spencer, IN, and died 2/7/91.
Oreo	James De	Diocese of Lafayette IN	Accused	De Oreo was suspended from public ministry in 2021 due to allegations of inappropriate conduct with a minor. The alleged victim filed suit against the priest in 22.
Deery	Albert Vincent	Archdiocese of Indianapolis IN	Sued	Accused of sexual abuse of both boys and girls 1948-1969. Died 8/25/72. First civil suit filed 2003. Eventually 23 plaintiffs participated. Suit dismissed on statute of limitations 6/03/06. Included on archdicoese’s list 10/12/18.
Dorrler	Michael E.	Archdiocese of Indianapolis IN	Accused	The Jesuits Midwest Province named a single allegation of abuse occurring in 1990, and he was permanently removed from public ministry.
Doyle	Patrick A.	Archdiocese of Indianapolis IN	Accused	A priest was suspended in 9/18 after a report of sexual misconduct dating back several decades. The priest had one victim who was age 18 in 1987.
Emrich	Jack F.	Archdiocese of Indianapolis IN	Accused	First named publicly as accused on archdiocese’s 10/12/18 list. Noted to have one accusation against him of abuse occuring in the 1970s. Removed from ministry in 2003.
Ehrman	William J.	Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend IN	Accused	A woman alleged abuse by Ehrman as a girl beginning in 1953 or 1954, and her son reported it to officials in 1998, but they claimed they never received it. Ehrman retired in 1970 and died 8/7/83.
Eder	Donald	Diocese of Lafayette IN	Accused	Eder was the subject of a sexual harassment lawsuit filed in 1997 by a female coworker. He was sent for counseling for alcohol-related problems.
Esser	Gilbert F.	Diocese of Lafayette IN	Accused	Named as accused on the Lafayette IN diocese’s list 9/28/18. Taught Latin and Greek at St. Joseph’s College in Rensselaer for almost thirty years. Hospital chaplain in Detroit. Died 5/15/79.
Englert	Wilfred	Diocese of Evansville IN	Convicted	Arrested and placed on leave 8/05 after allegations he sexually molested a 19-year-old man who had the mental capacity of a 9-year old. Sentenced to 2 terms of 1.5 yrs in Dubois County Jail, released 1/08.
Etienne	Bernard T.	Diocese of Evansville IN	Unsubstantiated	The diocesan Review Board determined that the allegation of sexual misconduct was unsubstantiated and Bernie returned to active ministry.
Evrard	Donald J.	Archdiocese of Indianapolis IN	Settled	After allegations of sexual abuse, Evrard was removed as chaplain at St. Vincent Hospital and settled with the Diocese for counseling and legal expenses.
Fleck	David	Diocese of Evansville IN	Accused	Diocese received a report of sexual misconduct by Fleck occurring “decades ago”. Fleck denied the allegation and remained on leave in 8/19.
Gieranowski	William	Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend IN	Accused	First named publicly as accused by the diocese on its 9/18/18 list. Noted to have three credible allegations against him, all received after his death. The diocese’s list in 9/21 shows 5 credible allegations. Retired in 7/82. Died 4/24/00.
Gaughan	Joseph W.	Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend IN	Accused	A credible allegation was received that Gaughan sexually abused a minor over 20 years prior. He was placed on leave.
Graehler	Kenneth L.	Diocese of Evansville IN	Accused	Graehler was removed from ministry in 2002 after an allegation of misconduct with a minor. He retired in 2011 and died in 2016
Gillig	John E.	Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend IN	Accused	First accused publicly on diocese’s 9/18/18 list. Noted to have nine credible allegations against him. The diocese’s list in 9/21 shows 12 allegations. Retired in 4/88. Suspended from public ministry 3/25/02. Laicized 2/8/08. Died 7/27/11.
