Publication of Names of Clergy Credibly Accused of Sexually Abusing a Minor

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

     After thorough review of files by an independent party, I am publishing the names of priests who have served in the Diocese of Victoria, and been credibly accused of sexually abusing a minor.  The scandals that have developed in the Church since last summer have been a source of deep hurt, anger and shame.  I’ve listened to personal stories of clergy abuse survivors, read many articles and books about the topic of clergy sexual abuse, and prayed to God for empathy into the pain experienced and insights for channels of healing and hope.  
     The jurors of the Pennsylvania Grand Jury offered the word “hope” in acknowledging one bishop who responded to their requests for an interview.  They write on page 305: “We commend Bishop Persico for acknowledging past abuse, unmasking the abusers, and encouraging accountability. In his testimony we find hope.”  These three actions commended by our fellow citizens served as a guide for the bishops in the State of Texas when we were meeting to discuss the crisis in September 2018.   At that meeting we committed that on or before January 31, 2019 we would publish the names of priests credibly accused of sexually abusing a minor. 
     Following the example of Bishop Persico the Diocese of Victoria is publishing a list, and I will be available for interviews by local media and organizations.  Each of these actions is with the prayer that God bring healing and hope to deep wounds.  May God bless you and your families, entrusting our hearts to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. 
     Let’s keep one another in prayer,           

      Bishop Brendan J. Cahill, S.T.D.

Lee la Carta Pastoral del Obispo Cahill en Español Aquí

To:      Parishes and Members of the Roman Catholic Church in the Diocese of Victoria  
            in Texas

From:  Bishop Brendan J. Cahill

Re:      Publication of the names of Roman Catholic clergy against whom credible  
            allegations have been made that they committed sexual abuse of minors  

In conformance with Bishop Cahill’s desire to encourage accountability in the Church, the governance of the Diocese of Victoria and for the spiritual good and assistance of victims of clerical sexual abuse of minors, the Diocese of Victoria is publishing the names of Roman Catholic clergy against whom credible allegations of sexual abuse of a minor have been made. 

Definition of Credible Allegation

This list includes only priests and religious who served in the Diocese of Victoria and who have been credibly accused of committing sexual abuse of minors within the Diocese of Victoria.  A “credible allegation” is one that the bishop determines there is reason to believe is true after review of reasonably available, relevant information in consultation with the Diocesan Review Board or other professionals.

A determination that an allegation against a member of the clergy is credible and, therefore, should be published, is not equivalent to a finding by a judge or jury that the cleric is liable for sexual abuse of a minor under civil law or has committed criminal sexual abuse of a minor under the Texas Penal Code unless specifically indicated below.

Important Information about the formation of the Diocese of Victoria and the geographical boundaries of the Diocese of Victoria 

Prior to the formation of the Diocese of Victoria on April 13, 1982, the geographical boundaries that now compose the Diocese of Victoria were parts of three different archdiocese/dioceses.  All of the parishes of the El Campo, Schulenburg and Victoria deaneries and the former Hallettsville deanery (with the exception of St. James Parish, Gonzales; Sacred Heart Mission, Gonzales; and St. Patrick Mission, Waelder) were part of the Archdiocese of San Antonio.  The Holy Cross Parish, Bay City and its mission, Sacred Heart, Wadsworth; Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Bay City; Holy Cross Parish, East Bernard; St. John the Baptist Parish, Hungerford; Holy Family Parish, Wharton and its mission St. Joseph, Boling; and Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Wharton were part of the Diocese of Galveston-Houston.  Immaculate Conception Parish, Goliad, and the missions of Immaculate Heart of Mary, Berclair; Our Lady of Guadalupe, Charco; Our Lady of Assumption, Fannin (all three no longer open); and the old Franciscan Presidio La Bahia, Our Lady of Loreto, Goliad were part of the Diocese of Corpus Christi.  In addition, in December of 1989 the following parishes entered the Diocese of Victoria from the Diocese of Austin: Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish and Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Eagle Lake; Sts. Peter and Paul Parish, Frelsburg; and St. Roch Parish, Mentz. On March 1, 1995, Our Lady of Perpetual Help and Our Lady of Guadalupe were joined and merged. The parish was named The Parish of the Nativity.  
The names of any priests and religious who served in any of the above parishes prior to the parish joining the Diocese of Victoria who have been credibly accused of committing sexual abuse of minors will appear on the list of the respective archdiocese/diocese to which the parish belonged at the time the events leading to the individual being credibly accused occurred.  

Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston                           https://www.archgh.org/
Archdiocese of San Antonio                                     https://www.archsa.org
Diocese of Corpus Christi                                          https://diocesecc.org/
            Diocese of Austin                                                  https://austindiocese.org/
 

            Members of the clergy who served in the Diocese of Victoria against whom
 allegations of sexual abuse of minors have been made but 
whose names do not appear on the list 
 

The Diocese of Victoria has made a diligent effort to include the names of all clergy against whom credible allegations of sexual abuse of minors within the Diocese of Victoria have been made. There have been instances where allegations have been made against a member of the clergy but have been determined not credible, not involving a minor, or not committed in the Diocese of Victoria.  The names of members of the clergy who fall into these category are not listed.  
It is possible that there are members of the clergy that have committed sexual abuse against a minor in the Diocese of Victoria, but whose names do not appear on the list because the abuse was never reported to the Diocese of Victoria.  Any person with knowledge of a member of diocesan clergy whose name is not on the list, and who allegedly committed sexual abuse of a minor within the Diocese of Victoria, should report such allegations to local law enforcement agency and, if the victim is still a minor, to Child Protective Services. Additionally, the individual can also report the allegations to Vicki Pyatt, Coordinator of Pastoral Care and Outreach by calling 361-827-7186.  The Diocese of Victoria will promptly investigate the allegations.
 

 List of Names

David L. Colella, O.Ss.T.

Reverend Colella is a member of the Order of the Most Holy Trinity, O.Ss.T.  He was ordained on June 8, 1957.  He is currently retired from ministry and residing at the Trinitarians’ Provincialate in Baltimore, MD where he is no longer conducting any type of public ministry.  While in active ministry, he held the following assignments in the Diocese of Victoria:

 
1981-1990       Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church, Victoria, TX                                                                Pastor
 
Alfred Prado, O.M.I.
 

Reverend Prado was a member of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, O.M.I.  He was ordained in 1957.  In 1988, he was placed on restricted ministry.  In 1997, he was removed from public ministry.  In 2004, he was dismissed from the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate.  In 2006, he was canonically dismissed from the clerical state.  He has since been attempting to conduct ministry in a cult-like community setting in Costa Rica.  While in active ministry, he held the following assignments in the Diocese of Victoria:

1981-1983       Our Lady of the Gulf Catholic Church, Port Lavaca                                                 Parochial Vicar

 
Guido Miguel Quiroz Reyes
 

Reverend Quiroz Reyes was a member of the Order of Friars Minor (Franciscan), O.F.M.  He was ordained on January 16, 1944.  He was incardinated into the Diocese of Victoria on April 11, 1986.  He retired from active ministry on August 1, 1988.  He died on May 15, 2008.  While in active ministry, he held the following assignments in the Diocese of Victoria:

 
1982-1988       Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church, Victoria, TX                                                 Parochial Vicar