‘Credibly accused’ clergy list mentions 3 with local ties

Three Catholic clergymen who were at one point assigned to churches in the San Marcos area were on the Diocese of Austin’s list of clergy members “credibly accused” of committing sexual abuse against minors.

The diocese released a list of 22 clergy members, along with their current status and assignment histories, last week. Among the accused are Daniel Michael Drinan, whose assignments include St. John the Evangelist in San Marcos, Martindale’s Immaculate Heart of Mary and Uhland’s St. Michael; Conrad Kinder, whose assignment history includes the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Martindale; and Ricardo Aguilar, whose assignment history includes St. Michael in Uhland. Drinan and Aguilar are listed as having been laicized, or removed from the clergy — Drinan in 2002 and Aguilar in 2017. Kinder is listed as having died in 1978.

The assignment histories note: “This information is provided for the welfare of the Christian faithful and is not an indication that abuse occurred at any of these locations.”

In a press release accompanying the list, Bishop Joe S. Vasquez of the Diocese of Austin explained that outside professionals and diocesan staff reviewed 70 years of archived documents to come up with the list. Most of the men on the list are no longer active in the church; 10 named are deceased, and seven others are listed as either laicized or removed from ministry.

“The list contains the names of priests, deacons or religious about whom the Diocese of Austin has received a credible allegation of committing sexual abuse against a minor. If the diocese receives additional credible allegations, the list will be amended. If you believe a name is missing from this list, please contact the diocese,” the press release states.

“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,” Vasquez wrote. “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.”

Inclusion of a name on the list does not establish that the allegation was substantiated or proven to the diocese or to a secular legal authority or that seual abuse actually occurred.