Father Angelo Ditta
Ordained: 1986
Removed: 2002
Assigned as follows:
- 1984-1986 Our Lady of Grace (West Babylon, NY) (assigned pre-ordination as deacon)
- 1986-1989 St. Margaret of Scotland (Selden, NY)
- 1990 St. Louis de Monfort (Sound Beach, NY)
- 1991-1995 St. Luke (Brentwood, NY)
- 1996-1997 St. Joseph (Ronkonkoma, NY)
- 1997-1998 St. Joseph College (Patchogue, NY)
- 1998 St. Pius X Hospice (Uniondale, NY)
- 1999 Unknown
- 2000-2002 Nassau County Medical Center (East Meadow, NY)
- 2002 Nassau University Medical Center (East Meadow, NY)
- 2003-2010 St. Pius X Residence (Uniondale, NY)
- 2008-2011 Unassigned
- 2012-2013 Unknown
- 2014 Retired
Summary of Abuse Allegations Against Father Angelo Ditta:
According to media reports, in 1997, Father Angelo Ditta was accused of repeatedly sexually and physically abusing a 10-year-old altar boy from 1984 to 1989 while working at Our Lady of Grace in West Babylon, New York.
The Diocese of Rockville Centre sent Father Ditta for six months of therapy, but upon his return, assigned to parish work without notification of his past. He reportedly continued to abuse the child even after he moved on to two different assignments at St. Margaret of Scotland in Selden, New York and St. Louis de Monfort in Sound Beach, New York.
The alleged victim said in 1995, when he was 21, "I was scared. I didn't know what to do. I was going crazy, drinking a lot. I couldn't hold a job, or keep a relationship. I was going nuts. I thought many times of killing myself, but I didn't want to do that to my family."
Police were not notified until 2002, when Father Ditta was removed from ministry. In 2003, he was named in a civil lawsuit brought by survivors of child sexual abuse. The description of Priest H in the 2003 Suffolk County Grand Jury Report matched public allegations against the priest.
"He began abusing a boy when the boy was 10. An associate pastor testified that he heard 'horsing around' in the priest's bedroom and believed it was sexual in nature. The pastor told the grand jury he 'never made an official report to anyone in the diocese' about the priest. The diocese required the priest to receive psychological counseling, and it later assigned him as chaplain to an 'area' hospital, allowing him to celebrate Mass at a parish on weekends."
"I have been unable to live a life that I wanted," the alleged victim said. "But maybe now by talking about it, I can help someone else. I don't want anyone to suffer like I did."
Father Ditta retired in 2014. He is believed to be residing at the St. Pius X Residence for Senior Priests in the Diocese of Rockville Centre.
Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy in the Diocese of Rockville Centre in New York. If you need a lawyer because you were sexually abused by a priest in New York, contact our office today. In October 2020, the Rockville Centre Diocese filed for federal bankruptcy protection. The Court will resolve all claims of sexual abuse in this process but strict filing deadlines will apply and no late claims will be considered, so contact us today. Our lawyers have decades of experience representing survivors of clergy sexual abuse in New York and nationwide. We can help.
Contact us at 888-283-9922 or adam@adamhorowitzlaw.com to discuss your options today.