Father Charles R. Celeste
Diocese of Albany
Ordained: 1980
Assigned as follows:
- Holy Family Parish (Little Falls, NY)
- St. Paul the Apostle (Troy, NY)
- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (Troy, NY)
Summary of Abuse Allegations against Father Charles R Celeste:
Fr. Charles R Celeste was ordained a priest in 1980. According to media reports, in August 2003, a man alleged that he was sexually abused by Celeste while an undergraduate student at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, New York. The abuse started when he was 18 years old in 1984 and continued until 1987. At the time, Celeste was chaplain to the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity where the man was a member. “He was my spiritual director. It was not just me against another man. It was me against God,” the man said.
The Diocese of Albany said his complaint involved two consenting adults, and Celeste was not removed from ministry. He was, however, granted a leave of absence in November 2003. He admitted that his conduct was inappropriate and wrong, but the man was legally an adult. He also admitted a relationship with another student at the school in the 1980s.
Celeste’s current whereabouts are unknown.
Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy in the Diocese of Albany. If you need a lawyer because you were sexually abused by a priest in Albany, contact our office today. Although many years have passed, those abused by Catholic clergy in the Diocese of Albany now have legal options to recover damages due to a compensation fund created for victims. Call us at 888-283-9922 or send an email to [email protected] to discuss your options today.