Father William J. O'Malley
Diocese of Rochester/Jesuit
Ordained: 1951
Died: 2023
Assignment History:
- 1965-1986: McQuaid Jesuit High School (Rochester, New York)
- 1986-2012: Fordham Preparatory School (Bronx, NY)
Summary of Abuse Allegations Against Father William J. O'Malley
Father William J. O'Malley was a Jesuit priest that worked in the Diocese of Rochester for over 20 years. O'Malley was a teacher, actor, author, and priest. O'Malley taught English and Theology for most of his career and appeared in the horror film, "The Exorcist." He published 37 books and starred in multiple plays and shows.
According to media reports, in 2019, Fr. William J. O'Malley was named in a massive lawsuit in which a dozen people accused nine Catholic clerics of abusing them when they were young. The suit was filed under the New York Child Victims Act, which greatly expanded the statute of limitations on childhood abuse. O'Malley was accused of sexually abusing one of his students at McQuaid Jesuit High School in Rochester, New York, where he taught from 1965-1986.
The lawsuit reported that O'Malley abused a 17-year-old student "multiple times" in classrooms, hallways, and school-sponsored activities between 1985 and 1986, which was O'Malley's final year at the school. O'Malley left McQuaid for Fordham Preparatory School in the Bronx after the abuse allegedly occurred during the 1985-86 school year.
In 2012, O'Malley reportedly was fired from Fordham, with authorities telling the New York Post that his teaching style was 'too abrasive and confrontational.'
Since the initial lawsuit, two other former students later accused O'Malley of abuse in subsequent lawsuits. Fr. O'Malley died in 2023 at the age of 91.
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.
Contact us at 888-283-9922 or adam@adamhorowitzlaw.com to discuss your options today.