Safe Environment

SAFE ENVIRONMENT

The Western Province of the Congregation of the Mission is called by God to follow Jesus Christ, evangelizing the poor in the spirit and after the manner of St. Vincent de Paul. The works of the Province are evangelization of the poor include service to the poor and assistance in the ministerial and personal formation of clergy and laity. Each member of the Province commits himself to living the evangelical counsels as expressed in the vows of the Congregation.

Sexual misconduct by a member of the Province, specifically sexual abuse of a minor, is a most serious offense against God and a violation not only of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the teachings of the Church but also of the very mission of the Province and its spirit, which every Vincentian vows to live. Such transgressions are a source of great pain for the victim, the abuser, their families, the Church, the Province, and the larger community.

The Province denounces all forms of sexual misconduct by its members and, in particular, the sexual abuse of a minor. The Province will not tolerate such, under any circumstances. The Province takes seriously its obligation to respond immediately in a compassionate, responsible and just manner to all allegations of sexual abuse of a minor by its members and to provide an environment that supports, heals, and safeguards minors.

Anyone who wishes to have a copy of the Province’s “Policy and Procedures Concerning Sexual Abuse of a Minor” should contact the Province’s Survivor Assistance Coordinator. Anyone with information about abuse of a minor by a member of the Province is strongly encouraged to contact the Survivor Assistance Coordinator of the Province.

Survivor Assistance Coordinator
Phone: 314-313-0780

Prior to the reconfiguration of the West, South, and Midwest Provinces into the Western Province, each individual province sought and received accreditation by Praesidium, Inc., the national leader in abuse risk management. Most recently, in 2022, the Western Province applied for renewal of the accreditation, and after a thorough review process, the accreditation was renewed thorugh 2027. The initial accreditation means that each province met or exceeded Praesidium’s Safety Standards. Praesidium Accreditation confirms that the (now) Western Province adheres to the highest organizational standards in abuse prevention.

Survivor Assistance Coordinator

If you believe that you, or someone you know, has been abused by a member of our Province, you are urged to contact our Survivor Assistance Coordinator, Mary Esswein, at 314-313-0780 or by clicking HERE. You are also advised to contact the appropriate law enforcement or child-protection agency in the location in which the incident took place.

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2020 Statement from the Provincial Superior

June 12, 2020

Today the Congregation of the Mission Western Province (the Vincentians) is releasing the names of those members credibly accused of having abused a minor. We are deeply sorry for the actions of these Vincentians and apologize for the pain and suffering they reportedly caused not only to the survivors of their abusive actions, but also their families. The abuse of minors contradicts everything we value as followers of Jesus Christ and our founder, St. Vincent de Paul.

Beginning 30 years ago, the Vincentians began developing policies and procedures for the protection of minors. Since 2005 we have followed the Standards for Accreditation, developed by the Conference of Major Superiors of Men (CMSM) and Praesidium, Inc., a child-protection consultation company. That same year we received our first accreditation and have renewed it successfully in subsequent years. Those Standards include the proper screening and education of our seminarians concerning child abuse, and the ongoing education of our members about matters relating to the safety of children and keeping the highest standards of ethics in ministry. In addition, the Western Province has a Code of Ethical Behavior in Ministry, which each member must read, sign, and follow.

When we become aware of an allegation of sexual abuse of a minor, we initiate an investigation to establish the credibility of the allegation, always favoring the voice of the alleged survivor, unless there is strong evidence to the contrary. By “credible allegation” we mean an allegation that, after careful investigation, there is a preponderance of evidence that the allegation is more likely true than not.

We encourage those bringing allegations forward to immediately contact local law enforcement agencies. Our Misconduct Review Board and our Survivor Assistance Coordinator stand ready to hear these allegations and offer support for healing of the hurt that our members may have caused.

We have also developed, and continue to develop, procedures for dealing with our members who have had credible allegations of having abused a minor. When we receive an allegation of abuse by a Vincentian priest or brother, he is immediately suspended from ministry while an investigation takes place. If, after a thorough investigation, the allegation is found to be credible, that member is immediately removed from ministry and placed under supervision, with no access to children. In 2005 we established an independent Misconduct Review Board, to advise the Provincial about both the allegations we receive and the supervision of members who have credible allegations against them.

