The Portland Catholic Archdiocese Priest Abuse Document Archive

Father Aldo Orso-Manzonetta Summary

Posted July 11, 2008

Facts Summary

Fr. Orso-Manzonetta spent 44 years, as an ordained member of the priesthood, in the Archdiocese of Portland. In those 44 years, Fr. Orso-Manzonetta was assigned in some capacity to 8 parishes. PD 1686.
Fr. Orso-Manzonetta repeatedly abused boys, especially during his years at St. Michael’s, where he often – with ongoing knowledge of the Archbishops in Portland – had boys spend the night with him.  As well, several Archbishops allowed this practice to continue, even after Fr. Orso-Manzonetta “promised” not to do it again.  See e.g., PD 1834-1841, 1811.

The earliest allegations to the Archdiocese were in 1974. PD 1836.

During psychological evaluations in 1994, Fr. Orso-Manzonetta admitted to sexually acting out at least 20 years prior, when allegations were made. These allegations were apparently reported to Archbishop Dwyer, but no written record from that time exists in the documents. PD 1811, 1836.

In 1983, the archdiocese again received allegations against Fr. Orso-Manzonetta. The ‘83 allegations included accusations of sexually abusing children at All Saint’s, St. Michael’s, two Central Catholic High School football players, and two male prostitutes that went to the Newman Center at Portland State University. It was reported that even the Portland Police Department suspected Fr. Orso-Manzonetta of “messing around with boys.”  PD 1834-1841.

Yet in 1983, Fr. Orso-Manzonetta was sent to be the pastor at St. Peter’s in Newberg, OR. More suspicious behavior was reported to the archdiocese in 1988. Apparently, Fr. Orso-Manzonetta had invited a young boy, whom he was not an acquaintance of, to stay the weekend with him in the church rectory. PD 1831-1833.

From 1992 through 1997, many more allegations of sexual abuse came forward to the archdiocese against Fr. Orso-Manzonetta. The allegations in the ‘90s include sexual abuse from the parishes Fr. Also was assigned to in Portland, Newberg, and Tillamook. PD 1807, 1818-1822, 1824-1828, 1844.

Breakdown of the 04-15-08 documents

PD 1684-1729 – These documents concern Fr. Also’ background; documents relating to ordination, pre-ordination, and seminary studies.

PD 1730-1737 – These documents concern Fr. Orso-Manzonetta’s placements and transfers after ordination; documents relating to parish-transfers and assignments.

PD 1738 – This document concerns a newspaper clipping on Fr. Orso-Manzonetta; documents relating to newspaper articles.

PD 1739-1740 – These documents concern Fr. Orso-Manzonetta’s placements and transfers after ordination; documents relating to parish-transfers and assignments.

PD 1741-1750 – These documents concern Fr. Orso-Manzonetta’s tenure at St. Michael’s and parishioner letters relating to his transfer; documents relating to tenure and transfer.

PD 1751 – This document concerns a newspaper clipping on Fr. Orso-Manzonetta; documents relating to newspaper articles.

PD 1752-1754 – These documents concern Fr. Orso-Manzonetta’s tenure at St. Michael’s and parishioner letters relating to his transfer; documents relating to tenure and transfer.

PD 1755-1756 – These documents concern an interview of Fr. Orso-Manzonetta by the Archdiocese; relating to Fr. Orso-Manzonetta’s placement and future placements.

PD 1757-1763 – These documents concern Fr. Orso-Manzonetta’s tenure at St. Michael’s and parishioner letters relating to his transfer; documents relating to tenure and transfer.

PD 1764-1770 – These documents concern Fr. Orso-Manzonetta’s placements and transfers after ordination; documents relating to parish-transfers and assignments.

PD 1771 – This document concerns a newspaper clipping on Fr. Orso-Manzonetta; documents relating to newspaper articles.

PD 1772-1773 – These documents concern Fr. Orso-Manzonetta’s placements and transfers after ordination; documents relating to parish-transfers and assignments.

PD 1774-1778 – These documents concern Fr. Orso-Manzonetta’s personal finances; documents relating to Fr. Orso-Manzonetta’s health, finances, and wishes.

PD 1779-1782 – These documents concern Fr. Orso-Manzonetta’s placements and transfers after ordination; documents relating to parish-transfers and assignments.

PD 1783 – This document concerns a newspaper clipping on Fr. Orso-Manzonetta; documents relating to newspaper articles.

PD 1784-1797 – These documents concern Fr. Orso-Manzonetta’s health, personal finances, and final wishes; documents relating to Fr. Orso-Manzonetta’s health, finances, and wishes.

