The Pulitzer Prizes | Trouble for bishops

2003 — Public Service

By:

Michael Paulson
Globe Staff

April 3, 2002

RESIGNATIONS
Since 1990, 14 bishops have resigned amid allegations of inappropriate sexual conduct.

Austria

1998

Cardinal Hans Hermann Groer (Vienna)
Allegation: Molested seminarians and a priest.

Canada

1991

Archbishop Alphonsus L. Penney (St. John's, Newfoundland)
Allegation: Protecting pedophiles.

Ireland

2002		2002 Bishop Brendan Comiskey (Ferns) Allegation: Protecting pedophile.

1992		Bishop Eamonn Casey (Galway) Allegation: Affair with an American woman and fathered a child by her.

Great Britain

2001		Archbishop John Aloysius Ward (Cardiff, Wales) Allegation: Protecting pedophiles.

1996		Bishop Roderick Wright (Argyll and the Isles, Scotland) Allegation: Fathered a child, but left town with another woman, whom he married in 1998.

Poland

2002

Archbishop Juliusz Paetz (Poznan)
Allegation: Harassed seminarians.

Switzerland

1995

1995 Bishop Hansjorg Vogel (Basel)
Allegation: Pregnant girlfriend; he married her in 1999.

United States

2002		2002 Bishop Anthony J. O'Connell (Palm Beach, Fla.) Allegation: Molested a seminarian.

1999		Bishop Patrick Ziemann (Santa Rosa, Calif.) Allegation: Priest sued him for sexual assault.

1999		Bishop Daniel Ryan (Springfield, Ill.) Allegation: Alleged sex with male prostitutes and priests.

1998		Bishop Joseph Keith Symons (Palm Beach, Fla.) Allegation: Molested 5 boys.

1993		Archbishop Robert F. Sanchez (Santa Fe) Allegation: Sexual relationships with 5 women.

1990		Archbishop Eugene A. Marino (Atlanta) Allegation: Relationship with female lay minister.

LEGAL WOES

Belgium

1998

1998 Cardinal Godfried Danneels (Brussells)
Allegation: Held liable, fined for actions of pedophile priest. Ruling overturned on appeal.

France

2001

Bishop Pierre Pican (Bayeux-Liseux, Normandy)
Allegation: Suspended sentence for not reporting pedophile priest.

Sources: Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate, Georgetown University; news reports