Father John Merklinger
Diocese of Rochester
Ordained: 1937
Died: 1970
Assigned as follows:
- St. Alphonsus Church (Auburn, NY)
- St Francis of Assisi (Auburn, NY)
- Our Lady of the Valley St. Ann’s (Hornell, NY)
- Strong Memorial and Municipal Hospital (Auburn, NY)
Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations against Fr. John Merklinger:
Fr. John Merklinger was ordained a priest in 1937, and served in multiple parishes in the Diocese of Rochester. According to media reports, in April 2021, he was named in a lawsuit filed under the New York Child Victims Act in New York State Supreme Court alleging that he repeatedly sexually abused a child. The alleged victim claimed the priest sexually abused him over a two-year period that started when he was 8-years old in 1967. The victim claimed the abuse was witnessed by another priest but no action was taken.
According to the suit, Fr. Merklinger began abusing the boy in 1967, when he was a student at St. Alphonsus. The abuse continued for about two years, on the grounds of St. Alphonsus and included groping the child, fondling his penis and forcing him to masturbate the priest. Fr. Merklinger used a rope to bind the child, and would blindfold him during some acts of sexual abuse, while wearing his priest garb and serving in his pastoral and ministerial role
Fr. John Merklinger was among 176 names of New York state Catholic clergy members listed in a media release in July 2021 as being newly accused of sexual abuse under the Child Victims Act. He retired in June 1969, and died in 1970.
Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims of sexual abuse in the Diocese of Rochester. The Diocese of Rochester in New York filed for bankruptcy protection in 2019. Our lawyers are now offering free legal consultations to discuss a potential lawsuit and your other options as a survivor of sexual abuse by priests and other employees of the Rochester Diocese.
Very strict filing deadlines have now been set by the Bankruptcy Court. Most victims of abuse will never be able to recover damages if they miss this deadline, so please contact us to discuss your case today. Call us at 888-283-9922 or send an e-mail to [email protected].