Father Leonard Sanesi
Diocese of Greensburg
Ordained: 1953
Died: 1992
Assigned as follows:
- 1953 – 1955: St. Rita (Connellsville, PA)
- 1955 – 1958: St. Cajetan (Monessen, PA)
- 1958 – 1962: Immaculate Conception (Irwin, PA)
- 1962 – 1966: St. Joseph Minor Seminary (Greensburg, PA)
- 1966 – 1974: Holy Family (West Newton, PA)
- 1974 – 1983: Immaculate Conception (Irwin, PA)
- 1983 – 1990: Mount St. Peter (New Kensington, PA)
- 1990 – 1992: All Saints (Arnold, PA)
Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations against Fr. Leonard Sanesi:
Fr. Leonard Sanesi was ordained a priest in 1953, who served in multiple parishes in the Diocese of Greensburg. According to media reports, in 2018, he was first named publicly as accused in the PA Grand Jury report. It revealed the first allegation of sexual abuse against him was reported to the Diocese of Greensburg in 2002. A man claimed that during the early 1960s, while Sanesi served at St. Joseph’s Minor Seminary, a school for boys with a potential future in the cloth, Sanesi sexually abused him. The victim in question had a skin condition that required the frequent application of creams and ointments, and Sanesi exploited that by “helping” the boy apply them on his hard-to-reach areas. He says that Sanesi escalated the contact into seuxal abuse.
A second victim came forward in 2013, alleging that Sanesi sexually abused him also while he attended St. Joseph Seminary in 1962. According to the victim, Sanesi occasionally entered the victim’s dormitory in an attempt to fondle the victim’s genitals. He also reported an instance where he became ill and Sanesi cared for him. Sanesi took advantage of the illness and brought the victim to his private living space. Sanesi provided the victim with alcohol and attempted to fondle him yet again.
Sanesi died in 1992 in active ministry.
Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy in the Diocese of Greensburg. 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 Greensburg 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 legal options today.