Saturday, February 14, 2004
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Report: Eight priests accused from 1950-95

Eight of 521 Catholic priests who worked in Nevada from 1950 to 1995 were accused of sexual abuse of a minor in connection with 13 victims statewide, according to the Las Vegas Archdiocese.

Catholic churches in Nevada paid a total of $2.5 million for settlements and counseling to victims during the 45-year period. Payments involving allegations in Southern Nevada totaled $1.8 million, the archdiocese reported in a prepared statement.

"Three of the priests were from this diocese. The remaining five priests were members of other dioceses or members of Religious Communities. None of those identified are involved in active ministry anywhere in the country at this time," states a report from the diocese.

Information on sexual abuses cases involving Catholic priests was compiled by the dioceses in Las Vegas, Reno and elsewhere around the country. The information will be included in a report to be released later this month by the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York.

Researchers at John Jay couldn't be reached for comment Friday. Information about the priests or their accusers is anonymous.

Calls to Bishop Joseph Pepe, head of the Diocese of Las Vegas, were referred to a Las Vegas public relations company.

In a prepared statement issued Friday, Pepe said, "The bishops throughout the United States made a promise to the world ... that we would acknowledge mistakes from the past and accept responsibility for creating a safe environment for everyone in our ministries and other programs. The audit of all of the dioceses and the release of this study are just the beginning."

The Archdiocese of Reno and the Archdiocese of Las Vegas were combined in one, statewide archdiocese until they separated into two entities in 1995.

Since then there have been no allegations of sexual abuse of a minor lodged against any priest serving in the 12-county diocese of Reno, the statement said. There have been allegations against one priest in the five-county Las Vegas diocese, which involved former priest Mark Roberts.

The information, which is at least 8 years old, doesn't include any settlements tied to the high-profile lawsuit and criminal case involving Roberts, former pastor at St. Peter the Apostle Church on Boulder Highway in Henderson.

A March 2002 lawsuit pending in District Court contends Roberts used his position of trust to take advantage of six boys, and that church leaders either knew or should have known of Roberts' actions.

Pepe, who is one of the defendants in the case, on Monday unsuccessfully made a motion for summary judgment in the case before District Judge Ron Parraguirre.

Roberts, 52, pleaded guilty last year to sexually abusing five boys at St. Peter the Apostle. In a highly criticized plea agreement negotiated by former District Attorney Stewart Bell, prosecutors agreed not to oppose probation. District Judge Donald Mosley then sentenced Roberts to three years of probation.