Our law firm is offering free, confidential evaluations of sexual abuse claims involving Catholic priests in the Diocese of Allentown. Our team has been handling clergy sexual abuse claims for decades. Contact us today at (954) 641-2100 or by email at [email protected] to find out your legal options.
The facts are clear: the Diocese of Allentown enabled and concealed the sexual abuse of children for decades.
The Diocese of Allentown (Pennsylvania) has been the home of nearly 60 publicly-identified priests accused of sexually abusing minors. A recent grand jury report outlined allegations involving nearly 40 of those priests. Many of the others have been publicly identified by brave sexual abuse survivors who pursued legal action against the Diocese to hold it accountable for shielding and protecting abusers above the children entrusted to their care.
Both civil lawsuits and grand jury reports involving the Diocese of Allentown have shed light on the practices of the Diocese of Allentown in responding to allegations of sexual misconduct. The facts suggest that the Diocese of Allentown is responsible for creating a dangerous culture of sexual abuse, coverup, and fostering a dangerous environment for children despite being in a position to protect God’s most innocent people. According to the report:
“The Grand Jury uncovered evidence of child sexual abuse committed by Roman Catholic priests of the Diocese of Allentown. Evidence showed that priests engaged in sexual contact with minors, including grooming and fondling of genitals and/or intimate body parts as well as penetration of the vagina, mouth, or anus.
The evidence also showed that Diocesan administrators, including the Bishops, had knowledge of this conduct and that priests were regularly placed in ministry after the Diocese was on notice that a complaint of child sexual abuse had been made. This conduct was enabling to offenders and endangered the welfare of children.“
The Diocese of Allentown responded with a general apology to the victims but minimized the allegations contained in the grand jury report by dismissing them as having occurred a long time ago. The Diocese of Allentown has also released a list of names it disclosed to the grand jury, containing very limited information about the priests and no details about the allegations themselves.
The Diocese of Allentown has established a voluntary compensation fund for survivors of sexual abuse in the Diocese of Allentown, but you must act soon.
Recently, the Bishop of Allentown, Alfred Schlert, announced that the Diocese of Allentown has formed a confidential, voluntary compensation settlement fund for victims of sexual abuse by clergy of the Diocese of Allentown. The fund, which is modeled after similar funds in New York, will compensate victims in a shorter, more cursory process than full-blown litigation. Respected attorney Kenneth Feinberg, who administered the New York claims and other high profile, sensitive claims like the 9/11 Fund, and his business manager, Camille Biros, will review each claim as a neutral third party and award compensation. We have extensive experience handling claims in the New York area and are very familiar with the process and expectations of Mr. Feinberg and Ms. Biros in the process.
There will be a deadline by which all claims must be filed with the Diocese of Scranton, so it is important that you act today to protect your rights under the fund. Contact us today.
We have identified 51 priests who were accused of sexually abusing children in the Diocese of Allentown.
Publicly-accused priests affiliated with the Diocese of Allentown, whose identities have been disclosed in a grand jury investigation or by some other means, such as a civil lawsuit, include the following. Click on the priest’s name to learn more about public allegations and the priest’s assignment history:
- Msgr. John S. Baruch
- Fr. Thomas J. Bender
- Msgr. Thomas J. Benestad
- Fr. Luis A. Bonilla Margarito
- Fr. Robert G. Cofenas
- Fr. Edward Coleman
- Fr. David Connell (Caremlite)
- Fr. Felix C. Fink
- Fr. Bernard A. Flanagan
- Fr. Richard J. Ford
- Fr. Stephen T. Forish
- Fr. Francis (Frank) J. Fromholzer
- Fr. James Gaffney
- Fr. Joseph D. Galko
- Fr. Edward G. Ganster
- Fr. Francis T. Gillespie
- Fr. Richard J. Giuliani
- Fr. Edward R. Graff
- Fr. Leo J. Houseknecht
- Fr. Joseph D. Hulko
- Msgr. William E. Jones
- Fr. Joseph H. Kean
- Fr. Thomas J. Kerestus
- Fr. Bronislaus J. Kopec
- Fr. Robert J. Kuzmann
- Fr. Michael S. Lawrence
- Fr. Kevin Lonergan
- Fr. William J. Maslar
- Msgr. Joseph L. Mathis
- Fr. James J. McHale
- Fr. Francis Joseph McNelis
- Fr. James J. Mihalak
- Msgr. John Stephen Mraz
- Msgr. Francis Nave
- Fr. Gabriel M. Patil (Barnabite)
- Fr. Henry Paul (Oblates)
- Fr. Paul G. Puza
- Fr. Dennis A. Rigney
- Fr. Joseph A. Rock
- Fr. Gerald J. Royer
- Fr. Charles J. Ruffenach
- Fr. John Pascal Sabas
- Fr. William J. Shields
- Fr. Stephen F. Shigo
- Fr. David A. Soderlund
- Fr. Henry E. Strassner
- Fr. Bruno M. Tucci
- Fr. A. Gregory Uhrig
- Fr. Andrew A. Ulincy
- Fr. Ronald J. Yarrosh
- Fr. Joseph A. Zmijewski
- Fr. John G. Zolondek
Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy in the Diocese of Allentown. 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 Allentown may have legal options against the Diocese of Allentown.
Contact us at (954) 641-2100 or [email protected] today.