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.
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
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