Grass	Donald C.	Diocese of Gary IN	Accused	Grass admitted to molesting a preteen girl at Holy Angels Cathedral in the late 1960s, was placed on leave, and was no longer allowed to live in his parish residence.
Grear	James	Diocese of Lafayette IN	Sued	Accuser accused Bishop Gallagher of abuse of boy at a Catholic youth rally in 1982. A suit filed in AZ in 10/2020 claims abuse of a boy starting in 1977. Grear worked at Chinle High School late 1970s-early 1980s, and was also principal of a Crow Creek Sioux high school in SD.
Heitz	Warren	Diocese of Evansville IN	Accused	Named publicly as accused by the diocese on its list 2/22/19. It notes two credible allegations. Removed from ministry by the Benedictines’ St. Meinrad Archabbey in 2002, after St. Meinrad’s review board deemed the allegations credible.
Hernandez	Gabriel	Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend IN	Accused	First named publicly as accused in the diocese’s 9/18/18 list. One known credible allegation. Deacon. Dismissed from seminary 4/22/09. Laicized 2/25/10. On Columbus diocese’s list 3/1/19.
Jercha	Julian	Diocese of Gary IN	Accused	First named publicly as accused on Gary diocese list released 8/27/18. Noted to have three allegations against him. Died 6/27/87.
Jeziorski	Louis	Diocese of Gary IN	Accused	First named publicly as accused by Gary diocese on list released 8/27/18. Noted to have three allegations against him. Died 4/6/73.
Harris	Brennan	Archdiocese of Indianapolis IN	Accused	First named publicly as accused on 10/12/18, and again on 4/11/19. Multiple victims noted, occurring 1983-87 in Lake Arthur, LA and Port Arthur, TX.
Horvath	Martin A.	Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend IN	Accused	A news report mentioned him as having “possible” allegations against him. He died 9/20/2000.
Kavungal	George	Diocese of Gary IN	Accused	From India, Kavungal was a Carmelite of Mary Immaculate (CMI) priest who arrived in Gary in 1978. He was first named publicly as accused on a list released 8/27/18, and was removed from public ministry in 2005.
Huneck	David	Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend IN	Guilty plea	The diocese announced on 9/27/21 that Huneck had been charged with sexual abuse involving two female teenagers, one a minor. Huneck pled guilty to the felony charges of child solicitation and sexual battery and was sentenced to 180 days’ home detention and two years’ probation.
Kelley	Micheal H.	Archdiocese of Indianapolis IN	Accused	Accused in 1989 of abuse of a youth who had just turned 18. Placed on leave in 2002, but did admit to misconduct with adults.
Hutsko	Basil	Diocese of Gary IN	Accused	Priest of the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Parma, accused in 2004 of abusing a girl, was permanently banned from public ministry in 2018 and ordered to live a life of prayer and penance.
Kilcline	Frank	Diocese of Lafayette IN	Accused	On diocese’s list 10/1/18 of those with substantiated allegations against them of child sexual abuse. Removed from public ministry in 7/12. Laicized 4/17/21.
Kohne	Ambrose	Diocese of Lafayette IN	Accused	Kohne was accused of child sex abuse and died in a fire at a nursing home.
Knoth	Bernard P.	Archdiocese of Indianapolis IN	Accused	Knoth resigned in 2003 as president of Loyola University in New Orleans after allegations that he sexually abused a student at Brebeuf Jesuit Prep in Indianapolis. He denied it.
Kramer	John Stanley	Archdiocese of Indianapolis IN	Accused	First named publicly as accused on archdiocese’s list 10/12/18. Allegations reported after his death. Died 1/28/86. Noted to have one victim, abuse allegedly occurring 1947-52.
Kos	Joseph Stanley	Archdiocese of Indianapolis IN	Accused	First named publicly as accused on the archdiocese’s list 10/12/18. Noted to have three victims, allegedly abused in the mid-1980s. Died 8/9/00.
