Roman Catholic
Diocese of Reno

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

For the past sixteen years, in compliance with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, we have had in place protocols for reporting abuse to law enforcement, background checks for anyone working with youth, ongoing training in awareness and prevention of abuse, and policies to ensure appropriate interaction between youth and adults in all our programs.  In the wake of recent national reports of the sexual abuse of minors by clergy, on August 18, 2018, I informed Catholics in northern Nevada that I wanted a review of our commitment as a diocese to safeguard all minors. I asked the Diocesan Review Board, comprised of lay women and men, to conduct this review. Since then the members of the board have diligently undertaken this task. In addition to an examination of current policies and procedures, I also asked them to review the clergy files because I decided, as a measure of transparency and accountability, to make public the names of clergy and religious who have been credibly accused of sexually abusing minors.

As a result of this review, the Diocesan Review Board recommended the following list of names of priests and religious who have been credibly accused. The determination of a “credible” accusation was based on such factors as corroborating evidence or criminal prosecution or admission of guilt by the accused.  The process of determining credibility was not a formal legal process. In publishing this list, it is our hope that it may bring some healing to those who have been abused. We can read the names of the perpetrators, but what is not seen in print are those men and women who have suffered the harm inflicted and the pain they have carried through their lives.  That clergy inflicted such grave injury on minors fills me with shame and sorrow. In the name of the Diocese of Reno I offer my profound apology to them and to their families.

The clergy files examined extend back over eighty years from the inception of the Diocese of Reno. The following list includes names of clergy and religious who served in the twelve counties that currently comprise the diocese: Carson City, Churchill, Douglas, Elko, Eureka, Humboldt, Lander, Lyon, Mineral, Pershing, Storey, and  Washoe. In the first three categories, the priests and religious were accused of committing sexual abuse of minors in the state of Nevada. Those listed are:

1. diocesan priests who formally belonged to the Diocese of Reno, i.e., permanently dedicated to its service (the technical term is “incardinated”):

Robert Anderson (deceased)
Edmund Boyle (deceased)
Eugene Braun (removed from ministry)
Robert Despars (deceased)
William Duff (deceased)
Florence Flahive (deceased)
Harold Vieages (deceased);

2. diocesan priests incardinated in another diocese who worked on a temporary basis in the Diocese of Reno:

Carmelo Baltazar (deceased)
Timothy Ryan (deceased);

3. religious order priests who worked in the Diocese of Reno:

David Brusky SDS (deceased)
Stuart Campbell OP (deceased);

4.a diocesan priest who was ordained for service in another diocese and then transferred to and was incardinated in the Diocese of Reno.  Many years after his incardination in Nevada, his diocese of origin (the Archdiocese of Louisville) found credible allegations of sexual abuse committed by him when he was part of the Archdiocese of Louisville and has posted his name on its list of credibly accused:

Robert Bowling (deceased).

Most of the priests on the list are deceased and for some of them, an accusation of sexual abuse was made after their deaths.  Nevertheless, the Diocesan Review Board found evidence to conclude the accusation was credible.

Recently, allegations have been investigated regarding Philip Napolitano FSR, a member of the Brothers of the Holy Rosary here in Reno.  These allegations concerned incidents that took place at St. Christopher’s School in Las Vegas between the years 1964-1974. In accordance with the Essential Norms promulgated pursuant to the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, a canonical process will be initiated to determine Brother Philip’s guilt; at its conclusion, the results will be made public.

The Diocesan Review Board will continue to evaluate all information as it is received and thus the list of names may be updated or expanded in the future.

Anyone who has been sexually abused by a member of the clergy, a church employee or volunteer is encouraged to contact civil authorities and/or the Victims’ Assistance Coordinator (Eastern Nevada): Marilyn Janka  at 775-753-9542, or (Western Nevada): David Caloiaro at 775-450-3618 or the Diocesan Victim’s Assistance Hotline at 1-844-669-8911).

Attached to this letter is the list of the assignments of each of the priests named above.

May God strengthen our resolve as a church to protect children from abuse and to uphold the dignity of every human being.

Sincerely in Christ,

Most Reverend Randolph R. Calvo
Bishop of Reno

Members of the Diocesan Review Board:
Ms. Rota Rosaschi, MPA, LSW (Chair)
Mrs. JoAnn Baird, MFT
Mr. Frank Flaherty, Esq., Attorney & Counselor at Law<
Mrs. Margaret Graham, Coordinator of Marriage, Annulments and Funerals, Our Lady of the Snows Parish, Member of the Diocesan Seminary Board
Mr. Stacey Hill, Retired Law Enforcement
Mrs. Annabelle Kozel
Hon. Joanne C. Parrilli (Retired)
Ms. Linda Remington
Mrs. Marna Zachry
Rev. Joseph Abraham, JCL
Mrs. Karen Barreras, M.Ed., Superintendent Diocesan Schools
Rev. Robert Chorey, Chancellor, Diocese of Reno