1961

Burlington bishop was Robert Francis Joyce (1956-1971)

1962

Worcester bishop was Bernard Joseph Flanagan (1959-1983)

Spencer

• Dwyer began sexual involvement with a 15 year-old girl in 1969, continuing intermittently until the girl was 28. The girl was a student at Santa Catalina School in the Monterey diocese. Dwyer had been invited to the school from MA to lead a spiritual retreat.

1971

Charlotte bishop was Michael Joseph Begley (1971-1984)

1972

Winona bishop was Loras Joseph Watters (1969-1986)

This was a Brothers of the Christian School.

1977

Ft. Wayne bishop was William Edward McManus (1976-1985)

1982

Timothy Joseph Harrington succeeded Flanagan as Worcester bishop (1983-1994), followed by Daniel Patrick Reilly (1994-2004)

Spencer

• In 1999 an allegation against Dwyer by a man emerged. The man filed suit in Worcester, MA.

In 1995 the St. Joseph's Abbey Trappists settled with the California woman who had accused Dwyer of taking sexual advantage of her from ages 15-28. The woman struggled with depression for many years as a result of the "affair". She sought payment froom the Trappists for her therapy bills. They had her sign a confidentiality agreement. She spoke out publicly in 2002, and filed suit against the Monterey diocese in 2004.

Dwyer is to be "in service outside the community" from 1999-2002. He is not indexed beyond the 2002 Directory.

Sources: Official Catholic Directory (New York: P.J. Kenedy and Sons, 1962-2002)

• Breaking the Silence, Monterey County Herald, June 23, 2002
• Survivors connect to heal, raise voices, By Jason Berry, National Catholic Reporter, November 08, 2002
• Alleged Victim Sues Diocese, Monterey County Herald, January 1, 2004
• Diocese Discusses Abuse Cases, By Dan Laidman, Monterey County Herald, January 28, 2004
• Bishop Ryan's February Pastoral Letter, By Bishop of Monterey, February 4, 2004
• Lead Us Not Into Temptation: Catholic Priests and the Sexual Abuse of Children, by Jason Berry

Priests in a Parish: We use the following convention to show a priest's place among the clergy of a parish: 1/2 means that he is the first priest listed in the Official Catholic Directory (usually the pastor) and that there is a total of two priests at the parish. The shorthand 3/4 means that the priest is listed third on a four-priest roster. See our sample page from the Directory.

Note: The Official Catholic Directory aims to report the whereabouts of Catholic priests in the United States on January 1 of the Directory's publication year. Our working assumption is that a priest listed in the Directory for a given year was at the same assignment for part of the previous year as well. However, Kenedy and Sons will sometimes accept updates well into the year of publication. Diocesan clergy records are rarely available to correct this information. The Directory is also sometimes misleading or wrong. We have tried to create an accurate assignment record, given the source materials and their limitations. Assignment records are a work in progress and we are always improving the records that we post. Please email us with new information and corrections.

This assignment record collates Dwyer's career history as it is represented in the Official Catholic Directory with allegations as reported in the media. We make no representation regarding the truth of the allegation we report, and we remind our readers that the U.S. legal system presumes that a person accused of or charged with a crime is innocent until proven guilty. Similarly, individuals who may be defendants in civil actions are presumed not to be liable for such claims unless a plaintiff proves otherwise. Admissions of guilt or liability are not typically a part of civil or private settlements. For more information, see our posting policy.

This assignment record was last updated on Aug. 20, 2011