Please click here for a PDF list of priests with substantiated allegations.
Priests Who Have Served in the Diocese of Owensboro Against Whom A Substantiated Allegation of Sexual Abuse of a Minor Has Been Made
For purposes of this list, an allegation of the sexual abuse of a minor by a priest is substantiated when there is probable cause for believing the claim is true. The following may be considered as evidence of probable cause: 1) admission of guilt by the accused; 2) accused does not contest the allegation; 3) guilty finding rendered by a court; 4) finding rendered by an investigative process shows cause for believing the allegation is true on an objective basis.
Priests ordained for the Diocese of Owensboro
This section contains the names of priests who were ordained for the Diocese of Owensboro against whom was made at least one substantiated allegation of the sexual abuse of a minor occurring within the Diocese of Owensboro.
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Baker, Gerald
- Diocese/Order: Owensboro
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DOB: 1-25-57
Date of Ordination: 5-21-83
Date of Death:
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Pastoral Assignments in the Diocese of Owensboro:
83-85: St. Stephen Cathedral, Owensboro
85-87: St. Mary of the Woods, Whitesville with responsibilities at Trinity High School
87-89: Immaculate Conception, Earlington; Holy Cross, Providence; Resurrection, Dawson Springs
89-03: Sts. Peter & Paul, Hopkinsville
03-12: St. Ann, Morganfield
12-16: St. Mary of the Woods, Whitesville
13-16: St. John, Fordsville
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Clerical State: Removed from public ministry 2016.
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Allegation(s): Three allegations deemed substantiated by the Diocesan Review Board.
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Greenwell, Paul
- Diocese/Order: Owensboro (originally from Archdiocese of Louisville until Owensboro established in 1937)
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DOB: 10-10-1896
Date of Ordination: 6-2-1928
Date of Death: 11-24-1964
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Pastoral Assignments in the Diocese of Owensboro:
1932-47: St. Augustine, Reed
1947-56: St. Peter Waverly
1956: Retired to Albuquerque, NM
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Clerical State: deceased 1964
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Allegation(s): Multiple allegations from the 1940’s and 1950’s deemed substantiated.
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Hancock, Walter
- Diocese/Order: Owensboro
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DOB: 10-23-1920
Date of Ordination: 5-27-1947
Date of Death: 3-2-2012
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Pastoral Assignments in the Diocese of Owensboro:
1947-49: St. Anthony, Browns Valley
1949-1952: Immaculate Conception, Hawesville
1952-1959: St. Mary of the Woods, Whitesville
1959-1965: St. Anthony, Peonia
1965-72: St. Alphonsus
1972-1983: St. Jerome, Fancy Farm
1983-1989: St. Sebastian, Calhoun
1989-1992; Sacred Heart, Russellville
1992-1995: St. Rose, Cloverport and Holy Guardian Angels, Irvington
1995: Allowed to retire
1998: Administrator at Holy Guardian Angels Parish in Irvington
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Clerical State: Removed from public ministry 2002. Deceased 2012
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Allegation(s): Multiple allegations deemed substantiated.
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Henninger, Gilbert
- Diocese/Order: Owensboro
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DOB: 12-18-1907
Date of Ordination: 5-22-1937
Date of Death: 3-5-1990
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Pastoral Assignments in the Diocese of Owensboro:
6/27/37 – 8/16/37: St. Peter, Stanley
8/16/37-9/4/37: St. Rose, Cloverport
1937-38: St. Francis de Sales, Paducah
1938-39: St. Paul, Owensboro and St. Joseph, Owensboro
1939-41: Chaplain at St. Francis Academy, Owensboro
1941-43: student in Ottawa, Canada
1943-62: Chaplain to Ursulines at Mt. St. Joseph
1962-82: St. Martin, Rome
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Clerical State: deceased 1990
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Allegation(s): Multiple allegations received after his death, but deemed substantiated.
