The Portland Catholic Archdiocese Priest Abuse Document Archive
A Public Archive for the Priest Abuse Documents from the Portland Catholic Archdiocese Bankruptcy Case
Judge Hogan’s Order on Release of Documents
Posted November 26, 2008
Read Judge Hogan’s Decision Regarding the Release of the Archdiocese Documents Here
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.
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
Fr. Orso-Manzonetta was appointed to the following churches/positions: PD 1686.
- St. Cecilia, Assistant, Portland; June 30, 1950 – October 1950.
- St. Cecilia, Administrator, Portland; November 1950 – June 1951.
- Downtown Chapel, Assistant, Portland; September 1951 – March 1954.
- Our Lady of the Mountain, Administrator, Ashland; May 1954 – September 1954.
- All Saints, Assistant, Portland; September 1954 – December 23, 1957.
- Mercy Home, Chaplain, North Bend; April 1958 – August 1959.
- St. Michael’s, Pastor, Portland; September 2, 1959 – August 1, 1983.
- St. Peter’s, Administrator, Newberg; August 1, 1983 – November 10, 1983.
- St. Peter’s, Pastor, Newberg; November 10, 1983 – August 1, 1989.
- Sacred Heart, In Residence, Tillamook; August 1, 1989 – April 1, 1991.
- Sacred Heart, Administrator, Tillamook; April 1, 1991 – July 1, 1994.
Portland Archdiocese to release documents related to sex abuse claims
Posted April 17, 2008
The move is part of the Catholic Church’s bankruptcy reorganization plan
The Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon plans to release to the public internal documents about church personnel accused of child abuse over the last 50 years as part of its recently approved bankruptcy settlement, church officials and lawyers for sex abuse claimants announced Tuesday.
On Friday, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Elizabeth Perris confirmed the Oregon Catholic Church’s proposed Chapter 11 bankruptcy plan, which was filed in 2004 after a wave of child sex abuse claims filed against priests and other church employees. That agreement calls for the court to approve about $50 million in settlements and to establish a fund for future payouts of about $20 million.
Tuesday’s announcement went a step further, approving the release of what claimants’ lawyers say are previously secret documents detailing accused pedophile priests’ activities. Initial releases will comprise "several dozen" documents on fewer than 12 priests, lawyers said, but in the future could become a "virtually comprehensive release of the archives of the past."
The documents are scheduled to be released in May.
"Now, for the first time, we have reached an historic agreement with the Archbishop, his lawyers, and representatives of the parishes that will lead to the release of significant historic documents and files concerning child abuse over the last half-century in this Church, secret archives of secret crimes and secret shame will be made public for the community to see and understand," said attorney Kelly Clark in a statement Tuesday.
Clark has represented victims of alleged church sex abuse for 15 years. Kelly and other victims’ attorneys praised the announcement, made at the U.S. Courthouse in downtown Portland Tuesday afternoon.
"We are especially pleased by Archbishop Vlazny’s decision to renounce the secrecy and protectiveness of the past and agree to the public release of a substantial portion of the personnel records of offending priests," said attorney David Slader, who also represents abuse claimants. "A policy of openness and transparency will go far toward preventing future tragedies."
In December 2006, U.S. District Judge Michael Hogan announced that more than 150 people who said they were sexually abused by Oregon priests had settled their civil lawsuits against the Archdiocese of Portland, a development that paved the way for last week’s approved bankruptcy reorganization plan and Tuesday’s records announcement.
"It is my sincere prayer that our ability to compensate the many victims will assist them in their efforts to achieve personal healing and peace of heart," Archbishop John Vlazny said at Tuesday’s news conference. "As we Catholics throughout this scandal have learned much about child abuse, it is my sincere desire that these lessons will not have to be repeated in any other forum."
Frank Lenzi of AM 860 KPAM contributed to this report
Portland archdiocese suddenly releases personnel files on abusive priests
Posted April 16, 2008
Portland, Apr. 16, 2008 (CWNews.com) – The Archdiocese of Portland, Oregon, has released thousands of documents related to sex-abuse accusations against Catholic priests, in an unscheduled step that caught victims’ lawyers by surprise.
Archbishop John Vlazny, who had previously resisted the release of personnel files, said that the sudden move to make public more than 20,000 documents was "part of the healing process."
The Portland archdiocese was the first Catholic see in the US to seek bankruptcy protection. In a 2007 settlement with sex-abuse victims, ending the bankruptcy process, the archdiocese agreed to release the files of priests who had molested children. But Archbishop Vlazny had argued for a restrictive interpretation of the agreement, saying that it was essential to maintain confidentiality in documents in order to protect both innocent priests and the victims of abusive clerics. Lawyers for the archdiocese had been sparring with victims’ lawyers over the number of documents to be made public until the eve of the massive disclosure.
