Eight Jesuit priests who served in Buffalo, including six who spent time at Canisius High School, are included among a list of 50 individuals accused of sexual abuse. That list was released Tuesday morning by the USA Northeast Province of the Society of Jesus.
Three of the priests on the list, Cornelius Carr, Raymond Fullam and Vincent Mooney, served at Canisius High School at times when the Jesuits' accusations say abuse of a minor ocurred.
" Although we are still deeply saddened about the serious nature of the incidents reported above, with the exception of Fr. Fullam, none of the incidents involved a Canisius High School student," the high school said in a prepared statement.
A third priest, James Gould was accused of abusing a minor in 1977 and 1978, which coincides with his service at St. Ann's in Buffalo, according to the list.
The Buffalo-area clergy on the list of accused Jesuit priests:
- Cornelius Carr, accused of abusing a minor in 1989-1990 Listed as "Credible after Investigation". Served in Buffalo at Canisius HS in 1952 -1953, and again in 1972-1976 and 1984-1993. He also served at St. Michael's Parish in Buffalo from 1983-1984 and from 1999-2001.
- Peter Conroy, accused of abusing of a minor in 1972, listed as impeding the Jesuit investigation in 2002, but later admitting to the charge. Served in Buffalo at Canisius HS from 1965-1968, and later at Canisius College from 1984-1993, and 1994-2002.
- Thomas Denny, accused of abusing minors in seperate cases in the 1960s and the 1970s. Found credible after investigations in 2002 and 2012 respectively. Served at Canisius HS 1993-1995
- John Ferrand, accused of abusing minors in 1961 and later admitted to the charges the same year. At Canisius HS from 1946- 1949.
- Raymond Fullam, accused of abusing minors in 1954 and 1965. Charges found to be credible after investigation in 2009. Served at Canisius HS 1953-1958, and 1972-76. "Credible allegations against Fr. Fullam were made by a Canisius High School alumnus in 2009, and concerned incidents during Fr. Fullam’s tenure at Canisius High School. There was an additional incident that occurred in 1965, that was also found to be credible," the high school said in a sttement.
- James Gould, accused of abusing a minor in 1977-1978, listed as impeding the 2011 investigation but later admitted the abuse. Served at St. Anns Church in Buffalo 1975-83.
- Vincent Mooney, accused of abusing minors from 1959-on and in 1968-70. Investigations of each were done in 2018 and 2002 respectively. Found credible after investigation. Served at Canisius HS 1958-74.
- William Scanlon, accused of abusing minors in 1985-1994. Admitted to charges after investigation in 1994. At Canisius College from 1976-1980
The late Rev. Vincent Mooney, who is also included on the list, is said to have been accused of abuses which allegedly occured during his term at Canisius High School, from 1958 to 1974. The abuses, according to the report, were said to have happened between 1959 and 1970 and were found to be "credible after investigation."
The Jesuits' Northeast Province had confirmed ahead of the release that Reverend Cornelius Carr, who died in 2008, would be on the list. He was accused by a Dallas man of participating in an act of sexual abuse while serving at a New Orleans-based Jesuit high school. He is also accused, according to the report, of committing an abuse at Canisius High School on or around 1989-1990.
In a statement released Tuesday morning, Canisius College acknowledged that Conroy was missioned at Canisius College from 1980 until 1984 and again from 1994 -2002, and that Rev. William Scanlon, SJ another on the list, was missioned at Canisius from 1976 until 1980.
Accusations aginst Conroy pre-date his service at the college, and those against Scanlon came after his service there, according to the Canisius College statement.
"Canisius College had no knowledge of any instances of sex abuse in the past or at the time either Jesuit was employed at the college and had no report of any sex abuse during their time at the college after their departure," the college said.
The Society, in the meantime, has posted a FAQ page on their website related to their list of accused priests.
Here is the full written statement issued by Canisius High School in Buffalo:
BUFFALO, NY – January 15, 2019 – "The USA Northeast Province of the
Society of Jesus today released the names of Jesuits who have had claims made
against them for sexual abuse of a minor that were found to be credible. The
list includes the names of Jesuits who served at Canisius High School at one
time:
1. Rev. Cornelius Carr: deceased, served at Canisius 1952-1953;
1972-1976; 1984-1993. The allegation against Fr. Carr was made in 2005, and concerned an incident in 1989/1990, which was found to be credible.
2. Rev. Peter Conroy: served at Canisius 1965-1968. The allegation against Fr. Conroy was made and admitted by him in 2002, and concerned an incident in 1972. He has not been in ministry since the allegation was reported.
3. Rev. Thomas Denny: served at Canisius 1993-1995. The allegation against Fr. Denny was made in 2012, and concerned incidents that occurred in the 1960s and 1970s, which were found to be credible. He has not
been in ministry since the allegation was reported.
4. Rev. John L. Ferrand: deceased, served at Canisius 1946-1949. The allegation against Fr. Ferrand concerned an incident that occurred in 1961, and was admitted by Fr. Ferrand in 1961.
5. Rev. Raymond Fullam: deceased 1987, served at Canisius 1953-1958. Credible allegations against Fr. Fullam were made by a Canisius High School alumnus in 2009, and concerned incidents during Fr. Fullam’s tenure at Canisius High School. There was an additional incident that occurred in
1965, that was also found to be credible.
6. Rev. Vincent Mooney: deceased 1981, served at Canisius 1958-1974, and as Rector from 1969 to 1974. An allegation against Fr. Mooney was made in 2002 concerning an incident in 1968-1970. Another allegation was made against Fr. Mooney in 2018, concerning an incident that began in 1956.
Both allegations were found to be credible. Although we are still deeply saddened about the serious nature of the incidents reported above, with the exception of Fr. Fullam, none of the incidents involved
a Canisius High School student.
The USA Northeast Province of Jesuits has had protocols and procedures in place since 2002 as part of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People (Dallas Charter), a comprehensive set of procedures established
by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) for addressing allegations of sexual abuse of minors by Catholic clergy.
The Province is also accredited by Praesidium, Inc., an independent third party organization providing consultation, risk management assessment,policy development, and training materials for use in preventing sexual misconduct and responding to allegations of sexual misconduct. The Province
maintains accreditation through regular compliance review and audits by Praesidium.
The most recent re-accreditation was in April 2018.If a claim of sexual abuse should ever be made, we would immediately report the incident to law enforcement. Canisius High School would fully cooperate
with the investigation.
Our heartfelt prayers remain with the victims of sexual abuse and their families."
