For immediate release:
August 17, 2005

For more information:
Steve Theisen of Hudson, Iowa SNAP Director, 319 231 1663
Heather Smith of Waterloo, Iowa - Co-founder of NE Iowa SNAP, 319 939 4144
David Clohessy of St. Louis, Missouri - SNAP National Director 314 566 9790 cell, 314 645 5915
Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, Missouri - SNAP Outreach Director 314 862 7688

Dubuque, Iowa church knew decades ago about predator, attorneys say

New court documents show numerous Catholic officials were notified

Support group applauds victims and witnesses for their courage while Archdiocese fails to live up to it promises

In a 200-plus page brief just filed in Federal District Court in Cedar Rapids court, attorneys for a clergy molestation victim argue that years ago, a number of Dubuque Catholic leaders knew about sex abuse by Fr. William A. Roach.

Jim Cummins of Dallas has filed a civil lawsuit against Roach and the Dubuque archdiocese for the abuse he repeatedly suffered from Roach in 1962.

Yesterday, Cummins' attorneys submitted affidavits to the Court that show that in 1956 or 1957:

-- the Archdiocese knew Msgr. Roach and Fr. John M. Peters "had engaged in sexual acts or had attempted to engage sexual acts with" children,

-- a priest within the Archdiocese told Fr. Raymond Roseliep about the abuse by Roach and Peters,

-- "multiple priests knew of Roach's and Peters's sexual proclivities," because of a party held at the Archbishop's summer cottage where they saw Roach "wearing only a red jockstrap, and where these same priests attempted to pair off with others in attendance,"

The documents also indicate that in 1960 or 1961,

-- another archdiocesan priest, Fr. Albert Manternach, received another abuse accusation against Roach

-- a "handful of priests and seminarians within the Archdiocese . . . participated in a homosexual lifestyle in a social setting"

In or around 1962, the records cite three more instances of notice to church officials of Roach's sex crimes:

-- A letter was delivered to Archbishop James J. Byrne from one of Roach's victims detailing Roach's sexually inappropriate behavior with him. The victim warned Byrne that Roach was likely to repeat this behavior. He also described the "troubling prevalence of homosexual behavior" on the campus of Loras College between some priests and students.

-- The late husband of one witness, Mary Ann Gureno, was sexually abused by Roach during a trip that to Las Vegas.

-- Another witness, Dennis Larkin, has stated that Roach "behaved inappropriately" with him at cabin or retreat house near Dyersville where five to ten priests had been drinking. Larkin and Roach were to stay overnight. After Larkin went to bed, Roach came in and tried to grab him

The documents also show that another victim, Jim Paddock, was sexually abused by Roach on the same overnight trip to northeast Iowa on which Cummins was abused by Peters.

"The abuse of both Paddock and Cummins took place in the same building on the same evening, but in separate bedrooms," the court filing asserts.

It raises the possibility that Roach and Peters had "conspired to lure Paddock and Cummins as victims. . . "with the intent of engaging in sex acts with them."

Archdiocesan Vicar General James Barta has claimed that "the earliest notice of abuse [received by the Archdiocese] was in 1992."

"Barta's statement completely ignores the undisputed fact that Cummins' parents notified Fr. Maurice Sheehy of the abuse the day after the second incident. (Appendix, p. 98). It also overlooks the undisputed testimony from Father David Pepper that he was asked by William Roach to engage in oral sex with him on one occasion" in between 1967 and 1969," according to the documents.

Steve Theisen of Hudson, Iowa SNAP Director, said, "I applaud the courage of these victims and witnesses. They are providing the information which Archdiocesan officials, Msgr. James Barta, the Review Board, and Archbishop Jerome Hanus failed to do when Hanus said he would have an open discussion and open dialogue. Victims suffer and children are not protected by the Archdiocese's attempts to circumvent the truth. It's shameful that the Archdiocese has been and continues to hide the truth while so many suffer. This is not something Jesus would do."

