Category Archives: Parish News

Announcement: Credibly Accused Jesuits

Parish News

Announcement from the Diocese of St. Petersburg: The U.S.A Central and Southern Province of the Society of Jesus (Jesuit Order) has published a list of credibly accused members of their province, including those Jesuits who have served in the Diocese of St. Petersburg. Among those listed in the report, the following four Jesuit priests served at Sacred Heart Parish:

Rev. Edward DeRussy, S.J.
Served as Parochial Vicar from 1990 to 1991. Father DeRussy also served at St. Joseph Parish, Zephyrhills (1991-1997) and St. Benedict Parish, Crystal River. He died in 2001.

Rev. Thomas Hidding, S.J.
Served as Parochial Vicar from 1993 to 1997. He was removed from ministry in 2002 and died in 2005.

Rev. Austin Park, S.J.
Served as Parochial Vicar from 1970 to 1976. He died in 2013.

Rev. Norman Rogge, S.J.
Served as Parochial Vicar from 1960 to 1972 and again from 1973 to 1979. He died in 2009.

Victims of abuse are encouraged to report crimes to local law enforcement. They may also wish to contact Mr. John Lambert, the diocesan Victim Assistance Minister at (866) 407-4505.

After receiving this list from our Bishop, the Jesuit Order also released a list of “Credibly accused Jesuit Priests formerly assigned to Jesuit High School, Tampa”:

Rev. Claude Boudreaux, S.J., 1949 – 1951
Rev. Norman Rogge, S.J., 1950 – 1953
Rev. Thomas Hatrel, S.J., 1957 – 1979
Rev. Edward De Russy, S.J., 1959 – 1960
Rev. Francis Landwermeyer, S.J., 1962 – 1963; 1978 – 1980
Rev. Charles Bartles, S.J., 1967 – 1971
Rev. Thomas Naughton, S.J., 1968 – 1972
Rev. Thomas Hidding, S.J., 1980 – 1982
Rev. Vincent Orlando, S.J., 2000 – 2002

Should you have any questions regarding this matter, please contact the Diocese of St. Petersburg’s Office of Communication at (727) 344- 1611.