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.
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.
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 |
Tegan Hanlon is the digital managing editor at Alaska Public Media. Reach her at thanlon@alaskapublic.org or 907-550-8447. Read more about Tegan here.
