Credibly Accused

Search lists of U.S. Catholic clergy that have been deemed credibly accused of sexual abuse or misconduct.

Published Jan. 28, 2020

This database was last updated in January 2020 and should only be used as a historical snapshot of the lists published by dioceses and religious orders. There may be changes to those records that are not reflected here.

If you find an error in the data or would like to suggest changes, contact us.

Diocese of Owensboro, Kentucky

John Speaks

Status: Removed from public ministry (2002), Deceased (2019)

Appeared under the heading: “This section contains the names of priests who were ordained for the Diocese of Owensboro against whom was made at least one substantiated allegation of the sexual abuse of a minor occurring within the Diocese of Owensboro.”

Birth Year: 1947

Ordination year: 1974

Reported assignment history:

1974-77: Blessed Mother, Owensboro
1977-81: St. Francis de Sales, Paducah
1981-82: St. Sebastian, Calhoun and St. Charles, Livermore
1982-83: Christ the King, Madisonville
2/83 – 6/83: St. Alphonsus, Daviess County
6/83 – 1987: St. Joseph, Mayfield
1987-1989: Holy Name, Henderson
1989 – 1994: Hospital Chaplain, Owensboro Daviess County Hospital & Mercy Hospital, Owensboro
1994- 1995: St. Paul, Princeton

If you find an error in the data or would like to suggest changes, contact us.

Sources: U.S Catholic dioceses and religious orders, ProPublica reporting, Pontifical Yearbook (2019)

Data entry by: Tatyana Bellamy-Walker, Grace Haley, Samantha Maldonado, Spencer Norris, Anna Pouza, Lilia Saul

You can download this complete dataset at the ProPublica Data Store.