Father Roth – Picture from Toronto Archdiocese Facebook page 2015
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Father James Roth
Father James H Roth
Father Jim Roth
American priest with a religious order known as the Oblates of St. Francis De Sales (OSFS). Ordained 20 May 1995, – was a brother with the order for nearly 20 years before ordination to the priesthood. In 2004 transferred to Archdiocese of Toronto, Ontario Canada. From 2004 to 2013 was scholastic master at Toronto Oblate home, 82 Regal Rd. (The Oblate of St Francis de Sales occupied the home for 40 years -many of their seminarians studied at St. Michael’s College. Father Roth was the last member of his order in Canada. )
Father Roth was employed in some capacity by the Dufferin-Peel Catholic School Board. He was serving in Canada in January 2015 when victim of abuse in States came forward. Seems to have relocated to the States around that time.
Diabetic. Died February 2015 at Hospice of NW Ohio – circumstances surrounding death questionable (high dose of insulin) Prior to death wrote a note admitting the abuse of a young boy about 14 years ago.
According to one news source, Roth travelled overseas with Roman Catholic school children.
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Statements & Articles of Interest
April 2015: Father Jim Roth on Archdiocese of Detroit website list of “Clergy Accused of Abuse
10 April 2015: Dufferin-Peel Catholic School Board Statement regarding the late Father James Roth
09 April 2015: Archdiocese of Toronto Statement regarding Father James Roth, O.S.F.S.
OBITUARY: Rev. James H. Roth, O.S.F.S. — March 10, 1953 – Feb. 11, 2015
Undated: Diocese of Toledo statement regarding Father James Roth
25 March 2015: Archdiocese of Detroit re Father James Roth OSFS
Statement from Father Ken McKenna OSFS, Provincial of Toledo-Detroit Province of St.Francis De Sales (Father Ken McKenna OSFS statement re allegations of sexual misconduct)
Statement from Oblates of St. Francis De Sales regarding Father Roth death
Fall 2007: “Arriving at Critical Masses” – article by Jim Roth OSFS in Bonding, Fall 2007
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MEDIA
(Scroll down for text articles attached to page)
10 April 2015: BLOG Don’t they deserve to be told?
10 April 2015: Dufferin-Peel school priest confessed to sex assault in U.S.
30 March 2015: Toledo Catholic church seeks potential victims of priest in sex abuse case (this is an external link)
28 March 2015: Catholic Church seeking abuse victims
28 March 2015: Oblates tell man who reported being abused by priest: Victim did not know late Catholic priest admitted abuse before death
27 April 2015: BLOG He left a note
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Unless otherwise indicated the following information is drawn from Canadian Catholic Church Directories (CCCD) which I have on hand and media (M)
09 April 2015: Statement from Archdiocese of Toronto, Ontario re Father James Roth
25 March 2015: Statement from Archdiocese of Detroit re Father James Roth
28 March 2015: Memorial Mass, St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church, Lockport, NY (M)
19 February 2015: Memorial Mass at 7 pm, St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Mississauga Ontario (M)
16 February 2015: Mass of Christian Burial at Gesu Church, 2049 Parkside Blvd., Toledo, OH. Interment at Resurrection Cemetery in Toledo, Ohio (M)
12 February 2015: Archdiocese of Toronto Facebook request for prayers for soul of Father Roth)
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Toronto
Please pray for the eternal repose of the soul of Fr. James H. Roth, OSFS who died on February 11, 2015. He was 61 years old and in his 20th year of the priesthood with the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales. Fr. Roth was the Religious-in-Charge of the Oblate Scholasticate (until its closure in 2013) and the Superior of his Local Religious Community until 2012. He was appointed Chaplain to the Ryerson University Catholic Community from 2005-2008. In 2008 he became Priest-in-residence for Dufferin-Peel Catholic School Board. He was in residence at St. Patrick’s Parish, Mississauga.
A memorial Mass will be held on Thursday, February 19, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. at St. Patrick’s Parish (921 Flagship Drive, Mississauga) with celebrant Most Rev. John Boissonneau.
Visitation and funeral will be held in Toledo, Ohio.
