The Diocese of Norwich has released the names of three more men credibly accused of sexually assaulting a minor.
George St. Jean, Joseph Owens, and John F. Dority were named in the latest reveal on Thursday, February 21.
St. Jean died in 1982. He was a priest in a Willimantic Church in the 1960’s.
Owens worked in Middlefield in 1978 and 1979.
Michael Gabriele, Director of Communications for the Jesuits, acknowledged the abuse claims against Owens, and gave this statement:
“He’s currently alive and living on a safety plan at a Jesuit community that is not associated with any Jesuit institutions.”
Dority lives in Coventry but never worked for the diocese in any capacity. He spoke to Connecticut Public Radio by phone and acknowledged that he is registered in Connecticut as a sex offender. The Hartford Courant reports that he was convicted on child molestation charges in 2005 and was released from prison in 2007 -- which he confirmed. He also acknowledged a settlement reached in 2011 stemming from the abuse of two other boys.
The diocese originally put out a list of 43 clergymen earlier this month – priests, deacons, and bishops affiliated with the diocese that had substantiated claims against them. The diocese revealed in a February 21 press release that it put one of those names there by an accident.
“Richard J. Cardarelli, OFM Cap., appeared on the original list in error,” read the release. “There are NO allegations of sexual abuse of a minor on file."
The Diocese of Norwich wouldn’t comment beyond the press release.
These names were added based on “recently received information”, according to the release.
