Who decided which priests made the list?
Members serve at will of the bishop
Shortly before releasing its list of priests credibly accused of sexual misconduct involving children, the Catholic Diocese of Memphis announced the names of the people tasked with creating the list.
Its Diocesan Review Board, which went through multiple searches of clergy personnel files, includes judges, clergy and medical professionals.
Diocesan review boards were created to advise the diocesan or eparchial bishop “in his assessment of allegations of sexual abuse of minors and in his determination of a cleric’s suitability for ministry,” according to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People.
Members serve at the will of the bishop.
The vast majority of the Memphis board’s members were appointed prior to the Most Rev. David Talley becoming bishop of Memphis in April 2019.
“Ultimately, it is the responsibility of the diocesan bishop/eparch, with the advice of a qualified review board, to determine the gravity of the alleged act,” the charter reads.
Investigation company Inquisitor has been assisting the Diocesan Review Board, according to the diocese.
According to the diocese, “Board members were selected because of their professional or work experience that enables them to provide insight and perspective.”
“The purpose of the Review Board is two-fold: First, to evaluate allegations of sexual misconduct by clerics involving minors and, secondly, to advise the Bishop as to appropriate steps and policies for the protection of children.”
The nine voting members are:
❚ Patrick Lawler, who has been a member of the board since it began in 2002. He has chaired the board for the past 15 years. Lawler is the chief executive officer of Youth Villages. Before joining Youth Villages, Lawler worked at the Juvenile Court of Memphis and Shelby County for five years. He has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and a master’s in counseling from the University of Memphis.
❚ Dr. Tina Burns, who has been a member of the review board since 2018. She has been a family practitioner in the Memphis area for 31 years. Burns is a parishioner at the Catholic Church of the Incarnation in Collierville.
❚ John Campbell, who has been on the review board since 2019. He is a Shelby County criminal court judge. He began his legal career as an assistant public defender and later was an assistant district attorney general. He holds a bachelor’s degree in history and a juris doctorate from the University of Memphis.
❚ Deacon Jeff Drzycimski, who has been on the review board since 2018. He is a permanent deacon for the Diocese of Memphis, assigned to St. Louis Catholic Church. He works as assistant principal for faith and mission at St. Benedict at Auburndale Catholic High School where he also teaches theology. Drzycimski is host of the nationally syndicated radio talk show “The Catholic Café.”
❚ The Rev. Robert Marshall Jr., who has been on the Review Board since 2018 and is the vicar general of the Diocese of Memphis and pastor of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. A native Memphian, Marshall is a graduate of Christian Brothers University with a bachelor’s degree in history, the University of Memphis with a Juris Doctorate and Notre Dame Seminary Graduate School of Theology with a master’s degree. He was ordained to the priesthood in 2000 and has served in five parishes. Prior to entering seminary, Father Marshall practiced law for 12 years in both private practice and as corporate counsel.
❚ Retired Judge John Mccarroll Jr., who has been on the board since 2015. He has practiced law with various firms in Memphis since graduating from law school in 1965. He retired in 2014 as a Circuit Court judge. Mccarroll received his bachelor’s degree and his juris doctorate from Vanderbilt University. He is parishioner of St. Francis of Assisi.
❚ Juanita Chism Richardson Lawler,
who has been a member of the board since it began in 2002. She has been a teacher and administrator in the Memphis City Schools and the Tunica County, Mississippi, schools for more than 43 years, and currently works as a realtor with First National Realty, Inc. She graduated from University of Memphis with bachelor and master’s degrees, and attended University of Memphis Law School. Lawler is a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church and serves on the pastoral council.
❚ Joan Thomas, who has been on the board since 2018. Thomas has worked as a psychiatric nurse practitioner and mental health nurse educator. She was a faculty member of the Loewenberg College of Nursing. An active member of St. Louis Church, she is also a member of the Order of Malta and is currently developing a Guiding Star health facility. She holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Vanderbilt University and obtained her MSN/PH.D. from the University of Tennessee Center for Health Sciences.
❚ Larry Wright, who has been on the board since 2007. A parishioner at St. Michael Catholic Church, Wright holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Memphis. He is the president of Advertising Impact.
Katherine Burgess covers county government, religion and the suburbs. She can be reached at katherine.burgess@commercialappeal.com, 901-5292799 or followed on Twitter @kathsburgess.