11 February 2015: Died in Hospice of NW Ohio – questionable circumstances. Left note admitting he had molested the boy
21 January 2015: suspended from his position as priest-in-residence with Dufferin-Catholic School Board (M)
20 January 2015: Victim’s lawyer contacted school board
January 2015: Victim came forward
Winter 2015: Father Jim Roth answers question as to why and how he decided to enter religious life (Bondings: the Quarterly Magazine, ‘Oblates of St. Francis de Sales – Toledo-Detroit Province, Winter 2015 Roth Bondings Winter 2015)
“When I was in high school I had little understanding of what the difference was between a ‘religious’ vocation and a diocesan one. But, while in high school, I was educated by a group of me who knew me, who I enjoyed being around and having as teachers and coaches, who seemed to like what they were doing and knew how to smile, joke and have fun – men like Frank Schimscheiner, Dick Nelson, Lehr Barkenquest, Tony Steger, Jerry Bartko, etc. So upon graduation from De Sales High School., I thought I would ‘try it out’ for a year, but then that year became two, then three, and now I can contentedly say forty-three. The ultimate total will rely upon God’s good pleasure, but, so far, I must say the pleasure has definitely been, and continues to be, mine.” – Father Jim Roth, OSFS, Toronto, Canada
2004-2015: in Canada – served as scholastic master at Toronto Oblate of St. Frances de Sales home, 82 Regal Rd. ( seminarians studying at St. Michael’s College stayed at the house. I came across one instance of one of the Oblates teaching at the college)
2008-January 2015: Priest-in-residence (ie Chaplain) at Dufferin-Peel Catholic School Board, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada (M)
2015: 921 Flagship Drive. Toronto, Ontario, Address for St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church, Mississauga. 905-272-8867 (CCCD) and ( Toledo Detroit Province phone list) (according to statements put out by the Brother Father Roth;s assignments included “educational ministry in Utah and Ontario, Canada)
02 December 2014: Father Roth Mass in chapel at Catholic Education Centre
24 May 2014: “Fostering Home-School-Parish Relationships” workshop at Ontario Association of Parents in Catholic education Conference (Father Jim Roth presenter at 75 Anniversary OAPCE Conference) + (Father Jim Roth workshop with short bio OAPCE Conference undated )
07 May 2014: Father Jim Roth in Bolton Ontario at celebration of Pope John Paul II canonization (Father Roth Bolton John Paul II celebration May 2014 )
2013: Dufferin-Peel Catholic School Board (Toledo Detroit Province Phone List 2013-2014 – Ontario)
Address for St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church, Mississauga (CCCD) assisting at the Church on weekends (Father Jim Roth workshop with short bio OAPCE Conference undated )
2013: house at 61 Regal Rd, for sale for $1,199,000 (Home on Regal Rd for sale for over 1 M 2013)
2012-2013: as chaplain prepared weekly handouts for, at least, students at Notre Dame Secondary School
Prayer and spiritual reflections are at the heart of our faith community. We begin each day, each assembly and all special events with prayer.
……. Each teacher in every department will receive easy-to-use prayer resources such as “Take Ten” daily prayer book, The Catholic Youth Bible, weekly handouts prepared by Fr. Jim Roth, traditional Catholic prayers on laminated page, and more. … (Father Roth – Brampton Notre Dame Secondary School website 2012 to 2013)
19 September 2012: Celebrant for Mass at John Cabot Catholic School (“Opening Eucharistic Celebration” for school year)
In his homily, Fr. Jim Roth related the Year of Faith to our school motto: “Faith, Hope and Charity”. (Extract from the Clarion November 2012 ) (Was Father Roth involved in any of the retreat referenced on the third page?)