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Meredith, John
- Diocese/Order: Owensboro
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DOB: 12-1-1954
Date of Ordination: 1-12-1980
Date of Death:
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Pastoral Assignments in the Diocese of Owensboro:
Jan. 1980 – May 1980: St. Francis de Sales, Paducah
June 1980-June 1983: St. Mary of the Woods, Whitesville
June 1983 – June 1985: Parish of the Immaculate, Owensboro
June 1985 – June 1988: St. Edward, Fulton and Sacred Heart, Hickman
June 1988 – June 1995: Christ the King, Madisonville
June 1995 – June 2008: Our Lady of Lourdes, Owensboro
June 2008 – Nov. 2013: Blessed Mother, Owensboro
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Clerical State: Removed from public ministry in 2013.
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Allegation(s): One allegation deemed substantiated by the Diocesan Review Board.
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Piskula, Louis
- Diocese/Order: Owensboro
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DOB: 1-6-1940
Date of Ordination: 5-10-1975
Date of Death: 10-11-2018
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Pastoral Assignments in the Diocese of Owensboro:
1975-77: St. Stephen Cathedral, Owensboro
1977-82: Blessed Mother, Owensboro
1982-85: St. Leo Murray and Chaplain at Newman Center in Murray
1985-89: St. John the Evangelist, Paducah
1989-1994: St. Mary of the Woods, Whitesville
1994-2002: Chaplain at St. Joseph Passionist Monastery in Whitesville
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Clerical State: Removed from public ministry in 2002. Deceased 2018.
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Allegation(s): Six allegations deemed substantiated. In 2014, he was convicted of child sexual abuse and sentenced to prison.
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Speaks, John
- Diocese/Order: Owensboro
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DOB: 5-25-1947
Date of Ordination: 6-8-1974
Date of Death: 6-11-2019
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Pastoral Assignments in the Diocese of Owensboro:
1974-77: Blessed Mother, Owensboro
1977-81: St. Francis de Sales, Paducah
1981-82: St. Sebastian, Calhoun and St. Charles, Livermore
1982-83: Christ the King, Madisonville
2/83 – 6/83: St. Alphonsus, Daviess County
6/83 – 1987: St. Joseph, Mayfield
1987-1989: Holy Name, Henderson
1989 – 1994: Hospital Chaplain, Owensboro Daviess County Hospital & Mercy Hospital, Owensboro
1994- 1995: St. Paul, Princeton
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Clerical State: Removed from public ministry in 2002.
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Allegation(s): One allegation deemed substantiated.
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Wheatley, Carroll
- Diocese/Order: Owensboro
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DOB: 2-11-1945
Date of Ordination: 5-10-1975
Date of Death: 10-7-2013
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Pastoral Assignments in the Diocese of Owensboro:
6/75-8/75: St. Mary, Whitesville
1975-81: Chaplain/Teacher: Trinity High School, Whitesville
1977-81: St. William & St. Lawrence, Knottsville
1981-82: St. Francis de Sales, Paducah
1982-84: St. Mary, LaCenter
1985-2011: Chaplain in U.S. Navy
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Clerical State: Removed from public ministry in 2011. Deceased 2013.
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Allegation(s): Two allegations deemed substantiated.
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Wieder, Henry
- Diocese/Order: Owensboro
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DOB: 9-15-1962
Date of Ordination: 5-27-1989
Date of Death:
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Pastoral Assignments in the Diocese of Owensboro:
1989-91: Our Lady of Lourdes, Owensboro
1991-94: Holy Spirit, Bowling Green
1994-97: St. Agnes Parish, Uniontown
1997-2003: St. Thomas More, Paducah
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Clerical State: Left active ministry in 2003.
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Allegation(s): One allegation of sexual abuse received in 2002 involving incident prior to ordination, deemed substantiated.
Priests from another diocese or religious order
This section contains the names of priests either from another diocese or from a religious order who at one time served in the Diocese of Owensboro and against whom was made at least one substantiated allegation of the sexual abuse of a minor occurring within the Diocese.
