Father Thomas Rogers
Diocese of Ogdensburg
Ordained: 1952
Retired: 1998
Died: 2005
Assigned as Follows:
- 1953: Saint Edward (Hermine, PA)
- 1953-1954: St. Mary (Freeport, PA)
- 1954-1955: Immaculate Conception (Connellsville, PA)
- 1955-1956: Immaculate Conception (Irwin, PA)
- 1956-1958: SS Simon and Jude (Blairsville, PA)
- 1958-1960: St. John the Baptist (Scottdale, PA)
- 1965-1968: St. Anthony, Clymer (PA)
- 1968-1972: St. Charles Borromeo (Sutersville, PA)
- 1972-1981: St. Mary (Ford City, PA)
- 1981-1991: Seven Dolors (Yukon, PA)
- 1992-1998: St. Anne (Rostraver, PA)
Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations against Father Thomas Rogers:
According to the grand jury report, in 1962, Father Thomas Rogers allegedly assaulted a teenage hitch-hiker in New York state. According to the letter written by Monsignor Robert J. Giroux of the Diocese of Ogdensburg, to Bishop William Connare of the Diocese of Greensburg, a complaint was made at the local police department stating a teenage boy nearly escaped an attempted sexual assault near Saranac Lake. The description of the perpetrator fit that of Father Rogers, who was seen by two witnesses visiting his mother in the area at the time of the alleged attack. According to Giroux, “knowing that a priest might be involved the police did not wish to follow their usual procedures.”
The victim described Father Rogers’ vehicle and license plate number, and was even confirmed by the same two witnesses to have been in the company of Father Rogers. According to the Grand Jury report, due to Rogers’ strong relationship with the Chief of Police and the fact that Rogers’ brother was a member of the department, they preferred to handle the investigation quietly.
The police confronted Rogers with the allegation and he denied the incident and claimed his car was stolen while he served mass at an Ogdensburg parish, only to be returned before he left after mass. He would later produce a “letter” purportedly sent by an anonymous man apologizing for stealing his car and assaulting a boy in it. Nonetheless, the police did not believe the claims given the window of time the “car thief-turned-pervert” would have had to commit all of his crimes, not to mention that the boy gave a nearly perfect description of Rogers. The victim’s father was also called to the church rectory to meet with police and Ogdensburg Diocesan officials said he was “a good Catholic” and did not want to bring scandal to the church. As long as Rogers admitted to actions and did not come back to that town, he agreed not to press charges. With the father satisfied, the police dropped the investigation.
Rogers remained in active ministry until 1998, at which time he retired as a priest in good standing. According to the Grand Jury report, after reviewing Rogers’ file in 2002, Bishop Anthony Bosco informed Rogers he would no longer be permitted to present himself as a priest publicly.
Thomas Rogers died in 2005.
Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy in the Diocese of Ogdensburg in New York. If you need a lawyer because you were sexually abused as a child in New York State, contact our office today. Although many years have passed, those abused by Catholic clergy in the Diocese of Ogdensburg now have legal options, 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 New York and nationwide. We can help.
Contact us at 888-283-9922 or [email protected] to discuss your options today.