Notorious Catholic predator priest is free, living in Orlando; SNAP urges outreach

(For Immediate Release August 9, 2023) 

One of Florida’s most prolific Catholic clergy abusers has been released from prison and is living in a residential neighborhood. A national support group for clergy sex abuse victims is asking two bishops to warn local parents, parishioners, and the public about him.

 Fr. Neil Augustine (Gus) Doherty is now living in Orlando, according to the Florida sex offender registry. SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is sending a letter to Miami Archbishop Thomas Wenski and Orlando Bishop John Noonan, urging them to use their “vast resources” to alert the local community that a potentially dangerous serial predator now walks free in their streets.

More than two dozen men have come forward to date, accusing Fr. Doherty of molesting them as children, sometimes after drugging them. In 2013, the priest pleaded no contest to lewd assault/sexual battery of a victim under the age of 16 and was sentenced to 15 years behind bars.

The Miami Catholic hierarchy, where Fr. Doherty was ordained in 1969, was warned of the priest's behavior as early as 1971, but kept him in active ministry until 2002 (Florida Attorney General’s Report, page 17). Fr. Doherty’s assignment history can be found here.

“Florida Catholic officials ordained, employed, transferred, and shielded Fr. Doherty for decades,” said Gene Rosenquest, Florida SNAP. “They have a moral duty to protect kids from him now.”

 Sally Zakhari, Florida SNAP, added, “Often, an elderly predator is the most dangerous, in part because they can be balding, stoop-shouldered, and walking slowly with a cane or walker, so they don’t look how we expect criminals to look. They may even appear totally harmless and trustworthy. They have also had decades of experience identifying children who are most vulnerable and less apt to speak up.”

A copy of SNAP’s letter, sent today by email, is below.

Archbishop Thomas Wenski

Archdiocese of Miami

[email protected]

[email protected]

Bishop John Noonan

Diocese of Orlando

[email protected]

Dear Archbishop Wenski and Bishop Noonan:

Surely you must be aware that Fr. Neil Augustine (Gus) Doherty has been released from prison and is now living in Orlando? We wonder why you, on your own, using your vast resources, have not already alerted parishioners and the public that there is a potentially dangerous serial sex offender now walking free in their streets.

We should not have to tell you that an elderly predator is often the most dangerous. This is in part because they can be balding, stoop-shouldered, and walking slowly with a cane or walker. They do not look like criminals. They may even seem totally harmless and trustworthy. However, they have also had decades of experience identifying children who are most vulnerable to abuse and less apt to speak up. That makes them particularly dangerous.

Of course, we realize that Fr. Doherty is on the Florida sex offender registry. However, the Archdiocese of Miami ordained, employed, transferred, and shielded this priest for decades. So, it seems to us that you, Archbishop Wenski, and your colleagues have a moral duty to protect today’s children from him.

We hope that you will spread the word far and wide that Fr. Doherty is now out of prison and living in a residential area in Orlando. This is especially important because he no longer lives within the territory of the Miami Archdiocese, where people may recall his crimes, but in Orlando, where he is likely less infamous.

We look forward to hearing very soon that you have undertaken this endeavor.

Sincerely,

Gene Rosenquest,
SNAP Florida
[email protected]  

Sally Zakhari,
SNAP Florida
[email protected] 

Michael McDonnell,
SNAP Interim Executive Director
[email protected]  

Contact: Gene Rosenquest, SNAP Florida ([email protected], 407-668-1801), Sally Zakhari, SNAP Florida ([email protected], 407-758-4874), Mike McDonnell, SNAP Interim Executive Director ([email protected], 267-261-0578)

(SNAP, the Survivors Network, has been providing support for victims of sexual abuse in institutional settings for 35 years. We have more than 25,000 survivors and supporters in our network. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)

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