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Letter to the LMU Community: Jesuits West Releases Names of Accused Priests

Letter to the LMU Community
December 7, 2018

Dear LMU Community:

Earlier this morning, the Jesuits West Province released the names of priests and brothers who have been credibly accused of sexual abuse of minors and vulnerable adults since 1950. Jesuits West issued the list in the spirit of transparency and accountability, hoping that this act of reconciliation will help victims and their families in the healing process. LMU was informed that several men on the list had also been assigned to the university at some point in their careers. LMU has no reports of allegations against these Jesuits during their tenure here.

The Jesuits below are listed in the order of their assignments at LMU:

  • Arthur Falvey, 1937-1939, 1940-1947 (deceased 1966)
  • Gabriel Menager, 1946-1954 (deceased 2009)
  • Thomas Sullivan, 1947-1948, 1978-1992 (deceased 1992)
  • Thomas O’Rourke, 1949-1956 (deceased 1993)
  • John Ralph Moholy, 1949-1964 (deceased 1997)
  • Joseph Dondero, 1950-1951, (deceased 1997)
  • Edward M. Stretch, 1953-1954, (deceased 1970)
  • Eugene Maio, 1962-1967
  • Patrick McNamara, 1964-1968 (deceased 2001)
  • John Moniz, 1984-1991, (deceased 2008)
  • William Farrington, 1987-2003

Jesuits West has posted the full list and frequently asked questions.

LMU stands with those who may be affected by this new disclosure, and we offer our support. LMU CARES, Community of Care, and the Employee Assistance Program provide resources and support for survivors of sexual misconduct.

LMU does not tolerate sexual misconduct in any form, and we support holding accountable abusers and those who protect them. Students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to report any incident of sexual misconduct to the university and to law enforcement. If you or someone you know has been abused by a Jesuit, please contact the Jesuits West advocacy coordinator, Ms. Mary Pat Panighetti, at 408.893.8398 or mppanighetti@jesuits.org, and appropriate law enforcement agencies. If you have been the victim of abuse by a non-Jesuit priest in the L.A. area, please contact the Los Angeles Archdiocese’s Victims Assistance Ministry at 800.355.2545. Yesterday, Archbishop José Gomez released a statement regarding the new names that were added to the list of accused priests in the Los Angeles Archdiocese.

As the Church continues to seek forgiveness from all those who have been hurt by this betrayal of pastoral care, LMU strives to be an emblem of what the Church can be, a community where clergy and laity collaborate in service of faith through the promotion of justice, and where all persons are always safe.

Sincerely,

Timothy Law Snyder, Ph.D.

President