The New York Times reporter who on September 6 published a report that included allegations that an unnamed “itinerant priest” in Guam was sent here after being accused of sexual misconduct actually asked the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Agana about the status of four priests linked to Guam: Father John Wadeson, Father James Grear, and the deceased priests Louis Brouillard and Randy Nowak.
The Times report was about dozens of priests who were accused or convicted of sexual abuse in western dioceses and systematically were moved to remote dioceses throughout the Pacific.
“Most moved to or served in 15 countries and territories in the region in the 1990s, but one still serves as an itinerant priest in Guam, an American territory, and another has returned to New Zealand, where he has been cleared by the church to return to ministry,” according to The Times report by Pete McKenzie. “Both deny the allegations of abuse.”
The article does not mention the priest’s name or provide any other clues about who he is. Mr. McKenzie did write, however, that of the priests he found in the Pacific, “at least three of these men, according to government inquiries and news media reports, went on to abuse new victims in the Pacific.”
Archdiocese director of communications Tony Diaz responded this morning to Kandit’s request for the identity of the itinerant priest, and whether that priest continues to serve in a ministry that gives him access to any vulnerable demographic. After considering the four names Mr. McKenzie mentioned, then conducting cursory research, the archdiocese has been able to provide further information and has committed to finding out more about one of those names: Father Grear.
An October 1, 2020 story by Lauren Castle in the Arizona Republic about a priest named James Grear states, “A Catholic priest with a history of sexually abusing children was placed in several Arizona schools in Indigenous and rural communities, a lawsuit alleges. The Rev. James Grear worked across Arizona and in other parts of the country and U.S. territories. The lawsuit filed Thursday claims the priest sexually abused a teenager, who is a citizen of the Navajo Nation, when Grear worked at Chinle High School in the late 1970s and early 1980s.”
According to Ms. Castle’s report, several men in Indiana also filed lawsuits against him for allegedly sexually abusing them when they were 12 and 13 years old. The story claims Father Grear was sent to the U.S. Virgin Islands “at some point,” and at the time of the publication in 2020 was living in Philadelphia.
A brief biography of the accused priest in the website Bishop Accountability, says the priest was “moved to schools in … Guam.”
UPDATE: Mr. Diaz has confirmed that Father Grear no longer is in Guam.
The following is Mr. Diaz’s full statement followed by a statement from Archbishop Ryan Jimenez:
The New York Times’ email communication to us asked about two priests initially, and then later briefly mentioned two others. Freelance reporter Peter McKenzie primarily asked about retired priest Father John Wadeson and the late Capuchin priest, Father Randy Nowak. The other two were the late Father Louis Brouillard and a priest named Father James Grear. As you likely know, Father Randy was named in one complaint officially filed against our archdiocese as part of the 287 claims recorded between 2016 and 2023. There were more than 160 filed against Brouillard who admitted to abusing many boys.
Father Grear was not named in the series of lawsuits on Guam nor have we heard of any allegations of sexual abuse against him while he served here. However, reviewing his name on-line as part of our response to you we see that there have been allegations against him filed in stateside jurisdiction. We’ll do further research.
Regarding Father Wadeson, he retired on May 10, 2018 and moved to the U.S. mainland.
Originally a member of the Society of the Divine Word religious order, Father Wadeson was incardinated in the archdiocese on February 13, 2001. Former Archbishop Anthony Apuron gave him permission to serve as an itinerant priest on mission with the Neocatechumenal Way until his retirement in 2018.
There were no allegations of sexual abuse filed with the Archdiocese of Agaña against Father Wadeson while he was in active ministry in Guam. We know that Father Wadeson was assigned to the Archdiocese of Los Angeles from 1971 to 1986 and that officials from the Archdiocese of Los Angeles said there was no report of misconduct while he was assigned there.
However, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles had later initially included Father Wadeson’s name in its “Report to the people of God: Clergy Sexual Abuse Archdiocese of Los Angeles 1930-2003” document which was first issued on Feb. 17, 2004. The Report included a “list of known publicly or credibly accused clergy”, according to the Los Angeles Archdiocese. The archdiocese said that Father Wadeson’s name was included in its “Report to the people of God” related to allegations of sexual misconduct reported to his religious order in 1992 after he had left the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Officials from the Archdiocese of Los Angeles said the accusations involved alleged sexual misconduct in the 1970’s.
