Archdiocese reports substantiated abuse claims against 3 now-deceased Kansas priests
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (KCTV) - Three now-deceased priests were added to a list of clergy offenders with substantiated claims.
The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas reported that Fr. John “Fidelis” Forrester, Fr. Donald Redmond and Fr. Joseph Cramer were found to have abuse allegations against them be substantiated.
Fr. Fidelis, who was previously found to have substantiated allegations against him outside the Archdiocese, also had allegations of sexual abuse of a minor within the Archdiocese confirmed.
He died in 2022.
Fr. Fidelis had served at Camp St. Maur Hill (Atchison), Maur Hill Mount-Academy (Atchison), Mount St. Scholastica Academy (Atchison) and Ursuline Academy (Paola) prior to his ordination in 1954. He was assigned to St. Peter and Paul Parish (Seneca). The Archdiocese listed his estimated timeframe for abuse to have been between 1947-1961.
Fr. Cramer, who was ordained in 1977, had substantiated allegations of sexual abuse of minors that occurred in the Archdiocese. He also has had substantiated allegations of abuse against a vulnerable adult.
The estimated timeframe of abuse in the KCK Archdiocese of 1987-1992. He died in 2022.
His pastoral assignments were many. They include:
- Cure of Ars Catholic Church (Leawood)
- Bishop Miege High School (Roeland Park)
- Holy Name Church (Topeka)
- Hayden High School (Topeka)
- Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church (Paxico)
- Savior of the World High School Seminary (Kansas City)
- St. Paul Catholic Church (Olathe)
- Didde Catholic Campus Center, formerly Emporia State & Schooling (Emporia)
- Assumption (Reading)
- St. Leo’s Catholic Parish (Horton)
- St. Mary’s Catholic Church (Purcell)
- St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church (Marysville)
- St. Malachy’s Church (Beattie)
- St. Philip Neri Church (Osawatomie)
- Sacred Heart Catholic Church (Mound City)
- Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church (LaCygne)
- Divine Mercy Parish, formerly Sacred Heart Catholic Church (Gardner)
Fr. Redmond had allegations of abuse against an adult substantiated by the Archdiocese. He had previously been published on the Archdiocese list of Substantiated Clergy Offenders.
Ordained in 1957, Fr. Redmond had been assigned to the following: Sts. Peter and Paul (Seneca), St. Lawrence Catholic Campus Center (Lawrence), Benedictine College (Atchison), St. Benedict Parish (Atchison), Sacred Heart (Atchison), Sacred Heart (Sabetha), St. Augustine (Fidelity) and St. James (Wetmore).
The estimated timeframe of abuse was between 1960-1968. Fr. Redmond was removed from ministry in 2002 and died in 2019.
Frs. Redmond and Fidelis were Benedictines.
Anyone with abuse claims has been asked to the confidential report line at 913-276-8703.
Copyright 2025 KCTV. All rights reserved.
