Our law firm is offering free confidential evaluation of clergy sexual abuse claims involving priests of the Diocese of Erie. We have been handling clergy abuse cases for many years. Contact us today at (954) 641-2100 or send an e-mail to [email protected] to find out if you are eligible for compensation.
The facts are clear: the Diocese of Erie engaged in the coverup of the sexual abuse of children for decades.
The Diocese of Erie has been home to some of the most notorious priests alleged to have committed child sexual abuse. Thanks to a landmark grand jury report, and many brave survivors of clergy abuse in Erie, those facts are now coming to light.
The civil lawsuits that have been filed against the Diocese of Erie and the extensive Grand Jury Report into the practices of the Diocese of Erie have exposed a culture of sexual abuse, cover-up, and efforts by church to protect the reputation of the Diocese of Erie even if it meant putting children in harm’s way. As a result of the Grand Jury’s findings in the Diocese of Erie, Bishop Lawrence Persico finally released the names of more than 60 clergy and laypeople accused of sexual abuse and other misconduct in the Diocese. Most disturbingly, the grand jury found that the former Diocese of Erie Bishop Alfred M. Watson failed to stop many instances of abuse when they were credibly reported to the Diocese of Erie. Because of the statute of limitations in Pennsylvania, those victims are barred from bringing suit against the Diocese.
The Pennsylvania Grand Jury Report reveals mountains of evidence of sexual abuse of minors committed by dozens of priests in the Diocese of Erie. This sexual abuse included grooming and fondling of genitals and/or intimate body parts, as well as penetration of the vagina, mouth, or anus.
The Diocese of Erie has established a voluntary compensation fund for survivors of sexual abuse in Erie, but you must act soon.
Anyone sexually abused by a priest, teacher, volunteer, or anyone else affiliated with the Diocese of Erie may now be able to receive financial compensation without undergoing lengthy, protracted litigation in court.
Recently, the Bishop of Erie, Lawrence Persico, announced that the Diocese of Erie has formed a confidential, voluntary compensation settlement fund for victims of sexual abuse by clergy of the Diocese of Erie. The fund, which is modeled after similar funds in New York, will compensate victims in a shorter, more cursory process than full-blown litigation. Kenneth Feinberg, a well-known and respected arbitrator of the New York claims and other high-profile claim funds like the 9/11 Fund, and his business manager, Camille Biros, will review each claim as a neutral third party and award claimants 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.
There will be a deadline to file your claim with the Diocese of Erie, so it is important that you act today to protect your rights. Contact us today.
We have identified 57 Catholic priests accused of sexually abusing minors in the Diocese of Erie, along with more than two dozen lay employees and volunteers.
Through our own investigation, we have identified 57 priests publicly accused of sexual misconduct with children in the Diocese of Erie, along with 25 lay employees such as teachers and volunteers. The following list includes habitual offenders and others who allegedly committed abuse. In the case of multiple priests listed below, they were alleged to have abused children at multiple parishes and were transferred from assignment to assignment even after the allegations first came to the attention of the Diocese of Erie:
- Mr. Ronald K. Allison (Teacher)
- Fr. Michael J. Amy
- Fr. Raymond Balko (Benedictine priest)
- Fr. Michael G. Barletta
- Fr. Donald Bolton (Redemptorist priest)
- Fr. Robert F. Bower
- Fr. Edmund Borycz (Franciscan priest)
- Mr. Andre C. Butler (Lay Employee)
- Mr. Randolph A. Byrd (Teacher)
- Fr. Dennis Chludzinski
- Msgr. Bonaventure Ciufoli
- Mr. Charles “Rick” Cooper (Teacher)
- Fr. Donald J. Cooper
- Mr. William (Bill) Couse (School Employee)
- Fr. Kevin E. Cray (Salvatorian priest)
- Fr. G. Matthew Daly
- Fr. David V. Dobrowolski
- Ms. Megan E. Fecko (Teacher)
- Mr. Kevin J. Feyas (Teacher/Parish Musician)
- Fr. Michael R. Freeman
- Fr. Gregory P. Furjanic (Franciscan priest)
- Fr. Chester Gawronski
- Mr. William P. Garvey (Teacher/Coach/College President)
- Fr. Herbert G. Gloekler
- Fr. Robert E. Hannon
- Mr. Timothy G. Hanson, Sr. (Parishioner/volunteer)
- Fr. Patrick J. Healy
- Mr. James E. Herzing (Teacher)
- Mr. James P. Hewitt (Teacher)
- Msgr. James P. Hopkins
- Fr. Barry M. Hudock
- Fr. Joseph W. Jerge
- Fr. Stephen E. Jeselnick
- Fr. Edward W. Jungquist
- Fr. Thomas C. Kelley
- Fr. Sean P. Kerins
- Fr. Gary L. Ketcham (Franciscan)
- Mr. Lewis A. Kocher (Choir Director)
- Fr. Thaddeus T. Kondzielski
- Fr. Gerard Krebs (a/k/a Fr. Gerald Krebs)
- Fr. Jerome (Jerry) Kucan (Franciscan priest)
- Mr. Kevin S. Kulhanek (School Volunteer)
- Fr. Fidelis G. Lazar (Benedictine priest; also appears on Diocese of Pittsburgh list)
- Fr. Thomas M. Lechner
- Msgr. Louis H. Lorei
- Fr. Salvatore P. Luzzi
- Fr. Richard D. Lynch
- Msgr. Daniel J. Martin
- Msgr. Desmond McGee
- Msgr. Joseph Meisinger
- Ms. Eve Spangler Minter (Teacher)
- Mr. David Montgomery (Teacher)
- Fr. Leon Muroski
- Br. Edmundus Murphy (Divine Word Missionaries)
- Fr. John Murray
- Ms. Denise (Geitner) Myers (a/k/a Denise Meyer) (Teacher)
- Fr. Giles Nealen (Benedictine priest)
- Ms. Hattie B. Nichols (Lay Agency Employee)
- Fr. Jan Olowin
- Fr. Andrew Pawlaczyk
- Fr. John Piatkowski
- Mr. Philip J. Pochatko (Teacher)
- Fr. David Poulson
- Fr. William F. Presley
- Mr. Brian Radachy (Teacher)
- Msgr. Joseph V. Reszkowski
- Fr. William A. Rice
- Fr. John P. Schanz
- Fr. Charles R. Schmitt
- Fr. Charles Sheets
- Fr. Samuel B. Slocum
- Fr. Thomas E. Smith
- Msgr. Thomas Snyderwine
- Fr. Daniel J. Taylor
- Mr. Ron Thomsen (Lay Volunteer)
- Mr. John (Jack) Tome (Former Seminarian)
- Mr. Vincent Valentine (School Employee)
- Fr. Patrick B. Vallimont
- Mr. Dennis Vickery (Teacher)
- Mr. Joseph Votino (Teacher/Coach)
- Craig T. Ward (Lay Agency Employee)
Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy in the Diocese of Erie. 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 Erie may have legal options, but filing deadlines will apply so please do not delay in reaching out to us.
Contact us at (954) 641-2100 or [email protected] to discuss your options today.