Father Charles Schmitt
Diocese of Erie
Ordained: 1959
Retired: 2006
Removed from ministry: 2018
Assigned as follows:
- Unknown
Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations against Father Charles Schmitt:
According to media reports, in September 2018, the Diocese of Erie announced that retired priest Father Charles Schmitt had been accused of sexual abuse in the 1960s. No other information was offered regarding the details of the allegation, including the age/gender of the victim or Schmitt’s assignment at the time of the abuse.
Schmitt retired as pastor of St. Gabriel Parish in Port Allegany in 2006. After that, he served as the temporary administrator in Emporium, Tidioute, and Emlenton, as is the case with retired priests who wish to remain in limited ministry.
In 2019, Schmitt’s name was included on the Diocese of Erie list of clergy credibly accused of child sexual abuse. Schmitt’s name appears on the Diocese of Erie’s list of credibly accused priests. He is forbidden to function publicly as a priest. The Diocese has not specified what misconduct Schmitt was accused of committing.
Those “named on this list were credibly accused of actions that, in the diocese’s judgment, disqualify that person from working with children. Such actions include the use of child pornography, furnishing pornography to minors, corruption of minors, violating a child-protection policy, failure to prevent abuse that they knew to be happening, and — in some cases — direct physical sexual abuse or sexual assault of minors. Allegations were corroborated by secular legal proceedings, canon law proceedings, self-admission by the individual, or threshold evidence (as defined in the Child Protection Policy).”
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 888-283-9922 or [email protected] to discuss your options today.