South Carolina Catholic Diocese Priest Sex Abuse List | Injury Lawyer Team

List of Accused Priests in South Carolina

Clergy sexual abuse within the South Carolina Roman Catholic Diocese has a deeply troubling history. Over the years, many survivors have come forward with harrowing stories, shedding light on systemic issues within the church. This issue holds immense significance due to its impact on countless lives and the need for justice.

Our firm, Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, is dedicated to supporting survivors of these egregious acts and offering them legal advocacy.

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Last Name	First Name	Diocese	Status	Accusations (Summary)
Burn	William	Diocese of Charleston SC	Accused	Named publicly as accused by the diocese on its list 3/29/19. Died 5/29/09.
Berberich	Peter	Diocese of Charleston SC	Accused	Named publicly as accused by the diocese on its list 3/29/19. Died 3/20/97.
Castano-Mejia	Juan Carlos	Diocese of Charleston SC	Convicted	Priest of the Congregation of the Oratory of St. Philip Neri in Ipiales, Colombia, was arrested and indicted for child abuse in 2000. He was sentenced to 2 years in jail, 2 years probation, and required to pay restitution.
Aiken	Roy Francis	Diocese of Charleston SC	Accused	Named publicly as accused by the diocese on its list 3/29/19. Died 7/4/06.
Bench	John F.	Diocese of Charleston SC	Accused	Ordained in Pittsburgh, relocated to Charleston, resigned after accusations of molestation, and asked to be reinstated, but the Bishop denied the request.
Collerett	Roger	Diocese of Charleston SC	Accused	Priest of the Missionaries of Africa (White Fathers) – Canada. On Charleston diocese’s list 3/29/19. Believed to have returned to Canada.
DuMouchel	Raymond	Diocese of Charleston SC	Charged	Retired in 1999, DuMouchel was charged with sexually molesting two girls in the 1950s. Charges were dropped in 2005 because of his dementia and inability to contribute to his own defense.
Condon	Eugene L.	Diocese of Charleston SC	Convicted	Indicted in 7/96 on charges of 1970s abuse of minors, resigned immediately, received 5 years probation, retired in 2006, and died 5/24/14.
Gonzalez-Farias	Jaime A.	Diocese of Charleston SC	Guilty plea	Gonazalez-Farias was placed on leave in late 11/2020 after the boy’s family reported inappropriate conduct, but not sexual abuse. Gonzalez-Farias was arrested in Miami FL 11/29/2022, pleaded guilty in 8/2023, and was sentenced to 21 years and 10 months in federal prison.
Evatt	Thomas A.	Diocese of Charleston SC	Charged	Evatt was placed on leave in 2002 after accused of performing a lewd act on a boy, age 9, during a rectory overnight stay in 1977. He was found dead in his home in 2003.
Goodwin	Justin L.	Diocese of Charleston SC	Convicted	Arrested 1994 on charges of abusing four brothers, entered an Alford plea, and was sentenced to 10 years prison, suspended upon service of 5 years probation.
Hubacz	Leon Joseph	Diocese of Charleston SC	Settled	Named publicly as accused by the Charleston diocese on its list 3/29/19. Subject of a settlement. Died 6/28/99.
Hopwood	Frederick J.	Diocese of Charleston SC	Convicted	Accused of abusing multiple people, resigned in 12/93, pled guilty, was sentenced to three years probation, treatment and 250 hours public service, and died 4/30/17.
Kelly	Robert J.	Diocese of Charleston SC	Sued	Kelly was accused of sexually abusing a young altar boy in the early 1990s, at St. Andrew’s in Myrtle Beach. A second man filed a lawsuit in 1/2024, alleging abuse by Kelly as a St. Andrew’s altar boy.
Kennedy	Ernest Eugene	Diocese of Charleston SC	Settled	Named publicly as accused by the diocese on its list 3/29/19. Noted to be the subject of a settlement. Died 6/9/17.