Kreis	William	Archdiocese of Indianapolis IN	Accused	First named publicly as accused on archdiocese’s list 10/12/18. Noted to have one victim, abuse allegedly occurring 1944-46. Kreis died 3/10/54. Allegation reported after his death.
Krason	Edward	Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend IN	Accused	Former principal of Bishop Dwenger High School in Fr. Wayne, Michigan, was accused of sexual misconduct and was ordered to cease all ministry.
Kuper	Raymond L.	Diocese of Evansville IN	Accused	A man testified that Kuper sexually abused him multiple times when he was age 9 and a student at Christ the King school. The diocese announced that it could not substantiate the allegations.
Lynch	Laurence Michael	Archdiocese of Indianapolis IN	Accused	First named publicly as accused on the archdiocese’s 10/12/18 list. Noted to have one victim, allegedly abused 1972-73. Resigned form ministry 1979. Died 7/17/09.
Mahoney	Robert J.	Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend IN	Sued	Two men filed civil suits against the diocese and Mahoney for abuse as children. The suits were dismissed “with prejudice”.
Kurzendoerfer	Mark	Diocese of Evansville IN	Accused	Kurzendoerfer was accused of inappropriate physical relationship with 14-year-old boy in 1981. He admitted to soliciting sex from his own 17-year-old nephew in 1998.
LeBrun	Paul Francis	Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend IN	Convicted	Arrested in 2002, convicted of sexually abusing boys in the Ft. Wayne-South Bend IN diocese and the Phoenix AZ diocese, sent to Southdown in Toronto for treatment, laicized in 2008, included on the order’s list 9/18/2018.
Lombardi	Thomas C.	Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend IN	Accused	Former principal of Huntington Catholic High School, placed on leave in 12/11 after recent allegation of having had “contact with a minor,” about age 16, in approximately 1997.
Luczak	Ralph G.	Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend IN	Accused	A woman said that Luczak molested her at age 10 on several occasions in the summer of 1969. She told her mom, who told a doctor and the police, but nothing was done.
Marcotte	David J.	Archdiocese of Indianapolis IN	Guilty plea	Marcotte was suspended by the archdiocese after an allegation of sexual abuse. He was charged with child solicitation, vicarious sexual gratification, and dissemination of matter harmful to minors, and was sentenced to home detention and 18 months’ probation.
Matichek	Robert	Diocese of Lafayette IN	Accused	Matichek was named publicly as credibly accused by the Lafayette, IN diocese on 11/25/19.
McGinnity	Ambrose	Diocese of Gary IN	Accused	First named publicly as accused on the Gary diocese’s list released 8/27/18. Noted to have six allegations against him and removed from public ministry in 1993. Died 2/27/00.
Mergen	Arthur	Archdiocese of Indianapolis IN	Accused	Named publicly as accused by the diocese on its list 2/22/19. It notes two credible allegations. Left the diocese in 1988 withough the bishop’s permission. Died 12/14/94.
Maung	John S.	Archdiocese of Indianapolis IN	Accused	Indian native, worked in Burma and San Francisco, then Indianapolis beginning 1981. Charged with forgery and theft, retired 2009, and was accused of abusing a child.
Messick	Severin	Archdiocese of Indianapolis IN	Accused	Messick was named publicly as credibly accused by the Diocese of Owensboro on its list in 5/22. He served on the Tribunals for the Diocese of Owensboro and the Archdiocese of Indianapolis.
Miller	Elden Joseph	Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend IN	Accused	A 60-year-old woman told the diocese Miller sexually abused her over a 5-year period in the 1960s, beginning when she was age 6. There are credible allegations against Miller from three other people.
