Father Edward J. Konat
Diocese of Harrisburg
Ordained: 1975
Assigned as Follows:
- St. Theresa (New Cumberland, PA)
- Spring Hill College (Mobile, AL)
Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations against Father Edward J. Konat:
Father Edward Konat was originally ordained in the Diocese of Utah, and became a part of the Society of Jesus order (Jesuits). In August of 1987, Monsignor Hugh Overbaguh wrote a memorandum to Bishop William Keeler regarding Father Edward Konat. According to Overbaugh, he had received a phone call from the Diocese of Salt Lake City, Utah. The Diocese of Salt Lake advised that they heard Father Konat was working for the Diocese of Harrisburg, and warned that he had been accued of pedophilia in Utah. According to the diocese, Edward Konat had been accused at least four times of sexual advances towards young boys. Overbaugh also claims that on one occasion, Konact conducted a "scrotum check" for minor boys.
According to the memorandum, in August of 1987, Keeler had requested Konat resign because he had failed to disclose the allegations against Konat from the Diocese of Salt Lake. In November of 1987, the Diocese notified the Province of Jesus regarding Edward Konat. His priestly faculties were withdrawn and he left Utah. He was also expelled by the Jesuits in 1981.
According to diocesan documents, in June of 1988, the Diocese of Miami also contacted the Diocese of Harrisburg regarding Edward Konat. Bishop Keeler noted that he had received and contacted the references provided by Konat in 1987. The references checked out positively. Overbaugh reported to the Diocese of Miami that Konat had not disclosed any of the events from Utah. Overbaugh advised that Keeler affirmed that Konat "worked well in the short amount of time he served in the Diocese of Harrisburg but could not condone the fact that Father Konat had deliberately withheld information concerning his time spent in Utah."
Edward Konat has been added to the Diocese of Harrisburg's 2018 list of credibly accused priests and clergymen. He was also included on the PA Grand Jury Report as of August 14th, 2018. There were no known accusations during his brief time he was in Harrisburg. He was included on the Salt Lake Diocese list as of December 2018; and notes the abuse of two minors in 1984 that were reported in 2002 and 2010. His name also appears on the Jesuits Midwest Province list as of December 2018.
In February 2020, the Diocese of Harrisburg filed for bankruptcy protection. As part of its bankruptcy, the Diocese of Harrisburg will be reviewing and paying claims for anyone sexually abused by diocesan priests and lay employees. This will likely include claims filed on behalf of anyone whose case may be beyond the statute of limitations.
Ahead of the grand jury report, the Diocese of Harrisburg released the names of 71 priests, seminarians and laypersons accused of sexually abusing children since 1941. This was from an updated list that the diocese released in August of 2018. After the report was released, the total was over 301 identified and accused priests in Pennsylvania alone.
Edward Konat is one of the names involved in the bankruptcy proceeding; falling under the category of cases where abuse was alleged to have occurred in another diocese. The proceedings have him listed as "unknown" under the category of alive or dead.
Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims of sexual abuse in the Diocese of Harrisburg and throughout Pennsylvania. The Diocese of Harrisburg filed for federal bankruptcy protection in February 2020. Anyone sexually abused by a priest or employee of the Diocese of Harrisburg 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 Harrisburg will never be able to take action against the Diocese of Harrisburg 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 adam@adamhorowitzlaw.com to discuss your legal options today.