Fr. Leonard Scezney – Archdiocese of Denver

| Oct 24, 2019 | Abuser Profiles, Catholic Church

Father Leonard Scezney

Archdiocese of Denver

Ordained: 1985

Assigned as follows:

  • 1986: Spirit of Christ Catholic Community, Arvada, CO)
  • 1987-1988: Blessed Sacrament (Denver, CO)
  • 1989-1990: Notre Dame (Denver, CO)
  • 1991-1992: Unknown
  • 1993-2002: Absent on Leave
  • 2003-2021: Unknown

Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations against Fr. Leonard Scezney:

Fr. Leonard Scezney was ordained a priest in 1985, and served in multiple parishes in the Archdiocese of Denver. According to media reports, in October 2019, the Colorado Attorney General released a detailed report of a special investigation into the handling of child sexual abuse allegations by Colorado’s three Catholic dioceses.  For the first time, Fr. Leonard Scezney was publicly identified as a priest with at least one documented report of sexual abuse.

According to the documents reviewed by the investigators, Scezney sexually abused a 16 year old girl in approximately 1985.  At the time, he was assigned to Spirit of Christ parish in Arvada.  Scezney was a new priest in the parish and took the girl, who was in the parish youth group, for dinner.  He became very “touchy feeley” over the next few months, and ultimately fondled her breasts on multiple occasions.

The abuse was reported to the Archdiocese of Denver in 2007.  It was not reported to law enforcement.

Notably, the Report indicates that Scezney’s faculties were removed by the Archdiocese of Denver in 1992, but there is no explanation as to why.  In our experience, this often a response to multiple allegations of sexual abuse and failed attempts at psychological treatment (resulting in an ongoing cycle of kids getting abused).  While we cannot say this was the case with Scezney without reviewing his personnel file ourselves, it is certainly very suspicious.

Scezney’s current status was not provided in the Report, but, based upon public records, we have reason to believe he is alive and may be residing in the Albuquerque, New Mexico, area.

Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy in the Archdiocese of Denver in Colorado.  If you need a lawyer because you were sexually abused by a priest in Colorado, contact our office today. Although many years have passed, those abused by Catholic clergy in the Archdiocese of Denver now have legal options, but filing deadlines will apply so do not delay in reaching out to us.  Our lawyers have decades of experience representing survivors of clergy sexual abuse in Colorado and nationwide. We can help.

Contact us at 888-283-9922 or [email protected] to discuss your options today.