Sister Eileen Rhoads
Vows: 1957
Resigned: 1994
Assignment History:
- 1967-1972: St. Gregory the Great Catholic School (Virginia Beach, VA)
- 1973-1994: Holy Cross Grade School (Springfield, PA)
Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations Against Sister Eileen Rhoads:
In 2003, Sr. Eileen Rhoads, was charged with sexually molesting a 10-year-old student in Virginia Beach between 1969 and 1970 at St. Gregory the Great School, where Rhoads taught. Known then as Sister Francis Therese, she belonged to the religious order known as Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Rhoads was sentenced ten years in jail and ordered her to undergo treatment. Rhoads later left the religious order and became a Catholic school teacher in suburban Philadelphia, where the most recent allegations of abuse were made.
In 2004, new allegations against Sr. Rhoads surfaced in Pennsylvania. The reports state that Rhoads sexually abused two male students under the age of 14 while working at Holy Cross Parish Elementary School in Springfield, PA, in 1976. Lawsuits were filed against Rhoads and the Diocese of Pennsylvania.
One alleged victim claimed that the abuse started almost immediately after he transferred to Holy Cross at the beginning of the 1976 school year when he was 10 or 11 years old and assigned to Rhoads' homeroom class.
The second alleged victim attended Holy Cross from elementary school through eighth grade and was an altar boy at the parish church. He was almost a year older than the other alleged victim. Rhoads allegedly took the second boy to her apartment, as well, and forced him to have intercourse with her at least 30 times, the lawsuit says.
There has been no information released about Sister Rhoad's current whereabouts.
Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy in the Diocese of Richmond in Virginia. If you need a lawyer because you were sexually abused by a priest in Virginia, contact our office today. Although many years have passed, those abused by Catholic clergy in the Diocese of Richmond now have legal options, but strict 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 Virginia and nationwide. We can help.
Contact us at 888-283-9922 or adam@adamhorowitzlaw.com to discuss your options today.