Father Thomas Sokolowski
Diocese of Scranton
Ordained: 1979
Died: 2012
Assigned as follows:
- 1979-1980: Sacred Heart of Jesus (Wilkes-Barre, PA)
- 1980-1982: Holy Trinity (Nanticoke, PA)
- 1982-1988: Ss. Peter and Paul (Towanda, PA)
- 1988-1991: St. Ann (Bentley Creek, PA)
- 1991-1992: St. Thomas (Elkland, PA)
- 1992-1994: St. Mary Czestochowa (Eynon, PA)
- 1994-2002: St. Matthew (East Stroudsburg, PA)
- 2002-2003: St. John (East Stroudsburg, PA)
- 2003-2005: Immaculate Conception (Scranton, PA)
- 2005: Mercy Hospital (Scranton, PA)
- 2006-2008: Five different parishes
- 2008-2009: Mercy Center (Dallas, PA)
Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations against Father Thomas Sokolowski:
Father Thomas Sokolowski was ordained a priest in 1979, who served in multiple parishes in the Diocese of Scranton. According to media reports, Father Sokolowski was not identified or discussed in the 2018 PA Grand Jury report, but his name did appear on the August 2018 list of credibly accused priests published by the Diocese of Scranton. Unfortunately, no information was provided as to the gender/age of the victim(s) nor the date(s) the abuse is alleged to have occurred. However, it does mean that the allegation(s) was found to be credible by the Diocese of Scranton’s internal Review Board.
According to his obituary, Sokolowski died unexpectedly in 2012. It is not clear from the Diocese of Scranton’s August 2018 release if Sokolowski was a priest in good standing at the time of his death. He was without assignment for the three years prior to his death, which suggests he may have been removed/resigned in 2009.
His assignment history also suggests that he was intentionally kept out of parish ministry near the end; the modus operandi for the Diocese of Scranton following an allegation of abuse seemed to be to send a priest for an evaluation and then assign him to Mercy Center (Dallas, PA) or a local hospital. Both assignments appear in Sokolowski’s history.
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 [email protected] to discuss your options today.