13 Franciscan Friars Named In Denver Sex Abuse Allegations

DENVER, CO – A Denver-based order of Catholic Franciscan friars on Thursday released the names of 13 friars with credible accusations of the sexual abuse of a minor or vulnerable adult.
The Capuchin Franciscan Province of St. Conrad said in a news release that 10 of the accused men served in Colorado. Of the 13 men listed, none are in active ministry, two are dead and five have left the order, a news release said.

The territory of the St. Conrad Province was started in 1977 and covers Colorado, Kansas and Missouri and the Diocese of Belleville, Peoria and Springfield, in Illinois. The province also has two houses in San Antonio, TX.

The order prides itself on working with vulnerable populations, such as the homeless in Denver, and also posts videos of monks zip lining.

The province's release came after an independent audit of 226 personnel files, the press release said.

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Provincial Minister, Fr. Christopher Popravak, O.F.M.Cap released a statement with the list of names:

“As friars and followers of St. Francis of Assisi, our vocation is to serve as lesser brothers. Therefore, the abuse of a minor by someone in such a sacred position of trust is all the more egregious. I have personally met with numerous victims and can attest to the devastation wreaked upon their lives and those of their families. Though the words may ring hollow as many other Church leaders are voicing similar sentiments, I can only say that I am sorry from the depths of my heart. I have asked the friars of our Province to commit to serious penance and reparation on behalf of the misdeeds of our brothers and for the healing of victims. The results of the audit we are releasing today is only the first step in a new age of transparency. We are striving to be vigilant and have taken serious steps in the last fifteen years to ensure the careful and diligent screening of candidates to our way of life. We must persevere in our efforts to ensure that such a scandalous series of violations never occurs again.”

The list of credible allegations follows:

More than one credible allegation of sexual abuse of a minor:

Bennett Colucci
Birth: 1930
Status: Removed from ministry / Under supervision

Estimated timeframe of abuse: 1970s-1980s

Pastoral assignments:

• Fraternidad San Conrado, Ponce Puerto Rico Fraternidad San Miguel, Utuado Puerto Rico
• Fraternidad Santa Cruz, Trujillo Alto Puerto Rico
• Fraternidad San Joaquin, Adjuntas PA
• Fraternidad Santa Maria de los Angeles, Rio Piedras Puerto Rico

• Annunciation Friary, Denver CO Alverno Friary, Denver CO
• Holy Cross Friary, Thornton CO

Ron Gilardi
Birth: 1947
Status: Removed from ministry / Under supervision

Estimated timeframe of abuse: 1990s
Pastoral assignments:

• St. Bonaventure Friary, Hays KS St. Joseph Friary, Hays KS
• St. Fidelis Friary, Victoria KS
• Santa Clara Friary, Denver CO
• St. Joseph Friary, Hays KS
• St. Fidelis Friary, Victoria KS

David Gottschalk
Birth: 1943
Status: Removed from ministry / Under supervision

Estimated timeframe of abuse: 1970s
Pastoral assignments:

• St. Fidelis Friary, Victoria KS
• St. Francis Friary, Pittsburgh PA
• St. Francis Friary, Washington DC
• Good Shepherd Friary, Shawnee KS
• St. John Friary, Lawrence KS
• St. Conrad Friary, Allison Park PA
• St. Francis Friary, Denver CO
• Our Lady of Angels Friary, Colorado Springs CO

Finian Meis
Birth: 1936
Status: Left Order in 1992 (Deceased)

Estimated timeframe of abuse: 1960s-1970s

Pastoral assignments:

• St. Fidelis Friary, Victoria KS
• St. Joseph Friary, Hays KS
• Good Shepherd Friary, Shawnee KS St. Conrad Friary, Kansas City MO

Daniel Schartz
Birth: 1942
Status: Left the Order in 1980

Estimated timeframe of abuse: 1970s

Pastoral assignments:

• St. Bonaventure Friary, Hays KS
• St. Joseph Friary, Hays KS

Julian Haas

Birth: 1938

Status: Removed from ministry / Under supervision

Estimated timeframe of abuse: 1970s-1980s Pastoral assignments:

