Father Francis H. Vogt
Diocese of Rochester
Ordained: 1938
Retired: 1982
Died: 2006
Assigned as follows:
- 1939-1942: St. Anthony’s; Elmira, NY
- 1943-1946: Chaplain to the US Army
- 1947-1950: St. Francis Assisi; Rochester, NY
- 1951-1953: St. Salome’s; Point Pleaant, NY
- 1954-1977: St. Bridget’s; Rochester, NY
- 1978-2002: St. Anne’s; Palmyra, NY
- Following 1983, served as Pastor Emeritus
- 1983-2003: Retired; Palmyra, NY
- 1990: Canandaigua Veterans’ Hospital; Canandaigua, NY
- 1997-2002: Canandaigua Veterans’ Hospital; Canandaigua, NY
Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations against Father Francis H. Vogt:
In 2002, the Diocese of Rochester revealed it had received two credible complaints against Father Francis H. Vogt: one in 1993 and the other in 2002. In addition to the two earlier allegations, four other men have made allegations since the 2002 complaints.
One of the victims stated that Vogt repeatedly molested pre-teen boys for years when he was assigned to St. Bridget Church, a city-parish made up largely of immigrant families in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s.
When the second set of allegations were made in 2002, Vogt, then 90, was living in Convent Infirmary, reportedly frail and unable to remember some events, making it difficult for the Diocese of Rochester to interview the priest about the allegations.
Vogt died in 2006.
In 2019, a lawsuit was filed against the Diocese of Rochester and several other local Catholic organizations over allegations of sexual abuse at the hands of Vogt. According to the lawsuit, in 1969, the victim was taken by Vogt to the Catholic Charities Catholic Youth Organization facility on Chestnut Street to swim. The victim was 5-years-old at the time. For two years, allegations detailed in the lawsuit claim Vogt sexually assaulted, abused and had sexual contact at both the Chestnut Street facility and at the victim’s home.
Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims of sexual abuse in the Diocese of Rochester. The Diocese of Rochester in New York filed for bankruptcy protection in 2019. Our lawyers are now offering free legal consultations to discuss a potential lawsuit and your other options as a survivor of sexual abuse by priests and other employees of the Rochester Diocese.
Very strict filing deadlines have now been set by the Bankruptcy Court. Most victims of abuse will never be able to recover damages if they miss this deadline, so please contact us to discuss your case today. Call us at 888-283-9922 or send an e-mail to [email protected].