O’Brien	William	Archdiocese of Indianapolis IN	Sued	Sued 2003 by two brothers claiming O’Brien abused them 1951-1957. Died in 1967.
Ramos	Ponciano M.	Archdiocese of Indianapolis IN	Guilty plea	From the Philippines, pled guilty to strip-searching young boys in 1993 and was sentenced to an 18-month suspended sentence and 15 months’ probation. Placed on leave in 2002 and allowed to return to restricted duty with the Order in 2003.
Rudolf	Roger Gerard	Archdiocese of Indianapolis IN	Accused	First named publicly as accused on archdiocese’s 10/12/2018 list. Noted to have one victim, allegedly abused 1987-1988. Removed in 2002. Laicized in 5/2015.
Monroe	Harold	Archdiocese of Indianapolis IN	Settled	Archbishop O’Meara relieved him in 1984 after a woman complained of abuse of her son. He was accused of abuse of many youths before 1984 and admitted abuse of at least 5 in deposition.
Miltz	Karl Joseph	Archdiocese of Indianapolis IN	Accused	First named publicly as accused on archdiocese’s list 10/12/18, removed from ministry in 1998, laicized 12/05.
Okon	Eugene Jack	Archdiocese of Indianapolis IN	Accused	Accused of molesting two teenage brothers in the 1970s; resigned from ministry in 2003; included on archdiocese’s list 10/12/18.
Schmitt	Frederick Adam	Archdiocese of Indianapolis IN	Accused	First named publicly as accused on the archdicoese’s list 10/12/18. Noted to have three victims, allegedly abused 1973-74. Died 12/30/88. Abuse reported after his death.
Schaefers	Thomas Aquinas	Archdiocese of Indianapolis IN	Accused	Report to the diocese in 2010 that Schaefers abused a male minor in the early 1940s, when pastor of St. Benedict. Died 5/22/42, age 53.
Powell	John J.	Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend IN	Settled	Professor of psychology and theology, who wrote self-help books popular with adolescent girls, was sued in 2003 and settled with 6 (2 suits) in 10/2005. He was named in another suit filed in 10/2006 and fondled and abused a girl, age 16-17, at Rosarian Academy in West Palm Beach, FL.
Ryan	Cornelius J.	Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend IN	Accused	Ryan worked in Uganda and Kenya 1967-2002 as a soccer coach, and was removed without privileges from Saint Joseph’s in Hessen Cassel in 2013 after credible allegations of sexual abuse.
Schroering	Francis A.	Diocese of Evansville IN	Accused	Accused in 2002 of fondling two girls in the 1960s. Retired in 2003 due to “illness”, died in 2005.
Schroeder	Othmar H.	Diocese of Evansville IN	Accused	Schroeder was a priest in the then-diocese of Indianapolis. Allegations of abuse were made public 8/18/07, and by 8/31/07 there were claims of abuse of at least 10 boys and girls.
Schoettelkotte	John Bernard	Archdiocese of Indianapolis IN	Settled	Accused of abuse of a 15-year-old girl in the 1960s. Removed from ministry in 2003.
Schutt	Bruce A.	Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend IN	Accused	First publicly accused on Diocese’s 10/18 list, two credible allegations noted, Army National Guard chaplain, laicized 5/9/75.
Shanahan	James Joseph	Archdiocese of Indianapolis IN	Accused	First named publicly as accused on archdiocese’s list 10/12/18. Noted to have one victim, abuse allegedly occurring 1958. Shanahan died 11/14/92. Allegations reported after his death.
Stewart	Jonathan L.	Archdiocese of Indianapolis IN	Settled	A woman filed a lawsuit against Stewart on behalf of her 17-year-old son. The court awarded $155K in damages and Stewart was removed from ministry in 2003.
Seculoff	James F.	Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend IN	Accused	High school principal, head of Catholic Schools beginning 1970, resigned and retired after diocese received complaint of sexual abuse of minor alleged to have occurred about 44 years before.
