Father Joseph Macanga
Archdiocese of Philadelphia
Ordained: 1986
Left ministry: 1995
Arrested: June 2008
Summary of Sexual Abuse allegations against Father Joseph Macanga:
Father Joseph Macanga was ordained a priest in 1986 and served in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. He left the ministry in 1995, and became a schoolteacher. According to media reports, in April 2008, the FBI arrested him after they found child pornography on his personal computer. He had been identified as a participant in an internet chat room. At the time of his arrest, he was working as a teacher and coach at a Burlington County middle school. He was immediately suspended without pay.
FBI special agents arrested Father Macanga on a complaint that alleged he had used nearly 30 Internet chat rooms to share images of child pornography. He was charged with possession of child pornography that he downloaded on his computer in October 2006 and 2007. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to federal prison for 57 months (4.75 years), and five years of supervised release upon the completion of his prison term.
Father Macanga also forfeited his teaching certificate in an administrative proceeding. He was not required to register as a sex offender. There are no publicly known allegations of sexual abuse by him during his brief career as a priest. He is believed to be residing in the Lumberton, New Jersey, area.
Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. 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 Archdiocese of Philadelphia may have legal options, but filing deadlines will apply so please do not delay in reaching out to us.
Contact us at 888-283-9922 or adam@adamhorowitzlaw.com to discuss your options today.