Three priests, who formerly served in Dillon and who are now all deceased, are among those listed on Diocesan Priests with a Credible Allegation of Child Sexual Misconduct or Abuse within the Diocese of Charleston.
The priests named to the list who served in Dillon as confirmed by the Diocese of Charleston are George Frederick Moynihan: Ordination Date : 12/07/1974, Deceased– 08/30/2004; Paul Seitz: Ordination Date: 05/17/1958, Retired 06/01/2002 – under restrictions l and Charles Sheedy: Ordination Date: 05/16/1937 Deceased – 07/06/1989.
The following definitions were offered in the information presented: 1 According to the Diocese of Charleston’s Policy Concerning Allegations of Sexual Misconduct or Abuse of a Minor by Church Personnel (2012), a credible allegation is defined as “an accusation which at least seems to be true (Canon 1717, Section 1), and/or offers reasonable grounds for being believed. A credible allegation is not manifestly false.”
2 According to the Diocese of Charleston’s Policy Concerning Allegations of Sexual Misconduct or Abuse of a Minor by Church Personnel (2012), “Sexual misconduct or abuse of a minor includes sexual molestation or sexual exploitation of a minor and other behavior by which an adult uses a minor as an object of sexual gratification. Consequently, any act or attempt to commit any act of incest, rape, or a sexual offense in any degree, sodomy, or any unnatural or perverted sexual practice, lewd or indecent acts or proposals, including indecent touching or fondling, exploitation, or permitting, encouraging, assisting, or aiding a minor to participate in such acts, constitutes sexual misconduct or abuse of a minor. Sexual misconduct or abuse of a minor includes conduct or interaction with a minor that is external and an objectively grave violation of the Sixth Commandment. Such conduct does not need to be an act of intercourse involving force, physical contact or a discernable, harmful outcome.”
A complete list of priests can be found at https:// charlestondiocese.org/child-and-youth-protection/list/.
Victims of sexual misconduct or abuse by church personnel are encouraged to contact law enforcement authorities in the area where the abuse occurred Bishop Guglielmone asks for continued prayers for all victims of sexual abuse. He also released the following message:
March 29, 2019
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
It is with a heavy heart and in the spirit of transparency and accountability that I, based on the recommendations of the independent Sexual Abuse Advisory Board of the Diocese of Charleston, release the names of those clergy who have been credibly accused of sexual misconduct or abuse involving a minor. I
t is my fervent hope and prayer that publishing this list will help bring healing to the victims and their families who have been so grievously harmed by the betrayal of priests and Church leadership.
The victims of sexual abuse and their families have suffered much pain and are understandably hurt and angry.
We must continue to pray and care for our brothers and sisters who have experienced this trauma inflicted by priests they trusted.
We also need to honor the courage of those who have come forward to share the most intimate and painful experiences of their entire lives.
My heart hurts for the victims and the damage this has caused to them and to their families.
The task before the Church today is to assist in the healing of victims and to regain their trust. This regaining of trust is not only necessary for the victims, but also for all the faithful. The Church should always be a safe environment — not only a place where no one will be abused going forward, but also a place where those who have been abused in the past can find understanding, healing and hope.
Let us remain steadfast in offering our prayers to God that all victims of child sexual abuse may find healing and peace. The list of priests was compiled after a review of diocesan priest records. Every effort was made to ensure that the examination was thorough, precise and complete.
Members of the independent Sexual Abuse Advisory Board then assessed and agreed on the final list of priests. It is important to note that an accusation determined by the Board to be credible is not a finding of liability or guilt; it means that the allegation at least seems to be true and/or offers reasonable grounds to be believed.
This list includes the names of those priests credibly accused of sexual abuse of minors in the Diocese dating back to 1950. It is separated into four parts:
• Priests under the direct authority of the Diocese of Charleston as to which a credible allegation of sexual misconduct or abuse has been made involving conduct within the Diocese;
• Visiting priests from another diocese and priests under the direct authority of a Religious Order, but assigned to the Diocese of Charleston, as to which a credible allegation of sexual misconduct or abuse has been made involving conduct within the Diocese;
• Priests who served in the Diocese of Charleston, with no accusations within this Diocese, but who have credible allegations of sexual abuse of minors that occurred in another jurisdiction, and
• Priests who are listed by virtue of a class action settlement payment as determined by an arbitrator
The list will be updated if new credible allegations of sexual abuse of a minor are determined. In order to experience a resurgence of holiness, we in the Church must continue to strengthen the protections provided to our children and young people in our parishes and schools. I urge you, the faithful of our Diocese, to participate in this resurgence.
Trials and tribulations can often become the catalysts for tremendous strengthening to enable us to deal with the problems we face in our lives. With your help, our Church will become stronger and the crisis we now face will result in the purification of the Church.
Sincerely in Christ’s Peace,
Most Rev. Robert E. Guglielmone
Bishop of Charleston
March 29, 2019