Fr. David Lawlor – Archdiocese of Philadelphia

| Jul 14, 2020 | Abuser Profiles, Catholic Church

Father David Lawlor (Norbertine)

Archdiocese of Philadelphia


Ordained: 1971

Died: 2017

Assigned as follows:

  • Daylesford Abbey (Paoli, PA)
  • St. John Neumann High School (Philadelphia, PA)
  • Mercy Hospital (Philadelphia, PA)

Summary of Abuse Allegations against Father David Lawlor:

Father David Lawlor was ordained a priest of the Norbertine order in 1971 and served in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. In addition to several years of teaching at Bishop Neumann High School, he also functioned as a chaplain at Mercy Hospital and served in many parishes in the Harrisburg and Trenton dioceses. He was a certified Addictions counselor and spent much of his later years ministering and supporting those in the AA program. He also served as kitchen director at the Daylesford Abbey.

According to media reports, in 2002, Father Lawlor was arrested and charged with groping two men in a whirlpool at a suburban YMCA. One of the men, described as a mentally disabled adult male, told investigators Lawlor accosted him in the men’s whirlpool. Father Lawlor denied the allegations and was placed on leave. In October 2003, a jury found him innocent.

He died in December 2017.

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