Lee	Walter Pringle	Diocese of Charleston SC	Accused	Named publicly as accused by the diocese on its list 3/29/19. Left the priesthood after 10 years, married and raised a family. Died in 4/81.
McElroy	James	Diocese of Charleston SC	Settled	Named publicly as accused by the diocese on its list 3/29/19. Abuse allegedly occurred in the 1940s. Subject of a settlement. Died 7/5/71.
McLean	Frederick Austin	Diocese of Charleston SC	Sued	McLean was named publicly as credibly accused by the Charleston diocese on 3/29/19, and died 8/26/10. He was accused of sexually abusing a 17-year-old girl in 1962, and was thought to have left ministry in 1964.
Moynihan	George Frederick	Diocese of Charleston SC	Accused	Named publicly as accused by the diocese on its list 3/29/19. Died 8/30/04.
Murphy	Daniel Francis	Diocese of Charleston SC	Accused	Named publicly as accused by the diocese on its list 3/29/19. Died 7/21/80.
Murphy	Joseph J.	Diocese of Charleston SC	Accused	Named publicly as accused by the diocese on its list 3/29/19. Died 8/24/98.
Owens-Howard	James Robert	Diocese of Charleston SC	Convicted	Former Bishop England High School teacher, retired, convicted of fondling an 8-year-old boy in a pool, registered sex offender in SC, died 12/01/15.
Belfiore	Cesare Palatore	Diocese of Charleston SC	Accused	Named publicly as accused by the Charleston diocese on its list 3/29/19. Visiting priest from the Diocese of San Jose in Costa Rica. Believed to have returned to Costa Rica.
Richardson	William	Diocese of Charleston SC	Settled	Named publicly as accused by the diocese on its list 3/29/19. Noted to have left the Catholic priesthood in 6/83. Subject of a settlement.
Plikunas	Anthony	Diocese of Charleston SC	Settled	Named publicly as accused by the diocese on its list 3/29/19. Died 11/28/73. Subject of a settlement.
Ryfinski	Gerald J.	Diocese of Charleston SC	Convicted	Arrested in 2001, pleaded guilty in 2002, and was laicized in 2007. He is on the SC Sex Offender Registry.
Sharples	James	Diocese of Charleston SC	Accused	Priest of the Oratory of St. Philip Neri in Rock Hill, SC. Died 11/28/74. Named publicly as accused by the Charleston diocese on its list 3/29/19.
Seitz	Paul F.	Diocese of Charleston SC	Accused	Seitz was removed from ministry in 1994 after allegations of sexual misconduct with a minor. He denied the allegations and resigned in 2002.
Sheedy	Charles L.	Diocese of Charleston SC	Accused	Named publicly as accused by the diocese on its list 3/29/19. Died 7/6/89.
Sheedy	Lawrence	Diocese of Charleston SC	Settled	A man filed a civil suit against Sheedy, the Mother Superior, and the church for loss of consortium.
Smith	Gabriel	Diocese of Charleston SC	Accused	Accused of sexually abusing minors eight years prior to ordination, but was cleared by the Vatican.
Tawes	Creston J.	Diocese of Charleston SC	Settled	Named as accused by the diocese on its list 3/29/19. Died 8/4/80. Subject of a settlement.
Simonin	John	Diocese of Charleston SC	Accused	Monsignor. Named publicly as accused by the diocese on its list 3/29/19. Died 7/15/10.
Suggs	Frederick H.	Diocese of Charleston SC	Settled	Named publicly as accused by the diocese on its list 3/29/19. Died 8/26/98. Subject of a settlement.
Vaverek	Hayden	Diocese of Charleston SC	Accused	After allegations of sexual misconduct involving a minor, Vaverek was laicized and began working for Catholic Near East Welfare Association. He was included on the diocese’s 3/19 list of credibly accused.
Williamson	Louis	Diocese of Charleston SC	Accused	Named publicly as credibly accused by the diocese on its list updated 12/31/19. Died 6/20/62.
Washington	Freddy	Diocese of Charleston SC	Indicted	Washington was a pastor of two parishes in Chicago, and an associate professor of pastoral theology at Xavier University in New Orleans, when he was arrested for sexual abuse of two boys, ages 10 and 11-14, in 1982-1984.

