Category:Montana Dioceses
From Eurêka
Montana dioceses General
Montana dioceses settlements Montana's two Roman Catholic dioceses paid more than $4.3 million to settle claims of abuse against children by priests since 1950, reported February 2004.
Diocese of Great Falls-Billings
Diocese of Great Falls-Billings Covers 91,403 square miles in Eastern Montana, founded 1903. Three priests had been accused of sexual abuse up to January 2003. Three people told church officials they were sexually abused by priests years earlier, 2002. The church investigated all reports, two from 30 to 40 years earlier and the other involved a priest who officials believed was no longer active in the ministry.
(alphabetical listing)
[3 offenders identified, 4 listed]
Anon priest I Unnamed priest accused of abuse.
Anon priest II Unnamed priest accused of abuse.
Houlihan affair Rev. John Houlihan was subject to a sexual abuse accusation but Bishop Milone said that alleged victim had refused to talk, 1994. However, Gene Jarussi, a Billings lawyer who has represented him, said the claim “was settled on its merits” for a confidential sum.
- Elangoven accusation Rev. John Houlihan was accused of sexually harassing and discriminating against a priest, Rev. Anandan Elangovan, under his supervision. Bishop Milone said the allegations were not credible and left Houlihan on the job, 2000. Rev. Anandan Elangovan filed a federal lawsuit pending against the diocese and Father Houlihan, both deny wrongdoing.
Zabrocki affair Rev. Patrick Zabrocki looked at pornographic sites on the church computer which was reported by business administrator and Christian education director Donna Wilson and secretary-bookkeeper Lynn Schumacher in January 2002. For the next two years, the women were barraged with e-mails selling sex-related products. By late 2003, Wilson and Schumacher were presented with substantially revised job descriptions - their duties, hours and pay were reduced. Wilson and Schumacher both left their jobs at the church and, in the fall of 2004, filed a complaint with the Human Rights Bureau. The diocese was forced to pay nearly $420,000 compensation to them.
Diocese of Helena
Diocese of Helena Covers 51,922 square miles of western and north-central Montana, encompassing 21 counties and parts of two others, established 7 March 1884. One priest had been accused of sexual abuse up to January 2003.
(alphabetical listing)
[1 offender identified, 1 listed]
Smart affair Rev. Wilson F. Smart admitted abuse of 30 boys, settled for $1.7 million 1993.
