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 Des Moines, Iowa

Paul Connelly

Status: Deceased

Appeared under the heading: “Diocese of Des Moines List of Substantiated Abuse”

Birth Year: Not reported

Ordination year: 1950

Reported assignment history:

St. John's Church, Des Moines, 1950-53
St. Francis Church, Council Bluffs, 1953-56
St. Ambrose Cathedral, Des Moines, 1956
Diocesan Director, Catholic Charities, Des Moines, 1956-70
Assistant to Bishop as Chaplain to St. Vincent de Paul and DCCW, Des
Moines, 1956-70
Diocesan Director, DCCN & Hospitals, 1959-70
Spiritual Director to Bishop Drumm Home, Des Moines, 1961
Co-Pastor Team Ministry, Leon, Osceola, and Woodburn, 1971-76
Immaculate Conception, St. Marys, 1977-81
Diocesan Rural Life Director, 1978-81
St. Joseph Church, Winterset, 1981-83
St. Patrick Church, Missouri Valley, 1983-84
Harrison County Catholic Team Ministry, 1984-88
St. Ambrose Cathedral, Des Moines, 1988-93
Allegation reported to diocese, 2006
Allegation substantiated, 2007
Died before Canonical Trial

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.