Report Names 8 Merrimack Ex-Priests Accused Of Sexual Assault

MERRIMACK, NH — The Diocese of Manchester has released a comprehensive list of priests who have been accused of sexually assaulting minors since 1950. The list, which aims to improve the accountability of the Roman Catholic Church, includes eight priests who have served in Merrimack over the past several decades, including six former priests of Our Lady of Mercy and two former priests of St. John Neumann.

The following Merrimack priests are on the list, released by the Diocese of Manchester Wednesday. The list below names the date that the accused priest was assigned to the particular Merrimack church, along with his status. A laicized status means the person no longer has any rights of Holy Orders, and the Diocese of Manchester no longer has responsibility of overseeing him. Those who were "sentenced to a life of prayer and penance" are permanently banned from all forms of public ministry and may not wear clerical attire or publicly identify as priests. Others have been accused of sexually assaulting a minor after the priest has already died, in which case their case has not been concluded.

Our Lady of Mercy

• Denis Downey, assigned June 25, 1954 — Accused after death, proceedings not been completed. Downey died on Nov. 24, 1992. In 2005, someone reported an incident in which Downey made sexual contact with him between 1958 and 1965, while the victim was between the ages of 9 and 16. The following year, another report came, stating someone was sexually assaulted by Downey in Merrimack at 13 or 14 years old, in the late 1960s.
• Alfred Jannetta, assigned June 2, 1980 — "assigned to a life of prayer and penance"
• John Poirier, assigned June 8, 1971 — "assigned to a life of prayer and penance"
• Edward Richard, assigned Sept. 5, 1973 — "assigned to a life of prayer and penance," deceased
• Philip Petit, assigned June 15, 1983 — Laicized. Petit reportedly abused a victim in Northwood around 1982, when the victim was approximately 14 years old. The incident was reported in 2003.
• Rocco Memolo, assigned June 15, 1983 — Accused after death, proceedings not been completed

St. John Neumann

• Edward Richard, assigned Feb. 2, 1982 — "assigned to a life of prayer and penance," deceased
• Richard Lower, assigned June 15, 1988 — Accused after death, proceedings not been completed. In 2002, a 44-year-old man reported being sexually assaulted by Lower at 15 years old. The assault reportedly occurred in Littleton in July 1973. At that time, Lower was an active priest in New London. In December 2002, Lower committed suicide, according to reports.