HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Catholic Diocese of Wichita Thursday published a list of diocesan clergy against whom an allegation of sexual abuse of a minor has been substantiated. Four of the nine that are on the list have ties to Hutchinson.
According to a statement on the diocese website, the list is being published after a comprehensive and independent audit of all clergy files over the last several months by Stephen Robison, a non-Catholic lawyer with many years of experience in criminal and civil investigations.
Published on the list are the names of nine priests of the Catholic Diocese of Wichita, who have substantiated allegations of sexual abuse of a minor. Included with the nine named priests are an additional six priests, who though not priests of the diocese, served in the diocese for a period of time, and are identified because they were published by other dioceses.
The four clergies with ties to Hutchinson are Peter Duke who served at the Church of the Holy Cross in 1970 and 1971; Charles O’Connor who was at St. Teresa’s from 1984 through 1988; Robert Schleiter who also served at St. Teresa’s in 1954 and 1955; and William Wheeler who was at St. Elizabeth’s hospital from 1960 until 1963.
The names, ordination dates, assignment histories and current status are now available on the diocesan website.
Along with the list of substantiated allegations, the Catholic Diocese of Wichita published a letter from Bishop Carl A. Kemme to the faithful and a Questions & Answers document that will hopefully address many of the questions raised.
All clergy currently listed have either been removed from ministry or are deceased. The majority are deceased. Going forward, the Catholic Diocese of Wichita in cooperation with its Policy on Suspected Abuse of Children will continue to disclose the names of any clergy against whom an allegation of sexual abuse of a minor is substantiated.