Fr. Charles Procopio – Diocese of Harrisburg

Fr. Charles Procopio - Diocese of Harrisburg

Ordained: 1956

Known allegation: 1965

Retired: 1995

Died: 1997

Assigned as follows:

1956 St. Theresa (New Cumberland, PA)
1956-1959 St. Joseph (Danville, PA)
1959-1961 St. Anthony of Padua (Lancaster, PA)
1961-1962 St. Andrew (Waynesboro, PA)
1962-1964 St. Joan of Arc (Hershey, PA)
1964-1967 Sacred Heart of Jesus (Harrisburg, PA)
1967-1968 Assumption BVM (Lancaster, PA)
1968-1971 St. Rita (Fairfield, PA)
1971-1979 St. Peter (Mount Carmel, PA)
1979-1983 Holy Name of Jesus (Harrisburg, PA)
1983-1984 St. Joseph (Hanover, PA)
1984-1991 Christ the King (Benton, PA)
1991-1994 St. Casimir (Kulpmont, PA)
1994-1995 Villa Vianney/Our Lady of Mount Carmel (Mount Carmel, PA)

Summary of Allegations Against Fr. Charles Procopio:

According to documents reviewed by the 2018 grand jury, the Diocese of Harrisburg received an allegation of abuse involving Fr. Charles Procopio in October 1965. The allegation was that several seventh and eighth grade girls at Sacred Heart in Harrisburg had been molested by Procopio. Documents further showed that several of the girls had reported the incidents to the principal of the school, but nothing had been done about it. The allegations involved unwanted kissing and breast touching, some of which was accomplished by physically overcoming the victim's will (e.g., pushing her against a wall and using his body weight to prevent her from moving).

According to the grand jury report, the caller "stated, 'if nothing were done about this matter, he would be forced to take it to the police. However, he says that he would do nothing without consulting the Chancery Office.'"

The following day, the Chancery closed its "investigation" into the allegations based only upon a discussion with Procopio. He claimed the touching was just "part of his effusive nature, imprudent by pure on his part." The Diocese of Harrisburg concluded, "the touches were not objectively immoral but only interpreted as such by preadolescent girls." The girls were dismissed as having the "highly imaginative minds of pubsecent girls."

Sickeningly, the same Harrisburg Chancey official who conducted the "investigation," a middle-aged, supposedly-celibate male priest, wrote that he provided the following counsel to Procopio:

"A girl of that age is so conscious of her womanhood that she feels all other people likewise are constantly noticing it at all times. She considers any touch a 'sex' touch. The pre-adolescent girl indulges in fantasy quite often."

Procopio remained in ministry without restriction until his retirement in 1995. He died in 1997.

Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims of sexual abuse in the Diocese of Harrisburg and throughout Pennsylvania. The Diocese of Harrisburg filed for federal bankruptcy protection in February 2020. Anyone sexually abused by a priest or employee of the Diocese of Harrisburg may be entitled to file a claim against the Diocese in these bankruptcy proceedings, but very strict filing deadlines apply. Most victims of abuse in the Diocese of Harrisburg will never be able to take action against the Diocese of Harrisburg if they miss this bankruptcy filing deadline, so it is important that you contact us immediately to discuss your potential case.

Fr. Charles Procopio – Diocese of Harrisburg