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.

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Diocese of Winona-Rochester, Minnesota

Leland J. Smith

Status: Laicized

Appeared under the heading: “Disclosures Regarding Clergy Sexual Abuse of Minors - Thirteen John Jay Study Priests”

Birth Year: 1927

Ordination year: 1953

Reported assignment history:

June 12, 1953 - Saints Peter and Paul, Blue Earth, MN
December 31, 1954 - Saint John, Rochester, MN
August 17, 1955 - Saint Wenceslaus, Jackson, MN
August 30, 1960 - Saint Casimir, Wells, MN
July 3, 1963 - Saint Rose of Lima, Avoca, MN and Saint Mary, Lake Wilson, MN
August 16, 1967 - Holy Trinity, Rollingstone, MN
August 16, 1967 - Immaculate Conception of Mary, Oak Ridge, MN
July 15, 1975 - Saint Charles Borromeo, Saint Charles, MN
June 23, 1983 - Saint Joseph, Rushford, MN and Saint Mary, Houston, MN
July 3, 1987 - Immaculate Conception, Wilson, MN
June 30, 1989 - Saint Joachim, Plainview, MN and Immaculate Conception, Kellogg, MN
July 1, 1991 - Saint Agnes, Kellogg, MN

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.