Columbus Diocese adds 8 names to priest sex-abuse list
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Columbus has added the names of eight priests who have been “credibly accused” of sexually abusing minors, bringing the total to 48 after this third update of its list.
All but one of the additions were in the category of “extern,” which covers clergy members who served in Columbus but were accused of abuse elsewhere.
The names added to the list Monday are: the Revs. John J. Gamba, Stuart Campbell, Joseph Herlihy, James Kilkenny, Thomas McCarthy, Joseph McGuiness, Robert Pelkington and John Powers. All except Gamba served in the Order of Dominican Friars Province of St. Joseph, and all have died. Only Gamba is accused of committing abuse while serving in Columbus, according to a release from the diocese.
Not on the diocese’s list is the Rev. Carleton Jones, also a member of the Dominican Order who was accused in a recent lawsuit of molesting an 8-year-old boy in New York City about 30 years ago. He served at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Columbus from 1992 to 1995. The suit was filed Aug. 21 in New York Supreme Court.
Gamba was added to the section of clergy members who became priests in the Columbus Diocese and were accused after their deaths, according to the diocese’s release. Gamba died in 2009, and the diocese said it received a recent allegation of abuse by Gamba, and a review led to the conclusion that it was “credible.”
Gamba joined the diocese in 1968, according to his obituary, and served at St. Ladislas on the South Side, St. Nicholas in Zanesville, St. Mary in Lancaster, St. Peter on the Northwest Side, Sacred Heart in New Philadelphia, Christ the King on the East Side and other places before ret...
Winter Appeal 2023
To our friends,
2023 has been a long year with many ups and downs for us all. As we close out the year, we at SNAP hope that you are feeling like you are on your way to being healthy, fulfilled, and happy. This past year has brought both successes and challenges. Thanks to the support you have shown in the past, we’ve been able to celebrate the good days and weather the stormy ones. Now, we are once again asking for your support as we work to support survivors new and old as we ‘Move SNAP Forward.’
At SNAP we are proud to have hosted a very well-attended conference in August 2023. This event allowed us to gather friends, survivors, advocates, and allies for a weekend of camaraderie and connection. We were so happy to be able to welcome many first-time attendees to gather in person and are already looking forward to the next conference.
To strengthen our movement for justice, healing, and prevention, SNAP will be expanding our peer support and providing more volunteer opportunities in the coming year. Through this great work, we are ensuring survivor voices are represented as we work for significant change that will benefit children and survivors.
Right now, survivors worldwide are getting the help they need from SNAP, and more and more reach out to us daily, but we need your help to keep those programs going and get our volunteers the training they need to thrive.
Your tax-deductible gift to SNAP can help offset the cost of our important mission. If you are not in a position to contribute, you can still support us by sharing this letter with those who can. As we continue to fight for survivors across the globe, your donation or sharing the great work SNAP does will help us continue our work to protect the vulnerable, heal the wounded, and prevent abuse.
Your donation ensures SNAP will be there for those who need us more than ever!
Warmly,
Michael W. McDonnell, C.P.S.
Interim Executive Director