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Alexander, Joseph, OSB
- Diocese/Order: OSB (Order of Saint Benedict). Later became a priest of Diocese of Lafayette, LA.
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DOB:
Date of Ordination: 1973
Date of Death:
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Pastoral Assignments in the Diocese of Owensboro: Early 1960’s: Monk at St. Maur’s Priory in South Union, Kentucky
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Clerical State: Removed from public ministry in 2002 by Diocese of Lafayette in Louisiana.
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Allegation(s): Allegation is from years prior to ordination while at St. Maur’s Seminary in South Union, Kentucky.
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Pilger, Joseph
- Diocese/Order: Covington, KY
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DOB: ~1925
Date of Ordination: 1955
Date of Death: December 2003
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Pastoral Assignments in the Diocese of Owensboro:
1963: St. William, Knottsville
1964 – 8/30/65: St. Ann, Morganfield
8/30/65 – 1966: Sts. Joseph & Paul, Owensboro
February 1967: St. Jerome, Fancy Farm
August 1967: Immaculate Conception, Earlington
8/67 – 1/69: Holy Name, Henderson
1/69 – 11/27/71: St. Francis Borgia in Sturgis, St. Ambrose in Henshaw and St. William in Marion
12/9/72 – 6/29/76: Cathedral in Owensboro
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Clerical State: deceased 2003
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Allegation(s): Thirteen allegations deemed substantiated. Convicted of child sexual abuse in 1993.
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Telegdy, Louis A
- Diocese/Order: Precious Blood Priest (CPPS)
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DOB:
Date of Ordination: 1942
Date of Death: 1995
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Pastoral Assignments in the Diocese of Owensboro:
1972-74: St. Francis Borgia, Sturgis
1974-76: Sacred Heart, Russellville
1976-78: St. Pius X, Calvert City
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Clerical State: Deceased 1995
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Allegation(s): One allegation received in the Diocese of Owensboro after his death. Three allegations in the Diocese of Davenport, Iowa deemed substantiated.
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Waldruff, Raymond
- Diocese/Order: Franciscan Third Order Regular (TOR)
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DOB: 4-13-1928
Date of Ordination: 7-25-1953
Date of Death: 3-25-1985
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Pastoral Assignments in the Diocese of Owensboro:
8/31/67–6/15/68: St. Jerome Parish in Fancy Farm; St. Charles in Bardwell; & St. Denis in Fancy Farm
6/15/68 – 8/15/68: Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Owensboro
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Clerical State: Dismissed from Franciscan Order in 1983. Deceased 1985.
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Allegation(s): Five allegations received; at least two deemed substantiated.
Allegations Which Occurred Outside the Diocese of Owensboro
This section contains the names of priests who were ordained for the Diocese of Owensboro, as well as priests from another diocese who at one time served within the Diocese of Owensboro, and against whom was made at least one substantiated allegation of the sexual abuse of a minor occurring outside the Diocese of Owensboro.
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Haas, Paul F.
- Diocese/Order: Nashville
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DOB: 12-14-1933
Date of Ordination: 5-23-1959
Date of Death: 6-7-1979
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Pastoral Assignments in the Diocese of Owensboro:
1966-1969: Immaculate Conception, Hawesville (including Catholic High School in Hawesville until its closure in 1969.)
1969-1977: Owensboro Catholic High School; assisting on weekends at St. William and St. Lawrence parishes; living at Carmel Home.
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Clerical State: deceased 1979
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Allegation(s): Multiple allegations in Tennessee were deemed substantiated. No allegations received in the Diocese of Owensboro.
