Review finds evidence of sexual misconduct by 14 people in the Anchorage Archdiocese since 1966

An independent review has found evidence of sexual misconduct by 14 Catholic Church employees, nearly all of them priests, who served in parishes, schools and shelters under the Archdiocese of Anchorage.

The archdiocese released their names Thursday in a report posted on its website.

[Read the report here.]

It’s the first time the Anchorage Archdiocese has named its clergy members who have been accused of sexual misconduct. It follows dozens of disclosures from other dioceses across the country, including in Juneau.

The Anchorage report was ordered by Archbishop Paul Etienne in October 2018. He created a commission to review the files of all ordained and religious men and women who served under the archdiocese since it started in 1966.

Related: ‘It’s never, ever been your fault’: Alaska bishop offers apology in wake of report on sexual abuse

The commission included a retired police captain, former prosecutor and retired judge.

Their review found “credible evidence” that 13 priests and one other church employee who served under the archdiocese engaged in sexual misconduct involving minors or vulnerable adults.

The men served across Southcentral Alaska.

Allegations against 10 of them came while they served in the Anchorage Archdiocese. The other four faced allegations in another diocese, the report said.

The allegations are as recent as 2015. They date as far back as 1956, before the Anchorage Archdiocese was started. Francis Cowgill is accused of sexual misconduct involving minors from 1956 to 1964, the report said. He served under the Diocese of Juneau at the time, and later joined the Anchorage Archdiocese.

According to the report, half of those accused of sexual misconduct are now dead.

It wasn’t immediately clear how many of the men, if any, had faced criminal charges.

Read our continuing coverage of abuse within the Catholic Church in Alaska

In a letter attached to the report, Bishop Andrew Bellisario said the archdiocese is aware there may be other instances of sexual misconduct that weren’t identified in the review or were never reported. The commission will review any additional information that comes forward, he said.

Bellisario started the letter with an apology to those who have been sexually abused by members of the clergy.

“It is with humility, sorrow, and shame that I apologize to you, your family, friends, and community in the name of the Church for the grievous harm you suffered,” he wrote.

The archdiocese scheduled a press conference for Thursday afternoon.

Related: Diocese of Juneau finds ‘credible evidence’ of sexual misconduct by Southeast Alaska priests

Here is the list from the report released by the Archdiocese of Anchorage:

Names of those who have been determined by the Independent Commission to have credible evidence of sexual misconduct involving minors and/or vulnerable adults while serving in the Archdiocese of Anchorage 

Name of Priest, Religious or Lay Minister	Status	Assignments while in the Archdiocese of Anchorage	Allegation(s) while serving in the Archdiocese of Anchorage
Stanley Allie	Retired 2000, no longer in ministry	Holy Family Cathedral, Anchorage, 1969 – 1970 St. Bernard, Talkeetna 1970 – 1974 St. Benedict, Anchorage, 1974-1984 St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Anchorage 1984 – 1990 Sacred Heart, Wasilla 1990-2000	Sexual misconduct involving a vulnerable adult on or about 1986
Rene Astruc, S.J.	Deceased 2002	Jesuit Residence, Anchorage 1971-1996	Sexual misconduct involving a minor 1976 and vulnerable adult
Manuel Castro	Employment ended 2013	St. Mark, Kodiak 2010 – 2013	Sexual misconduct involving a vulnerable adult 2011Sexual misconduct involving minors outside of the Archdiocese of Anchorage
Michael Hornick	Dismissed from the clerical state 2014	Holy Family Cathedral, Anchorage, as Decon 1968St. Anthony, Anchorage 1969-1971 St. Nicholas of Myra Byznatine Catholic Church, Anchorage 1978-1981 St. Benedict, Anchorage, 1971-1974 Chancery Office, Anchorage, as Vicar General, 1976-1984 Chancery Office, Anchorage, as Judicial Vicar 1976-2004 St. Nicholas of Myra Byzantine Catholic Church, Anchorage 2006 Blessed Theodore Romzha, Mission, Wasilla, 2006	Sexual misconduct involving minors and vulnerable adults 1970s – 2000s
James Laudwein, S.J.	Returned to his religious order 1995	Chaplaincy Apostolate throughout the Archdiocese, 1982 – 1995 including: Jesuit Residence, Anchorage Native Ministry, Associate Director UAA Campus Ministry, Director 1986-1994 Anchorage Jesuit Community Supervisor  Jesuit Volunteer Community, Advisor Brother Francis Shelter, Chaplain Covenant House, Chaplain	Sexual misconduct involving vulnerable adults in 1989
Robert Leising, OMI	Returned to his religious community 2016	St. John the Baptist, Homer 2012-2016 Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Soldotna, 2012-2016 Our Lady of the Angels, Kenai 2012 – 2016 St. Peter the Apostle Mission, Ninilchik, 2012-2016	Sexual misconduct by viewing child pornography
Francis Murphy	Deceased 2012	Holy Family of Cathedral, Anchorage 1996 St. Mary, Kodiak 1966 St. Michael, Palmer, 1967 Holy Family Cathedral, Anchorage 1970-1971 St. Patrick, Anchorage 1971-1984 St. Benedict, Anchorage 1984-1985	Sexual misconduct involving minors 1966-1979
Bernard Oosterman, (Beno)	Deceased 2011	Preaching throughout the Archdiocese, 1978-1980, including: Talkeetna, Kodiak, Wasilla, Kenai, Palmer, Anchorage, Valdez, Dillingham, Cordova, Seward, Eagle River, and Glennallen	Sexual misconduct involving a minor in 1978
Gerard Ryan, C.S.Sp	Deceased 2019	St. Anthony Anchorage 1971-1974 St. Bernard, Talkeetna, 1974-1979 St. Michael, Palmer, 1979-1987 St. Francis Xavier, Valdez 1987-1988Our Lady of Guadalupe, Anchorage, 1988-1989	Sexual misconduct involving minors 1971-1972
Robert Wells, C.Ss.R.	Deceased 1992	Our Lady of the Angels, Kenai, 1974-1988 Sacred Heart, Seward and St. John Neumann Mission, Cooper Landing, 1988-1992	Sexual misconduct involving a minor 1977-1986

Names of those who have served in the Archdiocese of Anchorage who have been determined by the Independent Commission to have credible evidence of sexual misconduct involving minors and/or vulnerable adults while service in another location

Name of Priest, Religious or Lay Minister	Status	Assignments while in the Archdiocese of Anchorage	Allegation(s) while serving in the Archdiocese of Anchorage
Francis Cowgill	Deceased 2002	St. Mary, Kodiak, 1966 St. Andrew, Eagle River, 1967-1968 St. Anthony, Anchorage 1968-2000	Sexual misconduct involving minors 1956-1964
Tim Crowley	Laicized 2015	Assistant to the Archbishop, Anchorage 1995-2002  Resided at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, 1995-2002	Sexual misconduct involving a minor 1980s
Angus McDonald	Deceased 1988	From 1972-1973 served in the following parishes:  Our Lady of Guadalupe, Anchorage Holy Family Cathedral, Anchorage St. Patrick, Anchorage St. Benedict, Anchorage	Sexual misconduct involving a vulnerable adult 1976
James Murphy	Dismissed from the clerical state 2012	Our Lady of Gudalupe, Anchorage 1982-1987 Resided at St. Patrick Parish, Anchorage, 1987-1991 St. Patrick Anchorage 1991 St. Francis Xavier, Valdez 1992	Sexual misconduct involving minors 1965-1971