News that Father Wadeson was accused of sexual abuse of minors during his time stateside in past years surfaced publicly in Guam in 2014. In response, Apuron who himself was found guilty of sexual abuse by the Holy See in April of 2019 issued a decree restricting Father Wadeson’s faculties on July 21, 2014. Apuron also announced in a press statement on July 22, 2014 that he had decided to remove Father Wadeson from active and public ministry in response to concerns in the community.
One year later, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles published a report in the April 10, 2015 issue of its “The Tidings” publication stating that it had conducted a reexamination of Father Wadeson’s case at the priest’s request. The Archdiocese of Los Angeles said it was aware that the allegation against Wadeson had been investigated by the Society of the Divine Word (SVD), the religious order to which he belonged at the time and “that it was not verified.” The Archdiocese of Los Angeles concluded that there is no reason to preclude Father Wadeson from serving in priestly ministry. Officials from that archdiocese stated, “For this reason, Father John Wadeson remains, to the knowledge of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, a priest in good standing.”
Apuron issued a statement on April 14, 2015 citing the published report by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and announced that Father Wadeson had been fully reinstated to public ministry. Apuron also issued a decree announcing the same news a day earlier on April 13, 2015.
UPDATE, SEPT. 19, 2024
FATHER JOHN WADESON
The Archdiocese of Agaña learned just recently via email on August 15, 2024 from officials of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles that in 2023 they received two previously unreported civil claims from one plaintiff alleging sexual misconduct involving Father Wadeson in the 1980s. Archdiocese of Los Angeles officials informed newly installed Archbishop of Agaña, the Most Reverend Ryan P. Jimenez that the allegations came as part of the second opening of the statute of limitations in California under Assembly Bill 218. They indicated that the civil complaints have not been substantiated and are currently in litigation under AB 218.
The Archdiocese of Agaña had not been aware or informed of the new developments naming Father Wadeson until the recent communication from the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
California Assembly Bill 218 is proposed legislation that would extend the statute of limitations for filing claims of childhood sexual assault to 40 years of age, or up to five years after discovery.
Given the new information of two new complaints in litigation regarding Father Wadeson, the Archdiocese of Agaña contacted Father Wadeson recently. The retired priest said the Los Angeles Diocese had not informed him of the new allegations and said it was the first he had heard of them. He was advised to contact the Los Angeles Diocese about the matter.
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Statement from the Archbishop:
“Since being installed as the new Archbishop of Agaña last August 15, I have engaged in many meetings and activities getting to know the Catholic faithful of Guam and the people of our community in general.
“I have been quite busy in a positive and productive way, spending time studying and becoming acquainted with the different groups, ministries, and priorities of our Church on Guam.
“I have emphasized that the archdiocese’s commitment to protecting all children from sexual abuse, which the Church failed terribly to do in the past, is of the utmost importance. I am working with our Safe Environment Office, members of the Curia at the Chancery as well as clergy, religious and consultative groups such as the College of Consultors to review our different processes, protocols and activities including those related to safeguarding children and young people. This includes the on-going process of bringing restitution and healing for the victim survivors of clergy abuse, implementing the measures of our bankruptcy settlement agreement with the victims and building healing throughout our Church and community.
“Regarding Father Wadeson, we want to be fair to Father who has retired from our archdiocese and has been living abroad for six years now. These recent claims against him which are said to have occurred many years ago before he served on Guam have not been substantiated and we have been informed that the cases are currently being litigated.
“However, we cannot and must not take any allegations lightly, even if the alleged abuse of children did not take place on Guam and in our archdiocese. I instructed Father Mike Crisostomo, our Episcopal Vicar for Clergy to contact Father Wadeson to learn more about this matter and will also have additional consultation with the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. I will also consult with my advisors and announce updates accordingly. Thank you.” — Archbishop Ryan P. Jimenez