16 February 2011: offering Mass at Chapel of the Cardinal Flahiff Basilian Centre. Toronto (Father Roth offering Mass at Chapel of Cardinal Flahiff Basilian Centre )
2011: 81 Regal Rd., Toronto, Ontario. Phone 416-656-3160 (CCCD) Address identified online as an Oblates of St. Francis de Sales property – it’s very close to Regal Rd. Public School. (CCCD)
01 May 2010: Concelebrated Mass with then Toronto Auxiliary Bishop Peter J. Hundt at the “Celebrating the Human Face of God” Catholic Principal’s Conference of Ontario conference: conference guest speaker Stephen Lewis and keynote speaker Ontario Minister of Education -now Premier – Kathleen Wynn (Mass at the “Celebrating the Human Face of God” Catholic Principal’s Conference of Ontario conference)
2006-2013: assisted on weekends at St. Francis of Assisi Roman Catholic Church, Mississauga, Ontario (Father Jim Roth workshop with short bio OAPCE Conference undated )
Remembrance Day week 2008: Along with the Adult Faith Team, presided at a special Remembrance Day service at the Catholic Education Centre ( 07 November 2008: Students remember war veterans – the reference in the article to Dufferin Peel School Board is Dufferin Peel Catholic District School Board)
2004- 2008: campus minister/Chaplain to Catholic community at Ryerson University in Toronto, Ontario, Canada (M)
1995-2004: served variously as a teacher, guidance counsellor and administrator at St. Francis de Sales High School, Toledo, Ohio
2001 (?) – multiple instances of abuse of young boy who was age 9 or 10 and a family friend
20 May 1995: ORDAINED
1995: Masters of Divinity, Toronto School of Theology, Toronto, Ontario (M)
1976-1995: Religious Brother with Oblates of St. Francis de Sales from first profession in 1976 until ordained to priesthood in 1995
approx. 1989-1994: Taught for five years at St. Judge Memorial High School, Salt Lake City, Utah (M)
1978-1989: Teaching for 11 years at St. Francis de Sales High School, Toledo Ohio (M)
1985: Masters in Education, University of Toledo (M)
1984: Masters in Religious Education, St. Michael’s University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (M)
1982: Religion teacher. Perpetual Profession of vows in Adrian Michigan during province-wide meeting of Toledo-Detroit Province of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales ( 1982 Perpetual Profession Religion Teacher)
August 1978: First profession as an Oblate
1976: Bachelors degree in Spanish from Niagara University (M)
1971: Graduated from DeSales High School, Lockport, NY (M)
10 March 1953: Born in Lockport, NY (M)
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Rev. James H. Roth, OSFS
Monroe News
Monday, February 18. 2015
TOLEDO, Ohio — Rev. James H. Roth, 61, a priest with the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales of Toledo, died Wednesday from complications of diabetes.
Services will be Monday. Arrangements by Coyle Funeral Home, Toledo.
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Church leaders seek potential victims of priest abuse
Crux
By Associated Press
March 27, 2015
TOLEDO, Ohio — Roman Catholic leaders are looking for potential abuse victims of a deceased priest who once served at a Toledo high school and who the leaders confirm abused a minor more than a dozen years ago.
The Toledo-Detroit Province of the Oblates of Saint Francis de Sales as well as the Toledo and Detroit Catholic dioceses announced the accusations earlier this week through their websites.
The Blade reported Friday that the Rev. James Roth died in February after taking a high dose of insulin while on a drug study for diabetes.
The newspaper says that Rev. Ken McKenna, provincial of the Toledo-Detroit Province, says Roth left a note admitting to the allegation although the death has not been confirmed as a suicide.
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Group says former St. Francis priest committed sexual misconduct, asks victims to come forward
Toledo News Now
Posted: Mar 26, 2015 10:05 PM EST Updated: Mar 27, 2015 8:57 PM EST
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Oblates confirm sex-abuse claim against late priest
He was at St. Francis de Sales High School
The Toledo Blade
27 March 2015
BY NOLAN ROSENKRANS
BLADE STAFF WRITER
Catholic church leaders are looking for other sex abuse survivors of a deceased priest who once served at St. Francis de Sales High School, and who, they confirmed, abused a minor 14 years ago.
The Rev. James H. Roth, 61, died Feb. 11 at Hospice of Northwest Ohio after taking a high dose of insulin. Though his death has not been confirmed as a suicide, he left a note admitting to the allegation, said the Rev. Ken McKenna, provincial of the Toledo-Detroit Province of the Oblates of Saint Francis de Sales.
The survivor, who was not a St. Francis student and is now an adult, reported the abuse to the Oblates in January. Father Roth, who at the time was working for a Catholic school board in Toronto, was immediately removed from his position, police were alerted, and an internal investigation begun, Father McKenna said.
Father Roth was in a drug study for diabetes, and the side effects of the drug included depression and suicidal thoughts, according to the Oblates. While co-workers had noticed mood changes, Father McKenna said it’s unclear whether the drugs impaired his judgment or if the revelation led to his death.
Father McKenna acknowledged that the note would give the impression that Father Roth killed himself because of the charge, but he said he was waiting for the coroner’s office to rule officially on the manner of death.
The Oblates, as well as the Toledo and Detroit Catholic dioceses, announced the accusations on Wednesday through their websites, the Catholic Chronicle, and a website — tdprovince.org — created by the Oblates that solicits further information or other accusations.
“There’s always the possibility of other victims,” Father McKenna said. “But right now only the one allegation has come forward.”
