Msgr. Charles Schaeflein
Archdiocese of Philadelphia
Ordained: 1949
Retired: 1989
Died: 2013
Assigned as follows:
- 1949-1950: Holy Trinity (Morrisville, PA)
- 1950-1952: St. Ann (Phoenixville, PA)
- 1952-1963: Roman Catholic High School (Philadelphia, PA)
- 1952-1954: Mater Dolorosa (Philadelphia, PA)
- 1954: St. Alphonsus (Philadelphia, PA)
- 1954-1956: Ascension (Philadelphia, PA)
- 1956-1963: St. Richard (Philadelphia, PA)
- 1963-1965: Cardinal O’Hara High School (Springfield, PA)
- 1963-1965: St. Bernadette (Drexel Hill, PA)
- 1965-1977: Bishop Conwell High School (Fairless Hills, PA)
- 1965-1977: St. Joseph the Worker (Fallsington, PA)
- 1977-1989: St. Andrew (Newtown, PA)
- 1989-2005: Chaplain, Mount Nazareth Convent (Philadelphia, PA)
Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations against Msgr. Charles Schaeflein:
Msgr. Charles Schaeflein was ordained a priest in 1949 and served in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. He served in multiple parishes throughout his career. According to media reports, in 2005, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia put Msgr. Charles Schaeflein on permanent restriction following a credible allegation of sexual abuse. All the Archdiocese said about the allegation was that it was made before 1990. No details about Schaeflein’s assignment at the time of the abuse, nor the age or gender of the victim was provided.
Schaeflein’s name appeared on a February 1994 memo from William Lynn, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s Secretary for the Clergy, to James Molloy, the Vicar for Administration for the Archdiocese. The purpose of the memo was to catalog the sexual abuse allegations kept in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s Secret Archives, which are files traditionally accessible only by the archbishop and, sometimes, one of his designees. Under Canon Law, the Archdiocese is required to maintain any potentially scandalous information in the Secret Archives. Of the summaries Lynn wrote, “only basic information is contained in this report so as not to have too much in writing on this matter.”
Schaeflein’s name appears in the section pertaining to those against whom an allegation had been made but for whom no corroborating evidence had been found, which is by far the longest part of the memorandum. Given the grand jury’s findings that the Archdiocese of Philadelphia avoided investigating claims beyond obtaining the priest’s statement, this is not surprising.
Shaeflein died in 2013 as a retired priest of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. According to the Archdiocese, he resided at Villa St. Joseph in Darby, Pennsylvania, where other accused priests reside, at the time of his death.
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 [email protected] to discuss your options today.