Father Salvatore Luzzi
Diocese of Erie
Ordination: 1962
Faculties Removed: 1995
Retired: 1995
Assigned as follows:
- 1962 – 1968: Venango Christian High, Residence at St. Joseph (Oil City, PA)
- 1968 – 1969: St. Mark’s Seminary (Erie, PA)
- 1968 – 1972: St. Mark’s Seminary (Erie, PA)
- 1972 – 1979: St. Mark’s Seminary (Erie, PA)
- 1979 – 1994: St. Joseph (Warren, PA)
- 1994 – 1995: Sick Leave
- 1979 – 1995: Resided at St. Joseph
Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations against Fr. Salvatore Luzzi:
Fr. Salvatore Luzzi was ordained a priest in 1962, who served in multiple parishes in the Diocese of Erie. According to media reports, in dedicated 30 years of ministry to the Diocese of Erie, and during that time he was accused of sexual misconduct by eight male victims ranging between teenagers and individuals in their early 20s. These victims claimed Luzzi: groped, kissed, fondled and inappropriately hugged them. Some believe he is also responsible for the suicide of a former student.
For several years, Luzzi taught at Venango Christian High School before moving to St. Mark’s Seminary, a college for the preparation of students heading into the priesthood. Luzzi worked alongside his friend Father Leon Muroski as Spiritual Directors at St. Marks.
Two seminarians sued the Diocese of Erie, accusing Luzzi of inappropriately touching & fondling them; the Diocese of Erie later settled both matters. Several of Luzzi’s victims received letters and phone calls from the Diocese apologizing for the misconduct that allegedly went on within the Diocese of Erie. Common excuses given for Luzzi gross misuse of trust were, “Sal’s way of expressing himself” or his “touching approach” to ministry attributed to his Italian upbringing.
Though the Diocese has identified several additional victims, according to their internal files, it has not provided any information about the total number of allegations against Luzzi nor the details of the alleged abuse.
CAMP NOTRE DAME, FAIRVIEW, PENNSYLVANIA
During 1974 – 1975, Luzzi worked alongside Father Muroski at Camp Notre Dame in Fairview where a Seminarian (Michael Amy) under their charge was accused of fondling two juvenile campers. The victims told the local Police Department, the Diocese of Erie, and their parents of the attack. When the Seminarian was confronted with the allegation, it was Luzzi, Muroski and Father Lawrence Speice who helped clear his name, found him counseling, and kept the accused in the seminary. No arrest was made.
Amy went on to abuse at least two more children along with several other unidentified juvenile prostitutes as an ordained priest. During Amy’s laicization process, Luzzi confirmed he held knowledge of the abuse at the laicization and stated, “I personally wondered when these things would resurface.”
“PERSONAL, SPIRITUAL AND ACADEMIC GROWTH”
According to one victim testimony, in 1988 while the then 19-year-old victim shopped at a local hardware store, Luzzi groped the victim’s buttocks. Luzzi later rejected the allegation and corrected the victim stating he only patted the teenager on the back. In 1994, Bishop Donald Trautman sent Luzzi and Muroski to visit St. Luke’s Institute for therapy, a notorious treatment facility for priests accused of sexual misconduct. Instead of telling parishioners the truth, the Diocese claimed Luzzi went on an extended sabbatical for “personal, spiritual and academic growth.”
Upon Luzzi’s discharge from St. Luke’s in 1995, Bishop allowed the priest to return to pastoral ministry with several conditions of a penal precept (formal notification of the church that restricts ministry). Luzzi’s restriction included to stay away from youth under the age of 19-years-old, and to avoid travel and any social interaction with young parishioners. Later in the year of 1995, Bishop Trautman entirely revoked Luzzi’s priestly faculties and encouraged Luzzi to reside in a private residence. Luzzi claimed Trautman forced him to retire early.
A Diocese file revealed one of Luzzi’s victims threatened to take “appropriate steps” against the church if Luzzi wasn’t removed from ministry. If Luzzi didn’t leave on his own, the Diocese would force him out through an involuntary laicization process. Luzzi retired 30 days later.
In 2017, Luzzi’s name was included in the Diocese of Erie List of clergy credibly accused of child sexual abuse. In 2018, he was named publicly as accused in the PA Grand Jury report.
According to the Diocese of Erie, Luzzi is still alive and residing in Bradford, Pennsylvania. He remains a priest, albeit without faculties.
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.