Monsignor Joseph Grant Higgins
Diocese of Buffalo
Ordained: 1956
Died: 2016
Assigned as follows:
- 1957-1961 Blessed Sacrament, (New Orleans, LA)
- 1962 St. Pius (Baltimore, MD)
- 1963-1974 St. Joseph’s Society of the Sacred Heart (Baltimore, MD)
- 1975 All Saints (New Orleans, LA)
- 1976 Sisters of Charity Hospital of Buffalo (Buffalo, NY)
- 1977 St. Albert the Great (North Tonawanda, NY)
- 1978 State Hospital (Gowanda, NY)
- 1979-1982 Psychiatric Center (Gowanda, NY)
- 1983 Unknown
- 1984-1997 Most Precious Blood (Angola, NY)
- 1998 Unknown
Summary of Abuse Allegations against Monsignor Joseph Grant Higgins:
Monsignor Joseph Grant Higgins was ordained a Josephite Order priest in 1956 and was assigned to churches in New Orleans, Loisiana and Baltimore, Maryland, prior to his incardination into the Diocese of Buffalo in 1975. According to media reports, in March 2018, his name was included in the Diocese of Buffalo’s list of priests who “were removed from ministry, were retired, or left ministry after allegations of sexual abuse of a minor.” No information regarding the allegations was disclosed, however, the list includes deceased priests only if they have more than one allegation. He retired in 1999 and died in 2016.
In August 2019, he was accused in a lawsuit filed under the NY Child Victims Act, of sexually abusing a child from 1990 to 1991 at Most Precious Blood Church in Angola. The victim, was 9 to 10 years old at the time. According to some parishioners, Monsignor Higgins was known to take altar boys on camping trips. His sudden departure from the parish in 1997 was not fully explained, they said.
Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims of sexual abuse in the Diocese of Buffalo and throughout New York. The Diocese of Buffalo filed for federal bankruptcy protection in February 2020. Anyone sexually abused by a priest or employee of the Diocese of Buffalo may be entitled to file a claim against the Diocese in these bankruptcy proceedings, but very strict filing deadlines apply. Most victims of abuse in the Diocese of Buffalo will never be able to take action against the Diocese of Buffalo if they miss this bankruptcy filing deadline, so it is important that you contact us immediately to discuss your potential case.
Contact us at 888-283-9922 or [email protected] to discuss your legal options today.