Deceased priests among those accused of sexual abuse in Horseshoe Bay, Lampasas
By Lew K. Cohn
Managing Editor
Two deceased former Hill Country priests are among 22 individuals whose names appeared on a list released Thursday, Jan. 31, by the Diocese of Austin of clergy who have been “credibly accused of committing sexual abuse against a minor.”
Paul M. Clogan, who died in 2012 at age 81, and Daniel Joseph Delaney, who died in 2008 at age 62, were named on the list by the Most Rev. Joe S. Vasquez, bishop of the Diocese of Austin.
Vasquez cautioned the list did not establish that an allegation had been substantiated or proven against each person listed — or that any abuse had occurred within the Diocese of Austin — but that after all information had been reviewed by an independent team, there remained reason to believe the allegation was true.
“It is my prayer and hope that publishing this list will help to bring healing from the hurt and anger caused by the lack of accountability and transparency on the part of church leadership,” Vasquez said. “The victims of sexual abuse by clergy have experienced much pain; we must continue to pray and care for our brothers and sisters who have suffered greatly. I apologize to the victims and their families for the diocese’s failures. The Church must always be willing to recognize and correct its failings.
“As Bishop of this Diocese, I remain committed to the care of all the People of God, especially those who have been sexually abused by the Church’s ministers,” added Vasquez. “I ask the intercession of Mary, the Mother of Jesus and our mother, to pray for us, as we strive for holiness and truth. May she look with tender compassion on those who have been hurt just as she lovingly stood by her Son at the foot of the cross.”
Clogan was assigned to St. Paul the Apostle in Horseshoe Bay, Holy Trinity Church in Llano and St. Joseph in Mason. He also served at St. Catherine of Siena in Austin and St. Joseph in Bryan within the diocese.
He was ordained in 1999 at the Diocese of Portland, Maine, and also served at Holy Name of Jesus Church and the University of Maine at Machias, Maine, and at Parish of the Holy Spirit Church in Waterville, Maine.
Clogan was arrested by the Marble Falls Police Department in December 2005 and charged with indecency with a child by sexual contact, a second-degree felony, after allegedly groping a minor at a Marble Falls movie theater. He was released on a $10,000 surety bond.
He later pleaded guilty in March 2012 to a lesser charge of injury to a child, a third-degree felony, and was sentenced to five years probation with community service waived. He died four months later in July 2012.
According to the Bangor Daily News, Clogan was an English professor for 35 years before becoming a priest and had been married and raised a family. He was ordained at the age of 68 after being widowed. He retired in May 2004, but continued to serve the Diocese of Austin until he was suspended following his 2005 arrest.
Less information is available for Delaney, who was assigned to St. Mary's Church in Lampasas. He also served at Sacred Heart in Austin, Sts. Cyril & Methodius in Granger, St. Mary in Lockhart, St. Joseph in Bryan and was in residence at St. Rose of Lima in Houston. Delaney was ordained in 1973.
Vasquez urged anyone who has suffered sexual abuse to report such abuse to law enforcement authorities. If the sexual abuse occurred by a minister in the church, the victim or their family is encouraged to contact the church's Office of Ethics and Integrity in Ministry (EIM) and associate director Emily Hurlimann LCSW at 512-949-2447.
A total of 286 clergy and religious leaders were named in lists released by dioceses in Texas on Thursday, Jan. 31.
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