A few words about the list we are publishing today. It is the result of an investigation by Fidelity Consultants, LLC, which provided the following statement:

“Fidelity Consultants, LLC (“Fidelity”) is an independent firm, comprised of three former agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation with expertise in conducting forensic reviews. Fidelity was provided complete, unsupervised access to the files of current, former, and deceased clergy maintained in St. Louis and in the Chicago archives of the Congregation of the Mission Western Province from 1950 to the present. Fidelity confirmed there are no clerics with substantiated allegations of abusing minors in active ministry in the Congregation of the Mission Western Province.”

Names are included on this list if there is a credible allegation against them. Their inclusion does not necessarily mean they were charged with a crime by law enforcement officials or were found guilty of any crime. While we believe this list is complete, it is possible that there is information that we are not aware of. If additional credible allegations come to light, they will be added to this list.

Again, we apologize for any pain and suffering some of our members may have caused in the past. We hope by publishing this list we will exhibit the transparency and accountability that is necessary for all those who serve God’s people, especially the most vulnerable among us.

Anyone with information about the abuse of a minor by a member of the Province is strongly encouraged to contact the Victim Assistance Coordinator of the Province:

Victim Assistance Coordinator
Congregation of the Mission Western Province
314-313-0780

Very Rev. Ray Van Dorpe, C.M.
Provincial Superior

Safe Environment Resources

List of those with credible / substantial accusations of abuse of a minor.

James Beighlie, CM

James Beighlie, CM convicted for possession of child pornography

Birth: 1951
Ordination: 1979
Status of individual: Removed from ministry and serving a five-year prison sentence (starting in 2023)
Estimated timeframe of abuse: 2008-2021
Abuse reported: 2021
Removed from ministry: 2021
Charged: 2021
Sentenced: 2023
Pastoral Assignments:
DePaul Hospital in St. Louis
Vincent Gray Academy in East St. Louis
St. Thomas Aquinas/Mercy High School in St. Louis
Our Lady Queen of Peace in House Springs, MO
St. Vincent de Paul in St. Louis, MO

James Cairns, CM

James Cairns, CM single allegation

Birth: 1941
Ordination: 1969
Status of individual: separated from CM in 2001
Estimated timeframe of abuse: 1970s
Alleged abuse reported: 2006
Removed from ministry: N/A – left CM prior to allegation
Pastoral Assignments:
Queen of Angels Seminary, San Fernando, CA
St. Vincent Seminary, Montebello, CA
St. John’s Seminary, Camarillo, CA
St. Vincent Church, Los Angeles, CA
Queen of Angels-Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital, Los Angeles, CA

John Joseph Casey, CM

John Joseph Casey, CM single allegation
Birth: 1904
Ordination: 1932
Status of individual: Deceased 2000
Estimated timeframe of abuse: 1940s
Alleged abuse reported: 2004
Removed from ministry: N/A – deceased when allegation received
Pastoral Assignments:
St. Vincent Church, Los Angeles, CA
DePaul Hospital, St. Louis, MO
St. Patrick Church, LaSalle, IL
All Souls Church, Pampa, TX
Sacred Heart Church, Cotulla, TX
St. Stephen Church, New Orleans, LA
St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, San Francisco, CA
St. Vincent Seminary, Montebello, CA
DePaul Center, Montebello, CA

Stanley Conner, CM

Stanley Conner, CM multiple allegations
Birth: 1946
Ordination: N/A
Status of individual: Deceased 2008
Estimated timeframe of abuse: 1980s
Alleged abuse reported: 1987, 1993, 2004
Removed from ministry: 1987
Pastoral Assignments:
St. Catherine Laboure Parish, St. Louis, MO

Philip Coury, CM

Philip Coury, CM multiple allegations
Birth: 1940
Ordination: 1971
Status of individual: removed from ministry and lives under supervision
Estimated timeframe of abuse: 1980s
Alleged abuse reported: 2010
Removed from ministry: 2010
Pastoral Assignments:
St. Vincent Seminary, Beaumont, TX
St. Louis Prep Seminary, St. Louis, MO
St. John Seminary, Kansas City, MO
St. Vincent Seminary, Lemont, IL
Catholic Charities, Joliet, IL
St. Mary Church, Las Animas, CO
St. Anthony Church, Aguilar, CO
Christ the King Mission, LaVeta, CO