Archdiocese of Portland releases priest files
Posted April 16, 2008
The News Review
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
PORTLAND (AP) — A year after the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Portland settled its bankruptcy case for about $50 million, it has released more of its files on priests accused of sex abuse — including some confidential personnel records.
The documents were expected to be released shortly after the settlement. But negotiations over the release stalled, sending the church and lawyers for the victims back to federal bankruptcy court.
An attorney for some of the alleged abuse victims criticized the latest release as piecemeal and said the archdiocese failed to provide any explanation or tie the documents together in a meaningful way for victims or the public.
“This is not the way to do it,” said Kelly Clark. “This is how you do it if you want to frustrate that purpose.”
Clark also said that releasing the documents out of context makes it look like the church did not find out about the alleged abuse in many cases until much later than it actually received complaints.
Mediation sessions on the release have been continuing before both sides were scheduled to head to U.S. District Judge Michael Hogan to ask for a decision. Hogan was one of two judges who mediated the settlement.
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Elizabeth Perris sealed most of the documents after the archdiocese became the first Catholic diocese in the nation to file for bankruptcy protection in July 2004.
She has scheduled hearings for arguments on lifting her order but is not expected to rule until October.
Archbishop John Vlazny says he authorized the release of about 2,000 pages of additional documents on Tuesday as “part of the healing process and in the interest of transparency.”
Judge will consider release of Oregon archdiocese documents
Posted March 14, 2008
The News Review
March 14, 2008
PORTLAND (AP) — It may take until October to find out what kind of files the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Portland keeps on priests accused of sexual abuse.
A federal bankruptcy judge said Thursday she is inclined to agree with an attorney for abuse victims, who argued against sending church documents to another judge to act as a “special master” to resolve a dispute over their public release.
But U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Elizabeth Perris said she will give both sides until the end of August to argue the case. She scheduled a hearing Sept. 30 to decide whether to lift her protective order sealing the documents.
“This process is not going to take another year, I can assure you of that,” Perris warned, noting the case began in July 2004.
The archdiocese promised to release various documents and files last April when it announced a $50 million settlement to end the first bankruptcy ever declared by a Catholic diocese.
The mediator in the case, U.S. District Judge Michael Hogan, said at the time that he expected the documents to be released within a month or two.
But negotiations over the release fell apart, and an attorney for the victims, Kelly Clark, said the dispute was unlikely to be resolved.
The church has said it will follow the procedure set out in the settlement to have the other mediator in the case, retired Lane County Circuit Judge Lyle Velure, try to reach an agreement. If the dispute still cannot be resolved, it will submit to binding arbitration by Hogan.
Complicating matters is a separate request by Erin Olson, another attorney for victims, to release about 2,000 pages of files on priests she has collected for her clients.
Olson never agreed to the procedure on the release and has asked Perris — who originally sealed the documents — to lift her order without resorting to appointment of Hogan as a special master to settle the dispute over what is released.
“I think Ms. Olson is right,” Perris said Thursday. “I don’t think this court can appoint a special master.”
Olson has declined to characterize the contents of the files.
But representatives of SNAP, a victim support group, said they believe the documents will show church leaders failed to take action against priests accused of sexual abuse and even helped cover up the abuse.
“These people knowingly aided and abetted serial child rapists and should be held accountable,” said Bill Crane, Oregon spokesman for SNAP.
John Schuster, a former priest who is on the national board of directors for SNAP, said the release of the Portland archdiocese documents “is critical” and will set a precedent for other dioceses.
He said Portland Archbishop John Vlazny “should be made to live up to what he agreed to” last April and release the documents.
Thomas Dulcich, an attorney for the archdiocese, said the church is simply trying to follow the settlement agreement procedure.
Judge sets schedule in deciding church documents’ fate
Posted March 13, 2008
Posted by The Oregonian
March 13, 2008
A federal bankruptcy judge today set a schedule for deciding whether to release about 2,000 pages of documents related to priest abuse in Oregon.
A final decision is not likely until the fall.
The Portland Archdiocese emerged from bankruptcy last year after agreeing to pay priest accusers more than $50 million. Church officials and attorneys for most of the plaintiffs also agreed on a process for releasing secret church personal files.
Archdiocese Deal Breaking Down In Dispute Over Documents
Posted February 25, 2008
Negotiations to release documents related to the Portland Archdiocese clergy sex abuse cases have broken down and will likely end up in mediation next month. Pete Springer reports.
Attorney Kelly Clark is representing more than a hundred abuse victims. He says nearly a year after reaching a legal settlement with the Archdiocese of Portland, very few documents have actually been released.
Clark says the release of the documents was key to settling the sex abuse lawsuits.
Kelly Clark: “We want the public to be able to learn what the archdiocese of Portland knew about sex abuse and when they knew it. That’s all we’re saying, release the documents you said you’d release.”
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