POPULAR PRIEST ONE OF EIGHT MORE ADDED TO DIOCESE OF SCRANTON LIST
On Thursday, October 29, 2020, Bishop Joseph C. Bambera of the Diocese of Scranton added eight more people to the list of dozens of clergy credibly accused of child sexual abuse. The Diocese list was first published in August 2018 on the Diocese of Scranton’s website. In January 2019, eleven more names were added and two more in October 2019.
All of the newly added eight names were submitted to the Independent Survivors Compensation Program (ISCP), first launched in January 2019. The eight new people added to list consist of six clergy members, one lay teacher, and a religious brother. Those deemed credible are corroborated by secular legal proceedings, canon law proceedings, admission by the accused, and/or other information or evidence. Together with its list of credible accused persons, the Diocese also announced that it paid more than $24 million out to more than 200 victims of clergy abuse.
The clergy members added are Edmund Byrne, Joseph Conboy, Francis Corcoran, Walter Ferrett, Hugh McGroarty, and Monsignor Joseph P. Kelly. Monsignor Kelly, 80, is the only clergy member who is living. The well known priest worked at Boys Town in Nebraska, helped found and worked at Project Hope, was the director of Camp St. Andrew, and taught in diocesan schools for 25 years. He also served as the head of Catholic Social Services for ten years and was director of St. Francis of Assisi Soup Kitchen in Scranton.
Monsignor Kelly retired in 2015, but remained a volunteer at the soup kitchen until a replacement was found. Multiple allegations against him prompted the Diocese of Scranton to enact the Essential Norms of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People and placed him on administrative leave. He denied the accusations.
Horowitz Law has filed numerous sexual misconduct claims on behalf of children who were sexually abused by clergy and lay employees of the Diocese of Scranton. If you or someone you know was sexually abused by a clergy member of any religious faith, please contact our law firm at 888-283-9922 or send an e-mail to sexual abuse lawyer Adam Horowitz at [email protected] for a free consultation.