The survivor told the Oblates Father Roth sexually abused him on multiple occasions 14 years ago. Father Roth worked at St. Francis de Sales High School from 1976 to 1987 and from 1995 to 2004 as a faculty member and administrator.
Among his administrative roles was guidance counseling, said the Rev. Geoffrey Rose, who is vice president of the school and will take over July 1 from the Rev. Ronald Olszewski, the longtime president.
“He was a beloved minister, so I think that it’s always difficult for people when we find out something of their brokenness, and we have to kind of reconcile the good we know they did and this awfulness,” Father Rose said.
The survivor, who was 9 or 10 at the time, was not a St. Francis student, according to the Oblates, but was a family friend.
Father Roth also worked at St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Church in Monroe and in Utah.
Father McKenna said the Oblates waited until now to publicize the allegation because Father Roth was not a threat to anyone by the time the allegation was confirmed. The Oblates wanted to coordinate a public acknowledgment between themselves and area dioceses.
The Diocese of Toledo’s chancellor, the Rev. Monte J. Hoyles, said that Father Roth never worked for the diocese and that the diocese was only recently made aware that the abuse allegation was confirmed.
“[The Oblates] have provided a place and the contact information to come forward and we would encourage that,” he said.
Claudia Vercellotti, spokesman for the Toledo chapter of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, said the public acknowledgment of the sexual abuse came too late and not enough was done.
“My question squarely is to Bishop [Daniel] Thomas. What are you going to do about this because you haven’t done enough? You haven’t done close to enough,” she said. “It’s a little too convenient that they wait for him to die.”
She also said the diocese needs to provide “full, unabridged detail” of the accusation. “Can’t we all agree to not molest children and cover it up?”
Ms. Vercellotti said the victim who came forward is courageous and hopes that any other potential victims will report the abuse.
Robert and Nancy Jo Roth of Lockport, N.Y., are listed in Father Roth’s obituary as his brother and sister-in-law. A call Thursday to a phone number listed for them was not returned.
Staff writer Taylor Dungjen contributed to this report.
Contact Nolan Rosenkrans at: nrosenkrans@theblade.com or 419-724-6086, or on Twitter @NolanRosenkrans.
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Group says former St. Francis priest committed sexual misconduct, asks victims to come forward
Toledo News NOW
Posted: Mar 26, 2015 10:05 PM EST Updated: Mar 26, 2015 10:06 PM EST
By Nick Bade
TOLEDO, OH (Toledo News Now) – The oblates of Saint Francis De Sales are asking that victims of sexual misconduct come forward after revelations a priest who worked at St. Francis De Sales High School in Toledo committed sexual misconduct involving a minor 14 years ago.Father James Roth died at an Ohio hospice facility in January. The Toledo-Detroit province of the oblates of Saint Francis says the alleged abuse took place 14 years ago. The group says a review board confirmed the allegations against Father Roth were true.Now the group is asking for any other possible victims to come forward. If you or someone you know has been sexually abused by an Oblate, call 419-724-9851 or visit http://www.tdprovince.org/“I want to apologize to anyone who has ever been injured, physically or emotionally, by any member of our congregation. We wish to help those in pain and we reaffirm our desire to play a role in the healing process,” Father Ken McKenna said in a statement.
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Group says former St. Francis priest committed sexual misconduct, asks victims to come forward
Toledo News NoOW
Posted: Mar 26, 2015 10:05 PM EST Updated: Mar 26, 2015 10:06 PM EST
“I want to apologize to anyone who has ever been injured, physically or emotionally, by any member of our congregation. We wish to help those in pain and we reaffirm our desire to play a role in the healing process,” Father Ken McKenna said in a statement.
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Late St. Francis priest admits sexual misconduct with minor
NBC24,com
Posted: 03.26.2015 at 10:53 PM
by Christopher Burns
TOLEDO, Ohio – The Oblates of St. Francis De Sales received an allegation of sexual misconduct of a minor nearly 14-years after it occurred.
Fr. James Roth, who died in February of 2015 from a high dose of insulin which caused low glucose levels and brain damage, is being investigated by Catholic Church leaders. The leaders say the allegations of sexual misconduct from 14-years ago were confirmed true.
According to a statement on the Oblates of St. Francis De Sales website, Roth admitted to the allegations in a note written before his death.
The leaders say they are working to learn of other possible victims. Anybody who knows of such abuse is asked to call Fr. Ken McKenna at 419-724-9851.