PORTLAND, Maine — Seven Jesuit priests who formerly worked at Cheverus High School in Portland were included on a list detailing "credible allegations" of sexual abuse of minors in a list released Tuesday, Jan. 15.
The list of 50 priests who served across the U.S. Northeast was released by the Jesuit order of the Catholic Church in a show of transparency.
- William Cahill at Cheverus from 1950-1960, deceased.
- Stephen Dawber at Cheverus from 1978-1984, deceased.
- Joseph Dooley at Cheverus from 1954-1958, deceased.
- Eugene Orteneau at Cheverus from 1978-1979, deceased.
- Richard Roos at Cheverus from 1974-78, 1979-80, admitted abuse.
- James Talbot at Cheverus from 1980-1998, incarcerated.
- James Walsh at Cheverus from 1970-72, 1977-79, deceased.
All but two of the priests are dead. Richard Roos and James Talbot are the only priests who are still alive. Talbot was recently convicted of abuse in September after pleading guilty to abusing a nine-year-old in Freeport in the late 90s.
Talbot had previously served six years behind bars in 2005 after being convicted in Massachusetts. Under oath, Talbot admitted to victimizing 88 children over the years.
Roos appears to still be an ordained priest working in a Jesuit community in Massachusetts despite admitting to an abuse allegation, according to the Portland Press Herald.
Also named on the list was Joseph Laughlin who served at St. Ann Mission parish in Princeton from 1977 to 1982 and died in 2013.
Founded in 1917, Cheverus is a Jesuit, college-preparatory high school located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland.
Officials from the Diocese of Portland released the following statement:
“The list issued by the Jesuits’ USA Northeast Province of those in their community credibly accused of past sexual abuse of minors is distressing. Though Jesuits who have served in Maine are under the authority of the Jesuits’ USA Northeast provincial, speaking for the Diocese of Portland, I hope that the release of the list provides continued healing and peace for victims/survivors everywhere. That none on the list are in active ministry offers some comfort but, as I have said, these stories of past abuse stain the reputation of the vast majority of Catholic priests who are men of great integrity. This would include the many faithful Jesuits who have served in Maine since the 1600s. Since the Diocese of Portland’s safe environment procedures were implemented in 2002, there have been no substantiated allegations of sexual abuse of a minor by a cleric in Maine, but we do not want to forget the hurt and pain this past abuse caused. The terrible harm of the past continues to give us the resolve to do all that we can to prevent such abuse from occurring again. As always, I encourage anyone who may have information about any case of sexual abuse of a minor by a Church representative to contact civil authorities and Michael Magalski, director of the Office of Professional Responsibility for the Diocese of Portland, at (207) 321-7836 or michael.magalski@portlanddiocese.org. Please join me in praying for the victims/survivors of such abuse as we ask that God keep us faithful to the path we have set to see to it that the Church is a safe place for all.”