Ordination: 1957

Notes: Fr. John A. Schmitz was accused of sexually abusing a girl in approximately 1959 while he was working at Sacred Heart School in Dubuque. The Archdiocese of Dubuque was allegedly made aware of the abuse allegation, but Fr. Schmitz was permitted to continue working as a priest and served at seven more Iowa parishes until he was removed from active duty in 1982. In 1982, Fr. Schmitz was reportedly sent to the Paraclete Center, an institution known for treating priests accused of child sexual abuse. After treatment, Fr. Schmitz was not allowed back into the Archdiocese of Dubuque, but rather accepted an assignment in the Diocese of San Bernardino. According to the Diocese of San Bernardino, Fr. Schmitz allegedly sexually abused a minor in 1985. Fr. Schmitz was told to leave the Diocese of San Bernardino and reported to his home Diocese in April 1985. Fr. Schmitz has been named in at least one civil lawsuit. In 2010, as part of a settlement with survivors of clergy sexual abuse, the Diocese of San Diego released Fr. Schmitz’s personnel file. Fr. Schmitz was included in the Diocese of San Bernardino’s list of clergy credibly accused of child sexual abuse. Fr. Schmitz’s whereabouts and whether he had access to children from 1985 until his death in 1991 are unknown.

Assignments:

1958 Immaculate Conception Church, Lansing, IA

1959-1960 Sacred Heart, Dubuque, IA

1961-1965 St. Joseph’s Church, New Hampton, IA

1966-1970 St. Joseph’s, Mason City, IA

1971-1973 All Saints, Cedar Rapids, IA

1974 St. Mary Church, Manchester, IA

1975 St. Peter Church, Clermont, IA

1976-1979 Sacred Heart Church, St. Anthony, IA

1980 St. Mary, Greene, IA

1981 Unknown

1982 St. Mary, Greene, IA

1983-1987 On Leave

1988-1989 On Sick Leave

1990-1991 On Leave of Absence

1991 Died