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*Holmes, Adelbert (Del)
- Diocese/Order: Glenmary Home Missioners (GHM)
- DOB: 6/25/1925
- Date of Ordination: 6/1/1963
- Date of Death: 9/20/2013
- Pastoral Assignments in the Diocese of Owensboro:
- 1977-1988: St. Mary, Franklin and Christ the King, Scottsville
- Clerical State: deceased 2013
- Allegation(s): One allegation in the Diocese of Richmond, Virginia. No allegations received in the Diocese of Owensboro.
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***Messick, Severin
- Diocese/Order: Order of Saint Benedict (OSB)
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DOB: 7/12/1954
Date of Ordination: 5/2/1982
Date of Death: 9/28/2011
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Pastoral Assignments in the Diocese of Owensboro:
- 1983: Associate Pastor, St. Mary of the Woods & Trinity High School, Whitesville
- 1985: Associate pastor, St. Ann Parish, Morganfield and advocate of the diocesan tribunal, Owensboro
- 1992 Pastor, St. Ann Parish, Morganfield
- 1996 Administrator, Church of the Immaculate, Owensboro
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Clerical State: Deceased, 2011
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Allegation(s): One allegation while in the Archdiocese of Indianapolis deemed substantiated.
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Odom-Green, William
- Diocese/Order: Owensboro
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DOB: 5/25/1959
Date of Ordination: 5/25/1991
Date of Death:
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Pastoral Assignments in the Diocese of Owensboro:
June 1991 – June 1992: Holy Name Parish, Henderson.
June 1992 – June 1994: Sts. Joseph & Paul, Owensboro
June 1994 – June 1995: St. Francis de Sales & Rosary Chapel, Paducah
Dec. 1997 – April 1999: Faculties granted by Diocese of Oakland, CA
April 1999: Faculties removed by Diocese of Oakland
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Clerical State: Removed from public ministry in 1999.
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Allegation(s): One allegation in the Diocese of Oakland, California in 1999. Convicted and sentenced to prison. No allegations received in the Diocese of Owensboro.
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**Poandl, Robert
- Diocese/Order: Glenmary Home Missioners (GHM)
- DOB: 5-19-41
- Date of Ordination: 5-4-68
- Date of Death: 1-15-19
- Pastoral Assignments in the Diocese of Owensboro:
- April, 1988: Served as Parish Administrator at St. Mary Parish in Franklin for one month.
- Clerical State: deceased 2019
- Allegation(s): One allegation in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. Convicted and sentenced to prison. No allegations received in the Diocese of Owensboro.
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**Wolf, Benedict
- Diocese/Order: Glenmary Home Missioners (GHM)
- DOB: 1916
- Date of Ordination: 1941
- Date of Death:
- Pastoral Assignments in the Diocese of Owensboro:
- 1942-1950: Served as pastor of Sacred Heart Parish, Russellville
- Clerical State: Deceased. Left society in 1975
- Allegation(s): One allegation in the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown, Pennsylvania. No allegations received in the Diocese of Owensboro.
*Added April 26, 2019.
**Added October 24, 2019.
***Added May 18, 2022.
In a spirit of ongoing transparency, as new information is received in the future, it will be added to www.owensborodiocese.org/accountability.
To report suspected abuse call the Kentucky Child Protection Hot Line: 1-877-KYSAFE1 or 1-877-597-2331 (Toll Free) or contact your local Commonwealth Attorney.
To make a report of sexual abuse of a minor and related misconduct by bishops, go to ReportBishopAbuse.org or call 1-800-276-1562.
To report abuse, current or past, to the diocese, by anyone acting in the name of the Church, please call:
Scott Ingram
Pastoral Assistance Coordinator
270-852-8380 (English)
Para hacer un informe de abuso sexual de un menor y mala conducta relacionada por parte de los obispos, vaya a ReportBishopAbuse.org o llame al 1-800-276-1562.
Para reportar abusos a la diócesis, ya sean actuales o anteriores, por parte de cualquier persona que actúa en nombre de la Iglesia, favor de llamar al:
Miguel Quintanilla
Coordinador de Asistencia Pastoral
270-880-8360 (Español)