• St. Mary Friary, Herman PA
• St. Bonaventure Friary, Hays KS
• St. Joseph Friary, Hays KS
• St. Lawrence of Brindisi Friary, Rome Italy Annunciation Friary, Denver CO
• Capuchin Historical Institute Friary, Rome Italy St. Crispin Friary, St. Louis MO
• St. Patrick Friary, St. Louis MO
• Solanus Casey Friary, Colorado Springs CO General Curia Friary, Rome Italy
• St. Francis of Assisi Friary, Denver CO
• Our Lady of Angels Friary, Colorado Springs CO

Thaddeus Posey

Birth: 1944

Status: Deceased (2013)

Estimated timeframe of abuse: 1980s

Pastoral assignments:

• St. Francis Friary, Washington DC
• Annunciation Friary, Denver CO
• Alverno Friary, Denver CO
• St. Conrad Friary, Kansas City MO
• St. Patrick Friary, St. Louis MO
• University of St. Thomas, St. Paul MN
• St. Fidelis Friary, Victoria KS

More than one credible allegation of sexual abuse of a vulnerable adult:

Matthew Gross

Birth: 1935

Status: Removed from ministry / Under supervision

Estimated timeframe of abuse: 2000s-2010s

Pastoral assignments:

• Our Lady of the Angels Friary, Erave Papua New Guinea
• St. Conrad Friary, Burani PNG
• St. Francis Friary, Tari PNG
• Mary Queen of the Friars Minor Friary, Kagua PNG
• St. Clare Friary, Ialibu PNGMother of Divine Shepherd Friary, Mendi PNG
• St. Joseph Friary, Hays KS
• Annunciation Friary, Denver CO
• Solanus Casey Friary, Colorado Springs CO
• St. Francis of Assisi Friary, Denver CO
• Our Lady of Angels Friary, Colorado Springs CO

One credible allegation of sexual abuse of a minor:

Gregory Beyer
Birth: 1935
Status: Deceased (2010)
Estimated timeframe of abuse: 1970s

Pastoral assignments:

• St. Bonaventure Friary, Hays KS
• Sacred Heart Friary, Atwood KS
• St. Fidelis Friary, Victoria KS
• St. Conrad Friary, Lawrence KS
• St. Joseph Friary, Hays KS
• Annunciation Friary, Denver CO
• Solanus Casey Friary, Colorado Springs CO

Benignus Scarry

Birth: 1944

Status: Left the Order in 2016

Estimated timeframe of abuse: 1980s

Pastoral assignments:

• St. Joseph Friary, Hays KS
• St. Bonaventure Friary, Hays KS
• St. Crispin Friary, St. Louis MO
• St. Conrad Friary, Lawrence KS
• San Damiano Friary, Denver CO
• San Antonio Friary, Denver CO
• St. Francis of Assisi Friary, Denver CO
• Our Lady of Angels Friary, Colorado Springs CO

Charles Wolfe

Birth: 1949

Status: Dismissed from Order in 1987

Estimated timeframe of abuse: 1976

Pastoral assignments:

• St. Bonaventure Friary, Hays KS
• Good Shepherd Friary, Shawnee KS
• St. Joseph Friary, Hays KS
• Holy Cross Friary, Thornton CO

David Jones
Birth: 1962
Status: Dismissed from Order in 1987

Estimated timeframe of abuse: 1986

Pastoral assignments:
None

Felix Shinsky
Birth: 1941
Status: Removed from ministry / Under supervision

Estimated timeframe of abuse: 1977

Pastoral assignments:

• St. Mary Friary, Herman PA
• St. Fidelis Friary, Victoria KS
• St. Conrad Friary, Annapolis MD
• Mother of Divine Shepherd Friary, Mendi Papua New Guinea
• Queen of the Friars Minor Friary, Kagua PNG St. Fidelis Friary, Nipa PNG
• Santa Clara Friary, Denver CO
• St. Elizabeth Friary, Denver CO
• St. Francis of Assisi Friary, Denver CO

There were two credible accusations of the sexual abuse of a minor committed by members of the St. Augustine Province in the order's current jurisdiction prior to our establishment as the St. Conrad Province in 1977, the release said.

The full text of the “Audit of the Capuchin Province of Mid-America (aka Province of St. Conrad)” is available on the website at: www.capuchins.org/protecting-c...

Anyone who has been abused by a Capuchin member is encouraged to contact "the appropriate civil authorities," the release said. The province also asks anyone with information about abuse to contact the Safe Environment Coordinator, Jason Faris, at 303-477-5436 or jason.faris@capuchins.org.