Fr. Bernadine George Dyer
Archdiocese of New Orleans
Ordained: 1961
Died: 2013
Assigned as Follows:
- St. Pius Church (Chicago, IL)
- St. Luke Church (Brownsville, TX)
- University of Texas, Campus Ministry (Brownsville, Edinburg, TX)
Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations against Father Bernadine George Dyer:
Father Bernadine George Dyer became part of the Province of St. Martin de Porres when it was formed in 1979. He returned to the Dominican Friars in 1983. He was dismissed from the Order in 2010, and died in 2013.
According to media reports, in 2004, a man reported an allegation that Father Dyer sexually abused him multiple times as a 12-year-old boy in the late 1960s to early 1970s at St. Pius Church in Chicago. In an April 2018 Facebook post he wrote, "I now know that he groomed me. He saw me as his perfect victim. I was poor. I had a single mother. It was obvious that I was disabled."
The man also alleged there were other victims as the priest, "coerced me to invite more children to join us for swimming on Saturdays at Fenwick. I thought that I would be safe at the pool if more people were around. I was wrong. Dyer fondled every boy whom I invited. He continued to abuse me," he said.
In late 2018, Father Dyer's name appeared publicly on the Dominicans St. Joseph Province's list of clergy credibly accused of sex abuse of minors. No further information including the age/gender of the victims, or the priest's assignment at the time of the alleged abuse was released.
In January 2019, Father Dyer's name also appeared publicly on the Diocese of Brownsville's list of clergy credibly accused of sex abuse of minors. In February 2019, his name appeared publicly on the Diocese of Richmond's list, with a note that the allegation was "dismissed."
In April of 2020, the Archdiocese of New Orleans filed for bankruptcy protection. As part of its bankruptcy, the Archdiocese of New Orleans will be reviewing and paying claims for anyone sexually abused by diocesan priests and lay employees. This will likely include claims filed on behalf of anyone whose case may be beyond the statute of limitations. Although Bernadine Dyer was never officially assigned to the Archdiocese of New Orleans, bishopaccountability.com places him at the diocese where the province is based.
Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims of sexual abuse in the Archdiocese of New Orleans. The Archdiocese of New Orleans filed for federal bankruptcy protection in April 2020. Our lawyers are now offering free legal consultations to discuss your legal options as a survivor of sexual abuse by priests and other employees of the New Orleans Archdiocese. Very strict filing deadlines will soon be set by the Bankruptcy Court. Most victims of abuse will never be able to recover damages if they miss this deadline, so please contact us to discuss your case today. Call us at 888-283-9922 or send an e-mail to adam@adamhorowitzlaw.com