Father John W. Lennon
Archdiocese of New York
Ordained: 1955
Suspended: 2002
Laicized: 2008
Died: 2012
Assignment History:
- 1955-1956: Maryknoll Fathers (New York, NY)
- 1956-1960: Maryknoll Fathers (Paete, Laguna, Philippines)
- 1960-1967: Maryknoll Fathers (Magugpo, Tagum, Davao, Philippines)
- 1967-1968: Massachusetts General Hospital (Boston, MA)
- 1969-1970: St. Anthony’s (Bronx, NY)
- 1970-1981: Cardinal Hayes High School (Bronx, NY)
- 1981-1989: St. Gregory’s (Manhattan, NY)
- 1989-2002: St. John the Baptist (Yonkers, NY)
Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations Against Father John W Lennon:
Fr. John W Lennon was ordained for the Maryknoll order in 1955. He left the order around 1975 and joined the Archdiocese of New York. He worked in parishes in New York, Boston, and the Philippines.
In April 2002, Lennon was accused of sexually abusing a high school student in the mid-1970s. The survivor was a student and hockey player at Cardinal Hayes High School in the Bronx, New York where Lennon served. The survivor alleged that Lennon would sexually abuse him on weekend athletic trips. Lennon of course denied the allegation, which first surfaced in 1997 when a priest reportedly told the archdiocese about the alleged abuse. The Archdiocese of New York suspended Lennon in 2002 after the survivor came forward.
The Vatican laicized Lennon in 2008. He was named on the Archdiocese of New York’s 2019 List of Archdiocesan Clergy Credibly Accused of Sexual Abuse of a Minor or the Subject of Eligible IRCP Compensation Claims.
Lennon’s whereabouts and whether he had access to children from 2003 until his death are unknown. Lennon died in 2012.
Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy in the Archdiocese of New York. If you need a lawyer because you were sexually abused by a priest or other Catholic clergy in New York State, contact our office today. Although many years have passed, those abused by Catholic clergy in the Archdiocese of New York 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.
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