About Clergy Sexual Abuse

Clergy sexual abuse refers to inappropriate and illegal sexual actions by religious leaders, particularly within the Catholic Church. Victims often experience profound psychological, emotional, and physical impacts. Reporting these crimes and seeking legal action is crucial to stop the cycle of abuse and hold offenders accountable.

In South Carolina, the legal process for addressing clergy sexual misconduct typically involves reporting the abuse, conducting an investigation, and pursuing legal action against the credibly accused of sexual abuse.

Legal Support for Survivors in South Carolina

Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers offers comprehensive legal support for survivors of clergy sexual abuse in South Carolina. With extensive experience in the Charleston Diocese, we handle child sex abuse cases involving credibly accused priests.

Our expertise covers abuse cases involving both resident and visiting priests, as well as incidents of sexual misconduct within the Catholic Church. We manage pending civil lawsuits and support survivors through ongoing investigations to bring justice and healing to those grievously harmed.

Laws and Regulations in South Carolina

South Carolina has specific legal provisions and requirements addressing clergy sexual abuse cases, such as:

• Statutes of limitations: In South Carolina, the statute of limitations for civil cases involving child molestation is generally six years from the date of the abuse or the discovery of the harm. For criminal cases involving child sexual abuse, there is no statute of limitations, allowing prosecution at any time.
• Mandatory Reporting Laws: South Carolina also has mandatory reporting laws that require individuals, including church leadership, to report any credible allegations of child abuse or child pornography to authorities immediately. Failure to report can result in legal consequences, including fines, criminal charges, and imprisonment.
• Recent Legislative Changes: Recent legislative changes have further strengthened protections for survivors and increased penalties for offenders, including abuse involving those in the Catholic Church. If there’s a visiting priest, the state mandates strict oversight and background checks to prevent sexual misconduct involving minors. The Charleston Diocese is required to maintain a list of accused priests and update it regularly.
• Corporate and Enforcement: Civil suits and criminal investigations often involve cooperation with the SC sex offender registry and local law enforcement. These laws aim to ensure that those accused of sexually abusing minors face appropriate consequences and that survivors receive the support they need.

Filing a Clergy Sexual Abuse Lawsuit in South Carolina

Filing a clergy sexual abuse lawsuit in South Carolina involves several crucial steps.

• Confidential Consultation: Contact Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers for a confidential consultation to discuss your case. We will gather details about the abuse and any incidents involving the accused priest.
• Collecting Evidence: We work with you to gather evidence, including medical records and witness statements, to support your claims.
• Filling a Complaint: Next, we will file a complaint with the court, outlining the allegations of sexual misconduct within the Catholic Church.
• Handling Communication: We handle communications required in the criminal investigation with the Charleston Diocese and other relevant entities throughout the process.
• Pre-Trial Motions and Hearings: The court may hold hearings on various pre-trial motions, such as motions to dismiss or motions for summary judgment.
• Negotiation: Alternatively, we may negotiate a settlement to ensure you receive appropriate compensation while healing.
• Trial: If a settlement isn’t reached, the case goes to trial. Both sides present their evidence and arguments, and a judge or jury makes a decision.

Taking action against those who wronged you requires effort. With our lawyers, you’ll have the support and resources to heal. At Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, you are not alone. Contact us today for the justice you deserve.

Support Resources for Survivors in South Carolina

Survivors of sexual abuse in South Carolina have access to numerous support resources.

South Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (SCCADVASA): Offers counseling, advocacy, and support groups for survivors. For more information, visit their website.

• Counseling services provide essential emotional support, helping survivors process trauma and rebuild their lives. The South Carolina Department of Mental Health offers mental health services, including trauma counseling.
• Support groups, often facilitated by organizations specializing in child sexual misconduct and child sexual abuse, offer a safe space to share experiences and gain strength from others who understand.
• National Sexual Assault Hotline: Available 24/7 for immediate assistance, connecting survivors with trained professionals who can offer guidance and confidential support. Call 1-800-656-4673 or visit the RAINN website.
• Local Support Groups: Many local organizations and churches offer support groups for survivors.

These resources can provide legal and emotional support to help survivors find healing and justice.

Notable Cases and Outcomes in South Carolina

South Carolina has seen several notable clergy sexual abuse cases that have set significant legal precedents.

Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston: In 2004, South Carolina diocese officials reported 45 credible abuse allegations between 1950 and 2002. These allegations involved 21 priests, one deacon, and one deacon candidate. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston announced a settlement of up to $12 million to address the child sex abuse claims.

Another significant case involved a visiting priest accused of child sexual abuse. The Charleston Diocese learned of the allegations and cooperated with law enforcement, resulting in the priest’s conviction and a substantial prison sentence. These cases underscore the impact of legal action in achieving justice and promoting institutional change.

Our attorneys have reviewed public and private settlement data related to STATE clergy abuse settlements. Depending on the circumstances pertaining to 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 Firm?

Choosing our law firm for your clergy sexual abuse case in South Carolina ensures you receive experienced, compassionate, and dedicated representation.

Our team has a proven track record of successfully handling cases involving clergy sex abuse.

We understand the complexities of such cases and are committed to seeking justice for survivors.

$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 compassionate approach prioritizes your well-being, providing support and guidance throughout the legal process.

We relentlessly pursue justice, leveraging our extensive experience to navigate the legal system and achieve favorable outcomes.

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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.