James Diete, CM

James Diete, CM multiple allegations
Birth: 1944
Ordination: 1980
Status of individual: left CM and priesthood 1995
Estimated timeframe of abuse: 1980s
Alleged abuse reported: 1987
Removed from ministry: 1987 (after treatment at St. Luke Institute, he was returned to ministry
1988-91, when his faculties were removed.)
Pastoral Assignments:
St. Vincent Seminary, Lemont, IL
St. Thomas Seminary, Denver, CO
Most Precious Blood Church, Denver, CO

Warren Discon, CM

Warren Discon, CM single allegation
Birth: 1921
Ordination: 1955
Status of individual: deceased 1993
Estimated timeframe of abuse: 1970s
Alleged abuse reported: 2005
Removed from ministry: N/A – deceased when allegation received
Pastoral Assignments:
DePaul Academy HS, Chicago, IL
St. John Seminary, San Antonio, TX
Central Catholic HS, Beaumont, TX
Holy Trinity Church, Dallas, TX
St. Vincent Church, St. Louis, MO
St. Vincent Church, Kansas City, MO
St. Louis Prep Seminary, St. Louis, MO
St. Louise de Marillac Church, Arabi, LA
Archbishop Chapelle HS, Metairie, LA

John Farris, CM

John Farris, CM single allegation
Birth: 1921
Ordination: 1949
Status of individual: deceased 2003
Estimated timeframe of abuse: 1950s
Alleged abuse reported: 2003
Removed from ministry: N/A – deceased when allegation received
Pastoral Assignments:
St. John Seminary, Camarillo, CA
Queen of Angels Seminary, San Fernando, CA
St. Louis Prep Seminary, St. Louis, MO
St. Patrick Church, LaSalle, IL
St. Vincent Church, St. Louis, MO
St. Mary Seminary, Perryville, MO
Christ the Savior Church, Brewer, MO
St. Gabriel Church, St. Louis, MO

Richard Lause, CM

Richard Lause, CM single allegation
Birth: 1950
Ordination: 1977
Status of individual: removed from ministry and lives under supervision
Estimated timeframe of abuse: 1980s
Alleged abuse reported: 2003
Removed from ministry: 2003
Pastoral Assignments:
St. Vincent Seminary, Lemont, IL
St. Louis Prep Seminary, St. Louis, MO
St. Margaret Mary Church, Cortez, CO
St. Catherine Laboure Church, St. Louis, MO
St. Vincent Church, Cape Girardeau, MO
St. Vincent Church, Perryville, MO

J Dennis Martin, CM

J Dennis Martin, CM multiple allegations
Birth: 1935
Ordination: 1962
Status of individual: deceased 2014
Estimated timeframe of abuse: 1960s & 1980s
Alleged abuse reported: 2003
Removed from ministry: 2003
Pastoral Assignments:
St. Vincent Seminary, Lemont, IL
St. John Seminary, Kansas City, MO
St. Thomas Seminary, Denver, CO
St. Mary Seminary, Houston, TX
St. Mary Seminary, Perryville, MO
Southern Province Provincial

Louis Meteye, CM

Louis Meteye, CM multiple allegations
Birth: 1912
Ordination: 1938
Status of individual: deceased 1979
Estimated timeframe of abuse: 1960s
Alleged abuse reported: 2003
Removed from ministry: N/A – deceased when allegation received
Pastoral Assignments:
St. John Seminary, Kansas City, MO
St. Francis Seminary, Bethany, OK
St. Vincent HS Seminary, Cape Girardeau, MO
St. Mary Seminary, Houston, TX
St. Katherine Church, New Orleans, LA
St. Stephen Church, New Orleans, LA
St. Joseph Church, New Orleans, LA
St. Louise de Marillac Church, Arabi, LA

Francis Murphy, CM

Francis Murphy, CM single allegation
Birth: 1902
Ordination: 1930
Status of individual: deceased 1970
Estimated timeframe of abuse: 1960s
Alleged abuse reported: 2008
Removed from ministry: N/A – deceased when allegation received
Pastoral Assignments:
Regina Cleri Seminary, Tucson, AZ
St. John Seminary, Kansas City, MO
Prep Seminary, Los Angeles, CA
Prep Seminary, St. Louis, MO
DePaul University, Chicago, IL
St. Joseph Church, New Orleans, LA
St. Thomas Seminary, Denver, CO
Cardinal Glennon Seminary, St. Louis, MO