PD 1798 – This document concerns Fr. Orso-Manzonetta’s parish record; documents relating to parish-transfers and assignments.

PD 1799-1807 – These documents concern sexual abuse allegations against Fr. Orso-Manzonetta by a man who was abused by him at age 16; documents relating to accusations of sexual abuse where Fr. Orso-Manzonetta drugged a boy and sexually abused him.

PD 1808 – This document concerns a personal card sent to Fr. Lienert from Spokane, WA; documents relating to Fr. Orso-Manzonetta’s health, finances, and wishes.

PD 1809-1855 – These documents concern sexual abuse allegations against Fr. Orso-Manzonetta; the documents include a letter dated 1983 from a former priest to Archbishop Power reminding him that Fr. Orso-Manzonetta’s abuse of boys needs to be addressed, and a 1983 report on Fr. Orso-Manzonetta that describes police suspicions of his abuse of boys and use of two male prostitutes he picked up from near Portland State University’s campus.

PD 1856-1859 – These documents concern sexual abuse allegations against Fr. Orso-Manzonetta; documents relating to communications between victims and the Archdiocese and the victim’s request for help in dealing with the issues caused by Fr. Orso-Manzonetta’s abuse of him..

PD 1860-1884 – These documents concern articles written about or including Fr. Orso-Manzonetta; documents relating to newspaper articles.

PD 1885-1902 – These documents concern articles written about or including Fr. Orso-Manzonetta; documents relating to newspaper articles.

PD 1903 – This document concerns Fr. Orso-Manzonetta’s parish record; documents relating to parish-transfers and assignments. PD 1904-1905 – These documents include an inter-Archdiocese letter to Archbishop Levada discussing sexual abuse allegations against Fr. Orso-Manzonetta; documents relating to accusations of the sexual abuse of boys in Newberg, and All Saints School are here.

PD 1904 – 1906 – This document concerns a newspaper clipping on Fr. Orso-Manzonetta; documents relating to newspaper articles.

PD 1907-1912 – These documents concern sexual abuse allegations against Fr. Orso-Manzonetta; documents relating to the victim’s discussions with the priest he reported the abuse to, and requests for relief for the damages incurred by the sexual abuse are here..

Breakdown of the 06-04-07 documents

PD 0157-0178 – These documents are found in the documents released on 04-15-08.

Breakdown of Documents Released by the Archdiocese of Portland

Fr. Orso-Manzonetta Documents provided by the Archdiocese of Portland

Fr. Orso-Manzonetta Documents provided by the Archdiocese of Portland – Part 1

Fr. Orso-Manzonetta Documents provided by the Archdiocese of Portland – Part 2

Fr. Orso-Manzonetta Documents provided by the Archdiocese of Portland – Part 3

Fr. Orso-Manzonetta Documents provided by the Archdiocese of Portland – Part 4

Fr. Orso-Manzonetta Documents provided by the Archdiocese of Portland – Part 5

Father Aldo Orso-Manzonetta Background & Positions

Posted July 11, 2008

Fr. Orso-Manzonetta attended the following schools in joining the priesthood PD 1685

• University of Portland, 1944 –‘45.
• St. Thomas Seminary –Denver, Colo., Aug. ‘45 – May ’50.

PD 1685

Fr. Aldo Orso-Manzonetta was born July 26, 1923 in Portland, OR.  Fr. Orso-Manzonetta was ordained into the priesthood on June 3, 1950 in the Archdiocese of Portland by Archbishop Howard.  Fr. Orso-Manzonetta died on March 22, 1996. PD 1685, 1795

PD 1685

PD 1795

Fr. Orso-Manzonetta was appointed to the following churches/positions: PD 1686.

1. St. Cecilia, Assistant, Portland; June 30, 1950 – October 1950.
2. St. Cecilia, Administrator, Portland; November 1950 – June 1951.
3. Downtown Chapel, Assistant, Portland; September 1951 – March 1954.
4. Our Lady of the Mountain, Administrator, Ashland; May 1954 – September 1954.
5. All Saints, Assistant, Portland; September 1954 – December 23, 1957.
6. Mercy Home, Chaplain, North Bend; April 1958 – August 1959.
7. St. Michael’s, Pastor, Portland; September 2, 1959 – August 1, 1983.
8. St. Peter’s, Administrator, Newberg; August 1, 1983 – November 10, 1983.
9. St. Peter’s, Pastor, Newberg; November 10, 1983 – August 1, 1989.
10. Sacred Heart, In Residence, Tillamook; August 1, 1989 – April 1, 1991.
11. Sacred Heart, Administrator, Tillamook; April 1, 1991 – July 1, 1994.

PD 1686