Smith	Myles Hale Patrick	Archdiocese of Indianapolis IN	Accused	First named publicly as accused on the archdiocese’s list 10/12/18. Noted to have three victims, allegedly abused 1976-1988. Pastor of St. John the Apostle in Bloomington 1982-95. Removed from ministry 2003. Died 5/2/12.
Stieglitz	Richard	Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend IN	Sued	Stieglitz was forced to resign from Queen of Angels Parish in 12/93 after adopting four Haitian youths and sued by a man for sexual battery in 1980.
Staniszewski	Stanley	Diocese of Gary IN	Accused	Staniszewski was ordained in Warsaw, Poland, and worked in several dioceses including Gary, Chicago, Kalamazoo, Sioux Falls, and Sioux Falls. He was accused of sexual abuse of boys in the 1990s, and was included on several lists of credibly accused bishops.
Sego	Arthur A.	Diocese of Lafayette IN	Sued	Sego abused a girl when she was in elementary school 27 years prior, and admitted exposing himself to one young girl and having another undress and dance for him.
Sullivan	Charles E.	Archdiocese of Indianapolis IN	Accused	The Jesuits Midwest Province and the Archdiocese of Indianapolis named Sullivan as accused in 12/2018. A single allegation was received after Sullivan’s death.
Thompson	Richard F.	Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend IN	Accused	On 9/18/18, the Indianapolis-Ft. Wayne diocese named Rev. John C. McKinney as accused of sexually abusing children.
Trepanier	James R.	Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend IN	Accused	First named publicly as accused on 9/18/2018, removed from ministry in 2002, and died 11/3/2021. Listed in the 5/23/2023 IL Attorney General’s Report.
Tracey	Donald	Diocese of Lafayette IN	Accused	Superintendent of Catholic Schools, teacher, track coach, parish priest. Accused of sexual misconduct with high school and college students, and fired from job at Lafayette Central Catholic High School.
Vogler	Jean F.	Diocese of Evansville IN	Convicted	Caught in a sting ordering child pornography for delivery to the Holy Rosary rectory, Vogler was convicted and sent to prison for a year. He was resigned and allowed active ministry until removed 2/19/19.
Varga	Stephen V.	Diocese of Gary IN	Accused	Possibly from Hungary, first assignment in Cleveland OH and McKeesport, PA, incardinated into the Diocese of Gary 9/28/67, laicized 7/28/71, died at age 82 on 7/12/06.
Voss	Ronald J.	Diocese of Lafayette IN	Accused	Accused of sexually abusing 8-9 teenage boys, resigned ministry in 1993 and moved to Haiti, where he operated a guest facility for those who visited Haiti to aid the poor.
Wieber	Raymond H.	Diocese of Lafayette IN	Sued	Accused of sexually abusing teen boys, Wieber ran a popular youth program, and was warned about his character before ordination.
Whitten	Susan	Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend IN	Accused	Member of the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ, accused of sexual abuse of a minor.
Wildeman	Richard J.	Diocese of Evansville IN	Accused	After being removed from active ministry, he was laicized after admitting to fondling a 16-year-old girl over 20 years before.
Woerdeman	Robert	Diocese of Evansville IN	Accused	Named publicly as accused by the diocese on its list 2/22/19. One allegation noted, deemed credible by the St. Meinrad Archabbey Review Board. Woerdeman was laicized in 1975 and died in 2005.
Ziemer	George Peter	Archdiocese of Indianapolis IN	Accused	First named publicly as accused on archdiocese’s list 10/12/18. Noted to have one victim, abuse allegedly occurring 1955-57. Ziemer died 4/26/80. Allegations reported after his death.

