Father Edward McGrath
Diocese of Norwich (Salesians)
Joined Salesian Society: July 1957
Ordained: 1969
Died: 1998
Assigned as follows:
- Salesian High School (New Rochelle, NY)
- 1970 – 1998 St. Thomas More School (Oakdale, CT) in geographical territory of Diocese of Norwich
Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations against Fr. Edward McGrath:
Fr. Edward McGrath was ordained a Salesian priest in 1969. He served briefly as a teacher at Salesian High School in New Rochelle, NY, and later spent 28 years teaching at St. Thomas More School in Oakdale in the Diocese of Norwich. He began living outside the Salesian Society congregation in 1970.
In January 1983, Father McGrath reportedly applied to the Pope John Paul II for secularization and permanent exclaustration from the Salesian Society so he could join the Diocese of the Caroline and Marshall Islands. The request was granted and McGrath was incardinated “pure et simpliciter” into the Diocese of Caroline and Marshall Islands in March 1983
According to media reports, in 2000, the first public sexual abuse allegation against McGrath surfaced. The school sent out letters to alumni and parents and began an investigation. After five months, the allegations were found to be credible. In 2004, another allegation surfaced when an accuser reported he had been sexually abused by the priest.
In 2019, McGrath’s name was included in the Diocese of Norwich’s list of clergy credibly accused of sexual abuse of minors. He was also named on the Salesians 2020 list of credibly accused.
McGrath died in 1998 at age 62 of cirrhosis and liver cancer.
Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy in the Diocese of Norwich in Connecticut. If you need a lawyer because you were sexually abused by a priest in Connecticut or a member of the Salesian society, contact our office today. In July 2021, the Norwich Diocese filed for federal bankruptcy protection. The Court will resolve all claims of sexual abuse in this process but strict filing deadlines will apply and no late claims will be considered, so contact us today. Our lawyers have decades of experience representing survivors of clergy sexual abuse in Connecticut and nationwide. We can help.
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