Laicization under Church law is a process whereby the cleric voluntarily requests that he be separated from the clerical state. The laicization process, because it is voluntary, does not involve a determination of guilt for crimes involving the sexual abuse of children. Included in this section are the names of priests who have sought laicization after being accused of sexually abusing a minor.
Name Year Of Ordination Status Balcom, Gary E 1972 Laicized (1998); Deceased (2002) Beale, Robert P 1970 Laicized (2010); Deceased (2019) Cartier, Jr., Frederick J 1963 Laicized (2010); Deceased (2020) Coleman, Joseph K 1981 Laicized (2005) Connell, John K 1965 Laicized (2005); Deceased (2007) Conte, Denis A 1975 Laicized (2004) Daly, Robert F 1967 Laicized (2011) Finegan, Paul J 1970 Laicized (2005) Forry, Thomas P 1968 Laicized (2006) Frost, Peter J 1970 Laicized (2005) Govoni, Louis J 1972 Laicized (2010); Deceased (2020) Keefe, Dennis A 1989 Laicized (2009) Knapp, Robert J 1965 Laicized (2010) Matte, Richard O 1964 Laicized (2005); Deceased (2017) McDonald, Paul E 1964 Laicized (2005) McMahon, Jr., Benjamin J 1968 Laicized (2010); Deceased (2021) Meffan, Robert V 1953 Laicized (2004); Deceased (2023) Morrissette, Robert H 1975 Laicized (2005) Ryan, Frederick J 1964 Laicized (2005); Deceased (2023) Tourigney, Ernest E 1961 Laicized (2006) Walsh, William M 1971 Laicized (2011) Ward, Robert A 1974 Laicized (2004) White, Paul D 1961 Laicized (2005) Wilson, James L 1990 Laicized (1998)