Father John Klebauskas (a/k/a John Klebie)
Diocese of Albany
Ordained: 1948
Removed: 1980
Died: 1981
Assigned as follows:
- 1957-1962: Catholic Central High School (Troy, NY)
- 1958-1960: Our Lady of Victory (Troy, NY)
- 1958-1970: Camp Scully (North Greenbush, NY)
- 1963: St. Joseph (Fort Edward, NY)
- 1964-1966: Holy Spirit (East Greenbush, NY)
- 1967: St. Joseph (Schenectady, NY)
- 1968-1972: St Anthony (Albany, NY)
- 1973-1976: Sacred Heart (Berlin, NY)
- 1977-1980: St. Paul (Hancock, NY)
Summary of Abuse Allegations against Father John Klebauskas:
According to media reports, in 2005, Father John Klebauskas became the subject of sexual abuse allegations by at least 7 victims dating back to 1958. Klebauskas, who later changed his name to Klebie, ran a church-sponsored overnight summer camp for underprivileged children ages seven to fourteen, called Camp Scully. According to the Diocese of Albany list, Klebie was removed from ministry in 1980 after claims that he was abusing the campers were deemed credible. Additional child sexual abuse claims were made to the Diocese of Albany in 2003 and 2004.
One female victim said Klebauskas would find an excuse at bedtime to be the one to tuck her in. “I said, ‘You can’t do that,’ when he touched me. ‘It’s wrong.’ He said, ‘I’m a holy man. I can do no wrong,” she said.
Klebauskas often took away the bras of young girls who were beginning to develop, she recalled. They were then forced to endure the humiliation of participating in camp activities without them. He was also known to leave his cabin at night after choosing a boy to get into bed with, she claimed.
One claim was settled in February 2005. He died in 1981.
In November 2018, Father Klebauskas’ name first appeared publicly on the Diocese of Albany’s list of clergy credibly accused of sex abuse of minors.
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.