Six religious leaders who served in the Catholic Diocese of Juneau have been determined by an independent commission to have probably committed sexual misconduct with minors and vulnerable adults. A seventh is accused of accessing pornographic images of children.
The investigation, ordered by Bishop Andrew Bellisario last December, says that some of the assaults took place as far back as the 1950s.
The names released were:
Francis A. Cowgill, who served in the Diocese of Juneau from 1952 and in the Archdiocese of Anchorage after 1966. He is deceased. Cowgill had been assigned to Pius X School in Skagway from 1952-1959, Sacred Heart Church in Haines from 1952-1959, and St. Mary Church in Kodiak from 1964-1966. The allegation(s) are sexual misconduct involving minors.
Javier Gutiérrez, who served in the Diocese of Juneau. He was dismissed from the clerical state in 2018. He had been assigned to the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Juneau, 1982-1984, Holy Name Church in Ketchikan from 1984-1986, Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1986, St. Peter’s Church in Douglas in 1986, St Therese of the Child Jesus Church in Skagway and Sacred Heart Church in Haines from 1986-1988. He is accused of sexual misconduct involving minors and vulnerable adults in the 1980s.
Patrick Hurley, with the Order of St. Benedict. He has returned to his religious order. He served in at Holy Name Church in Ketchikan in 1983, Cathedral of the Nativity in Juneau from 1984-1985, St Therese in Skagway in 1984-1985.
Not to be confused with the the late Anchorage Archbishop Emeritus Francis Hurley, Patrick Hurley is accused of sexual misconduct involving minors. Several years ago, his name was in the news because during an inquiry into sexual misconduct by an Anchorage priest, Hurley seemed to discredit the accusers.
At that time, Hurley wrote that he regretted that he assumed that Monsignor Francis Murphy, a problem drinker at the time, was “primarily driven by alcoholism” in his inappropriate sexual behavior.
“Today, I have a greater understanding of how devastating sexual abuse is on the young, especially when the perpetrator is a priest. For this grave mistake, I again apologize to the Podvin family and to the people of St. Patrick’s Parish for keeping Monsignor Murphy in the parish after Pat Podvin’s allegation was made to me.
“Had I known then what I know now about sexual abuse and alcoholism, I would not have left him on assignment,” Hurley wrote at the time.
Michael Nash, Diocese of Juneau. He was dismissed from the clergy in 2005 and died in 2019 in a plane crash near Ketchikan; he lived in Wrangell at the time of his passing. He was assigned Director of Vocations 1980-1995, St. Paul’s Church in Juneau, 1980-1982, Holy Name Church in Ketchikan from 1982-1983, St Johns Mission in Klawock from 1982-1988, St. Catherine in Petersburg from 1988-1996, Diocesan Administrator in Juneau from 1995-1996, The American College at Louvain, Belgium from 1997-1999, and Cathedral of the Nativity in Juneau from 1999-2002. He is accused of sexual misconduct involving minors from 1979-1982.
Edmond Penisian was assigned to the Diocese o fJueau. He was placed on administrative leave in 2019. He had served at Holy Name Church in Ketchikan in 2002, St. John By the Sea in Klawock in 2003, St Therese in Skagway and Sacred Heart in Haines fro 2004-2007, Holy Name Church in Ketchikan from 2007-2010, St. Gregory in Sitka in 2010, Northern Missions in Juneau from 2011-2014, and St. John by the Sea in Klawock in 2019. He is accused of viewing child pornography using a church computer.
Brother Frederick Raehsler, of the Brothers of the Holy Cross Order. He returned to his order in 1993. He lived in Skagway from 1988-1993, had no official assignment from the Diocese of Juneau but served as a Eucharistic minister and on the parish council. He is accused of sexual misconduct involving a minor from 1988-1993.
Henry Leo Sweeney, assigned to the Diocese of Juneau. He died in 1959. He served at St. Gregory in Ketchikan in 1951, and at Holy Name Church in Ketchikan from 1953-1956. He was convicted of assault with intent to rape and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. He served time in federal prison, and returned to active ministry.
The Diocese of Juneau asks those who have been sexually abused by a bishop, priest, deacon, or other representative of the Church, if they have not yet reported it, to consider doing so. Report it to local law enforcement or contact the Diocesan Victim Assistance Coordinator at [email protected] and the coordinator will report it to law enforcement and help you.