About Clergy Sexual Abuse

Clergy sexual abuse occurs when a person with a position of authority in the church engages in unethical, inappropriate, and exploitative sexual misconduct towards an individual under their spiritual care. This abuse severely erodes the trust a victim has in the church and may lead to depression, anxiety, and emotional and physical trauma.

A victim of a Catholic priest must report the abuse and seek legal action. Begin with a free, confidential consultation with a lawyer who has experience dealing with alleged abuse in dioceses. An Indiana attorney will take steps to bring a claim against the abuser, including collecting evidence, representing the victim at trial, and negotiating a settlement.

Legal Support for Survivors in Indiana

With Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, survivors of abuse can expect an expert, results-driven attorney to guide them through the Indiana legal process for highly sensitive abuse cases. Survivors can file a civil lawsuit that may result in substantial monetary compensation for damages. Our firm provides free consultation, evidence collection, negotiation and settlement, and trial representation.

Laws and Regulations in Indiana

The statute of limitations for Indiana states that action for abuse allegations must begin within seven years after the incident occurs. Any person with a legal disability at the time of an incident may bring suit within two years after the removal of the disability. Qualified, experienced lawyers will guide you through the laws to file suit for a credible allegation.

Filing a Clergy Sexual Abuse Lawsuit in Indiana

Your decision to file a civil suit against a priest can be stressful and bring up traumatic memories. Fortunately, working with a compassionate and experienced sex abuse lawyer will help you navigate the process. When you are ready to seek justice against the priest or diocese, there are several steps involved.

• Contact an experienced attorney at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers for a free consultation.
• Gather evidence to support your case. This may include your medical records, photos, recordings of conversations, emails, text messages, and more.
• Work through negotiation and settlement with your experienced lawyer who understands the sensitive nature of sex abuse cases.
• If the liable party is unwilling to negotiate and settle the case reasonably, your lawyer will prepare your case for court and support you through the process.

Support Resources for Survivors in Indiana

If you’re a survivor of sexual assault from a clergy member or other church employees, finding both legal and emotional support is important to help your healing process. Indiana has extensive services available, including:

• Holly’s House, a victim advocate center in Evansville that creates a safe space for victims when reporting a crime. The center also connects survivors and families with services such as medical care, counseling, and victim advocates.
• The Indiana Department of Child Services maintains an updated website with a 24-hour hotline, resources for families, and guides to file a report.
• Survivors Network for Those Abused by Priests (SNAP), a national resource for victims of abuse by priests. The site provides resources for victims of child sexual abuse, child pornography, child abuse, family services, and more.

Notable Cases and Outcomes in Indiana

In 2018, the Archdiocese of Indianapolis released a complete list of clergy credibly accused of sexual abuse. Each member on the list has at least one act for which there was an allegation received while in active ministry, and many were removed from public ministry.

• David Fleck was suspended in 2018 after the diocese received a report of sexual misconduct that occurred in his parish in the 1980s at Vincennes Rivet High School. He denied allegations of abuse reported by two boys who were students at the time. Because Fleck was a priest in parish and Catholic schools in Vincennes, Petersburg, Montgomery, and Oakland City, the Diocese notified Child Protective Services.
• Thomas Aquinas Schaefers, a priest at St. Benedict, had credible allegations reported to the Diocese in 2010.
• Priest Thomas C. Lombardi, a former principal at Huntington Catholic High School was placed on leave from St. Joseph Parish in Fort Wayne and removed from public ministry.
• Priest Richard Thompson, who has at least one allegation deemed credible, worked at the Covenant House for runaway children before he was assigned to parishes in New Haven, Mishawaka, and Geneva.
• Several priests died before credible allegations were received. In Indianapolis, this includes Frederick Adam Schmitt, George Peter Ziemer, William Leroy Blackwell, and Edward Theodore Bockhold.

Our attorneys have reviewed public and private settlement data related to Indiana settlements. Depending on the circumstances of your case, these cases may be fairly valued in the $400,000 to $950,000 range. In cases of extreme conduct or if that case were to go before a jury, damages could exceed $1 million.

Why Choose Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers?

The traumatic emotional aspects of cases that are deemed credible require a law firm committed to supporting you every step of the way.

$14 Million Priest grooming and handling	$4 Million Deacon assault and rape	$3 Million Clergy child abuse filed in adulthood
$3 Million Volunteer-perpetrated Catholic church abuse	$2 Million Religious school priest teen sexual abuse	$2 Million Clergy abuse case filed against a deceased priest

Our lawyers understand how frightening it is to address past trauma, and we are dedicated to getting you justice while you heal. We’ve secured settlements for multiple victims of credibly accused clergy and have the expertise to take on your case in Indiana.

Contact Us

Contact Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers today and schedule a free consultation. Call us at (888) 424-5757 or reach out to us online.

All content undergoes thorough legal review by experienced attorneys, including Jonathan Rosenfeld. With 25 years of experience in personal injury law and over 100 years of combined legal expertise within our team, we ensure that every article is legally accurate, compliant, and reflects current legal standards.