In February 2020, the Diocese of Harrisburg in Pennsylvania filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy protection. According to the Diocese of Harrisburg, the move was motivated by the potential legal exposure of multiple sexual abuse claims in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
The Diocese of Harrisburg published a list of 113 parishes and chaplaincy assignments held by credibly accused priests. This list did not include the seminarians and deacons also accused of abuse. 25 of the parishes listed had a credibly accused priest working there after 2000.
The August 2018 list demonstrates that nearly every single parish in the Diocese of Harrisburg had a credibly accused priest assigned to minister at some point since 1960.
Shockingly, St. Joseph parish in York, Pennsylvania, had a whopping 11 accused priests assigned to the parish who were later credibly accused of sexually abusing at least one minor child.
According to the Diocese of Harrisburg, the credibly accused priests assigned to St. Joseph in York are:
- Fr. Frederick Bradel
- Msgr. Joseph Bradley
- Fr. Philip DeChico
- Msgr. Joseph Hager
- Fr. William Haviland
- Fr. George Koychick
- Msgr. Thomas Kujovsky
- Fr. Thomas Lawler
- Fr. John Rebovich
- Fr. Thomas Scala
- Fr. Federick Vaughn
Since the publication of the Grand Jury Report into the misdeeds of seven of Pennsylvania’s Catholic dioceses, Attorney General Josh Shapiro said he has received more than 2000 additional reports of sexual abuse. It is very likely, then, that St. Joseph had more than 11 priests accused of sexual abuse assigned there. The Harrisburg Diocese has not updated its original August 2018 list of parishes that have been home to credibly accused priests.
York, a city of approximately 43,000 people, is home to four Catholic parishes and a Catholic high school.
The Diocese of Harrisburg oversees the operation of 89 parishes, 8 Catholic Missions, and dozens of schools and hospitals. Nearly 250,000 people are registered members of a Diocese of Harrisburg parish.
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 against 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 [email protected] to discuss your legal options today.