Father Edward Smith
Diocese of Pittsburgh (Cong. of the Holy Spirit)
Ordained: N/A
Died: 1956
Assigned as follows:
- Sacred Heart Church (Emsworth, PA)
Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations against Father Edward Smith:
Father Edward Smith was ordained a priest of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit and served in the Diocese of Pittsburgh. According to media reports, several legal documents contained in Diocesan records revealed that Father Smith was accused of sexually abusing a 16-year-old girl during the time period when he was assigned to Sacred Heart. The girl reported that the abuse occurred in the church rectory when Father Smith counseled her. The abuse included the priest “fondling her breasts and her genitals.”
The documents also stated that the girl believed it would be sinful or wrong to make any kind of accusation against a priest or a bishop. She also believed that priests and bishops could not and would not engage in conduct considered evil or wrong or illegal.
In November 2007, the Diocese of Pittsburgh entered a settlement for the total amount of $1.25 Million with 32 people who say they were abused by 17 priests between the 1950s and 1994.
Father Smith died in 1956.
He was named publicly as accused in a priest profile in the 2018 Pennsylvania Grand Jury Report.
Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy in the Diocese of Pittsburgh. 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 Pittsburgh may have legal options, but filing deadlines will apply so do not delay in reaching out to us.
Contact us at 888-283-9922 or [email protected] to discuss your options today.