Fr. John Duggan
Archdiocese of Baltimore/Jesuits
Ordained: 1957
Removed: 2002
Died: 2004
Assignment History:
- 1951-1954: Scranton Preparatory School (Scranton, PA)
- 1954-1959: No Assignment
- 1959-1967: Scranton Preparatory School (Scranton, PA)
- 1967-1968: Patient at Sheppard Pratt Hospital (Baltimore, MD)
- 1968-1970: Loyola Blakefield School (Baltimore, MD)
- 1970-1972: St. Isaac Jogues (Wernersville, PA)
- 1972-1978: St. Agnes Hospital (Philadelphia, PA)
- 1978-1980: Old St. Joseph’s Church (Philadelphia, PA)
- 1980-1981: Sabbatical (Jesuit School of Theology Chicago)
- 1981-1983: Center for Spirituality (Nigeria, Africa)
- 1983-1984: Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center (Camden, NJ)
- 1984-1988: Scranton Preparatory School (Scranton, PA)
- 1988-1993: St. Paul’s (Scranton, PA)
- 1993-1995: Treatment at Southdown Institute (Canada, Emmanuel Convalescent Foundation)
- 1995-2001: Prison Ministry & Chaplain (Scranton, PA)
- 1998-1999: Multiple inpatient treatment centers in PA
- 2001-2002: St. John Vianney Center (Downingtown, PA)
Summary of Abuse Allegations Against Father John Duggan
Fr. John Duggan was ordained a Jesuit priest in 1957 and worked in various parishes in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, Scranton Diocese, Philadelphia, Chicago, Nigeria, and the Diocese of Camden. In 2002, Fr. Duggan was listed on the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s Credibly Accused of Sexual Abuse of Minors list. In April 2023, Maryland’s Attorney General released a report alleging 156 Catholic clergy members sexually abused at least 600 children over six decades. The report lists the names of the abusers, including Fr. Duggan.
According to the AG’s report, in 2002, a man reported to the archdiocese that Father John Duggan had sexually abused his child in the late 1960s to early 1970s while attending Loyola Blakefield when his son was 15-17 years old. The victim died in 1975. The father has previously reported the abuse to the Maryland Province of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) in 1993 and was told Duggan admitted to the sexual abuse. Duggan was sent to a “Rehabilitation Center” in Canada for treatment.
According to the 2018 Pennsylvania Grand Jury Report, in 1993, Duggan was sent for a psychological evaluation and admitted to sexually abusing young children in his early priesthood. The family was assured by the Jesuits that the matter would be reported to appropriate authorities and that Duggan would never be returned to a position with access to children. Based on those assurances, the family did not pursue civil or criminal legal action.
Another man reported to the Archdiocese of Baltimore in 2002 that Duggan sexually abused him while the victim was an 11-year-old student at Scranton Prep in Scranton, Pennsylvania, in 1951. The abuse allegedly occurred in the faculty residence. He reported it to the Jesuit Provincial and civil authorities in 1996. He also was told that Duggan was previously accused in 1993 and sent for treatment. The victim learned that Duggan returned to active ministry in Scranton after a period of treatment. The victim was told that Duggan was assigned to a prison and not engaged in parish work. However, the victim learned that Duggan could still minister in locations where he could access minors, assisting local parishes with weekend masses. The victim confronted the archdiocese again to find out why he was still in ministry, but it wasn’t until 2002 that the Maryland Provincial of the Maryland Province of Jesuits removed Duggan from the Jesuit Community in Scranton.
According to correspondence from the Jesuits to the Baltimore Archdiocese, another victim, who disclosed in 1995 to the Society of Jesuits, was from Benin City, Africa. The records state there were allegations of ‘inappropriate behavior’ by Duggan when he was assigned to ministry there in 1981 to 1983. Although the Archdiocese of Baltimore listed Duggan as credibly accused in 2002, the Diocese of Scranton and the Maryland Province of Jesuits did not list him as credibly accused until 2018.
Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy in the Archdiocese of Baltimore in Maryland. If you need a lawyer because you were sexually abused by a priest in Maryland, contact our office today. Our lawyers have decades of experience representing survivors of clergy sexual abuse nationwide. We can help. Contact us at 888-283-9922 or [email protected] to discuss your options today.