Fr. Edward Shoback
Diocese of Scranton
Ordained: 1967
Removed: 2004
Laicized: 2009
Assigned as follows:
- 1967: St. Ann (Shohola, PA)
- 1967-1968: St. Stephen (Plymouth, PA)
- 1968-1970: Holy Rosary (Ashley, PA)
- 1970-1974: St. Therese (Wilkes-Barre, PA)
- 1974-1980: St. Aloysius (Wilkes-Barre, PA)
- 1980-1987: St. John Nepomucene (Luzerne, PA)
- 1987-1989: Transfiguration (West Hazleton, PA)
- 1989-2004: Ss. Peter and Paul (Scranton, PA)
Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations against Father Edward Shoback:
Father Edward Shoback was ordained a priest in 1967, who served in multiple parishes in the Diocese of Scranton. According to media reports, in 2002, the Diocese received a report from an adult man who stated that he was sexually abused by Shoback in approximately 1977. Shoback denied the allegation, and it appears that no further action was taken. He remained in ministry despite the U.S. bishops' adoption of the "zero tolerance policy" in Dallas, Texas, only weeks earlier.
In 2004, a second man contacted the Diocese of Scranton to report he was abused in 1981 as a 12 year old boy. The priest invited the boy to the rectory to watch a movie and performed oral sex on him.
Three days later, a third man contacted the Diocese of Scranton to report that he too was abused. A few days later, a fourth man also reported his abuse by Shoback.
Shoback admitted to the first set of 2004 allegations. He was removed from ministry. Three more victims came forward in response to the Diocese of Scranton's notice in parish bulletins that Shoback had been removed. The Diocese received additional complaints in 2007 and 2009, bringing the total number of reports to the Diocese of Scranton to nine.
In 2018, Shoback was first named publicly as accused in the PA Grand Jury report. According to the Diocese, he was eventually laicized, but it did not provide a date. The grand jury report does not indicate he was laicized, as it generally does for other priests removed from the priesthood. Therefore, Shoback's status with the Church is not clear.
At any rate, Shoback is still alive and believed to be residing in the Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, area. He is 76 years old.
Shoback's brother, Thomas P. Shoback, also became a priest of the Diocese of Scranton. In 2013, Thomas Shoback was convicted of nine charges relating to his sexual abuse of a child as well.
Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy in the Diocese of Scranton. If you need a lawyer because you were sexually abused by a priest in Pennsylvania, contact our office today. Although many years have passed, those abused by Catholic clergy in the Diocese of Scranton may have legal options, but filing deadlines will apply so do not delay in reaching out to us. Our lawyers have decades of experience representing survivors of clergy sexual abuse in Pennsylvania and nationwide. We can help.
Contact us at 888-283-9922 or adam@adamhorowitzlaw.com to discuss your options today.