Father Basil Peter Congro
Diocese of Fresno
Ordained: 1978
Removed: 2002
Assigned as follows:
- 1978-1979 St. John Cathedral (Fresno, CA)
- 1979-1981 Christ the King (Commack, NY)
- 1981-1983 St. Mary’s (East Islip, NY)
- 1984-1994 Military Chaplain
- 1994-1997 St. Mary’s (Yonges Island, SC)
- 1997-1999 St. Anthony’s All Souls’ Memorial (Florence, SC)
- 1999-2001 Our Lady of Mercy (Charleston, SC)
- 1999-2002 St. Patrick (Charleston, SC)
- 2002-2008 Jesus Our Risen Savior (Spartanburg, SC)
- 2009-2012 Absent on Leave
- Unknown St. Frederick’s; St. Stephen’s (Edisto Island, SC)
- 2013-2019 Unknown
Summary of Abuse Allegations against Father Basil Peter Congro:
Father Basil Peter Congro was ordained a priest in 1978 who served in the Diocese of Fresno. He worked at various parishes in California, South Carolina, and New York. He was excardinated to the Diocese of Fresno where he was a Navy chaplain from 1983 to 1994, and then excardinated to the Diocese of Charleston.
According to media reports, in April 2003, Father Congro was accused in a civil lawsuit of groping and sodomizing a 15-year-old boy from 1980 to 1983, while he worked at St. Mary’s in East Islip, New York. The alleged abuse took place various locations including in the church rectory, the confessional, and in gay bars.
In June 2002, the Diocese of Charleston learned of the allegations against Father Congro and deemed them credible. In September 2002, he was placed on administrative leave. Bishop Robert Baker wrote a letter in April 2003, alerting priests of the allegations.
In March of 2019, Father Basil Congro’s name was included in the Diocese of Charleston’s list of clergy credibly accused of sexual abuse of minors. His current whereabouts are unknown.
Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy in the Diocese of Fresno in California. If you need a lawyer because you were sexually abused by a priest in one of California’s Catholic dioceses, contact our office today. Although many years have passed, those abused by Catholic clergy in the Diocese of Fresno now have legal options due to a temporary change in California law, 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 California and nationwide. We can help.
Contact us toll-free at 888-283-9922 or [email protected] to discuss your options today.