Fr. Peters and Fr. Patnode's history are below.

The 200-page brief is available upon request.

Fr. John M. Peters (per Catholic directory)
1935
1936
1937
1938
1939
1940
1941
1942
1943
1944
1945
1946
1947
1948
1949
1950 Waterloo - St. Joseph's
1951 St. Joseph's, Waterloo
1952 St. Joseph's, Waterloo
1953 St. Joseph's, Waterloo
1954 St. Joseph's, Waterloo
1955 St. Joseph's, Waterloo
1956 St. Joseph's, Waterloo
1957 ?
1958
1959 St. Joseph's, Harpers Ferry
1960 St. Joseph's, Harpers Ferry
1961 St. Joseph's, Harpers Ferry
1962 St. Joseph's, Harpers Ferry
1963 St. Joseph's, Harpers Ferry
1964 St. Joseph's, Harpers Ferry
1965 St. Joseph's, Harpers Ferry
1966 St. Joseph's, Harpers Ferry
1967 ?
1968 ?
1969 ?
1970 ?
1971 ?
1972 St. Mary's, Vinton
1973 St. Mary's, Vinton
1974 St. Mary's, Vinton
1975 St. Mary's, Vinton
1976 St. Mary's, Vinton
1977 St. Mary's, Vinton
1978 St. Mary's, Vinton
1979 St. Mary's, Vinton
1980 St. Paul's, Traer
1981 St. Paul's, Traer
1982 St. Paul's, Traer
1983 St. Paul's, Traer
1984 St. Paul's, Traer
1985 St. Paul's, Traer
1986 St. Paul's, Traer
1987 St. Paul's, Traer
1988 St. Paul's, Traer
1989 St. Paul's, Traer
1990 Retired, 6841 E. 4th Street, Tucson, AZ
1991 Retired, 6841 E. 4th Street, Tucson, AZ
1992 Retired, 6841 E. 4th Street, Tucson, AZ
1993 Retired, 6841 E. 4th Street, Tucson, AZ
1994 Retired, 6841 E. 4th Street, Tucson, AZ
1995 Retired, 6841 E. 4th Street, Tucson, AZ
1996 Retired, 6841 E. 4th Street, Tucson, AZ
1997 Died 5/31/97

Patnode, Joseph I. (Catholic directory)
1935
1936
1937
1938
1939
1940
1941
1942
1943
1944
1945
1946
1947
1948
1949
1950 St Joe's Key West
1951 St. Joe's Key West
1952 Our Lady of Mercy Novitiate Marion
1953 Our Lady of Mercy Marion
1954 Our Lady of Mercy Marion
1955 Our Lady of Mercy Marion
1956 Our Lady of Mercy Marion
1957 Our Lady of Mercy Marion
1958 Our Lady of Mercy Marion
1959 Our Lady of Mercy Marion
1960 Our Lady of Mercy Marion
1961 Our Lady of Mercy Marion
1962 Our Lady of Mercy Marion
1963 Our Lady of Mercy Marion
1964 Our Lady of Mercy Marion
1965 RETIRED Mt. Mercy College Cedar Rapids
1966 RETIRED Mt. Mercy College Cedar Rapids
1967 RETIRED Mt. Mercy College Cedar Rapids
1968 RETIRED Mt. Mercy College Cedar Rapids
1969 RETIRED Mt. Mercy College Cedar Rapids
1970 RETIRED Mt. Mercy College Cedar Rapids
1971 RETIRED Mt. Mercy College Cedar Rapids
1972 RETIRED Mt. Mercy College Cedar Rapids
1973 RETIRED Mt. Mercy College Cedar Rapids
1974 RETIRED Mt. Mercy College Cedar Rapids
1975 RETIRED Mt. Mercy College Cedar Rapids
1976 RETIRED Mt. Mercy College Cedar Rapids
1977 Died as chaplain of the Sisters of Mercy Novitiate in Marion , IA, December 30, 1977