Thomas O’Hern, CM

Thomas O’Hern, CM multiple allegations
Born: 1950
Ordained: 1977
Status of individual: deceased 2014
Estimated timeframe of abuse: 1980s
Alleged abuse reported: 1991
Participated in residential program in St. Louis, Nov. 1991-Mar. 1992; returned to ministry in
Kenya, 1994.
Removed from ministry: 2004; left CM 2006
Pastoral Assignments:
St. Vincent Seminary, Cape Girardeau, MO
St. Vincent Seminary, Lemont, IL
Christ the King Seminary, Nyeri, Kenya
DePaul Center, Nairobi, Kenya

Thomas Parrott, CM

Thomas Parrott, CM multiple allegations
Born: 1922
Ordained: 1950
Status of individual: deceased 1996
Estimated timeframe of abuse: late 1950s to mid 1960s
Alleged abuse reported: 2002
Removed from ministry: N/A – he incardinated in 1974 into the Diocese of Springfield-Cape
Girardeau
Pastoral Assignments:
St. Francis Seminary, Bethany, OK
DePaul Academy, Chicago, IL
St. John Seminary, Kansas City, MO
St. Vincent HS Seminary, Cape Girardeau, MO

Carlos Rodriguez, CM

Carlos Rodriguez, CM multiple allegations
Born: 1955
Ordained: 1986
Status of individual: laicized 1998; served 4 years in prison; on sex offender registry
Estimated timeframe of abuse: late 1980s to early 1990s
Alleged abuse reported: 1987
Removed from ministry: 1987, sent to St. Luke Institute; 1988, permitted to engage in
limited ministry with adults; 1992, permitted to live outside community; 1992, faculties
terminated; 1996, requested laicization and granted 1998.
Pastoral Assignments:
St. Vincent Church, Los Angeles, CA

John Ruhl, CM

John Ruhl, CM multiple allegations
Born: 1937
Ordained: 1964
Status of individual: deceased 2018
Estimated timeframe of abuse: late 1960s to early 1980s
Alleged abuse reported: between 1993 and 2004
Removed from ministry: N/A – incardinated into the Diocese of Orange 1983
Pastoral Assignments:
Queen of Angels Seminary, San Fernando, CA
St. Vincent Seminary, Montebello, CA
St. Vincent Parish, Huntington Beach, CA

Daniel Schulte, CM

Daniel Schulte, CM single allegation
Born: 1952
Ordained: 1987
Status of individual: deceased 2020
Estimated timeframe of abuse: 2000s
Alleged abuse reported: 2005
Removed from ministry: 2005
Pastoral Assignments:
St. Vincent Parish, Cape Girardeau, MO
St. Alexius Hospital, Chicago, IL
St. Vincent Parish, Chicago, IL
St. Vincent Parish, Perryville, MO

James Steinbach, CM

James Steinbach, CM single allegation
Born: 1939
Ordained: N/A
Status of individual: deceased 2007
Estimated timeframe of abuse: 1960s
Alleged abuse reported: 2007
Removed from ministry: 2007
Pastoral Assignments:
Community farm, Perryville, MO
St. Vincent Parish, Perryville, MO
St. Stephen’s Parish, New Orleans, LA

Thomas Thelin, CM

Thomas Thelin, CM single allegation
Born: 1944
Ordained: 1973
Status of individual: separated from Vincentians 1985; civil marriage 1991; dismissed from
Vincentians 2002
Estimated timeframe of abuse: 1980s
Alleged abuse reported: 1990
Removed from ministry: N/A – separated from Vincentians prior to receipt of allegation
Pastoral Assignments:
St. Louise de Marillac Church, Arabi, LA
St. Vincent Seminary, Beaumont, TX
St. Leo Church, San Antonio, TX

Andrew Willemsen, CM

Andrew Willemsen, CM multiple allegations
Born: 1928
Ordained: 1954
Status of individual: returned to Holland 1988; dismissed from priesthood 2004
Estimated timeframe of abuse: between 1968-1980
Alleged abuse reported: 2002
Removed from ministry: N/A – dispensed from Vows 1982 and joined diocesan clergy
Pastoral Assignments:
St. Thomas Seminary, Denver, CO
St. John Seminary, Camarillo, CA
St. Mary Seminary, Houston, TX