Father Neil McLaughlin
Diocese of Scranton
Ordained: 1959
Removed: 2006
Assigned as follows:
- 1961-1983: Scranton Preparatory School (Scranton, PA)
- 1965-1983: Georgetown University Hospital pastoral care program (Washington, DC)
- 1971-1995: St. John Bosco (Conyngham, PA)
- 1985-1986: University of Scranton (Scranton, PA)
- 1985 -2006: Alumni Association at the University of Scranton (Scranton, PA)
- 1990s: St. Mary of the Assumption (Scranton, PA)
- 1996-2006: St. Thomas More (Lake Ariel, PA)
Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations against Father Neil McLaughlin:
Father Neil McLaughlin was ordained a a Jesuit priest from the Maryland Province of the Society of Jesus, which had a Jesuit Community within the Diocese of Scranton, in 1959. According to media reports, when Bishop Martino was installed as the Bishop of Scranton, he directed that a comprehensive review of all allegations of sexual misconduct involving clerics of the Diocese of Scranton be conducted. A concern about McLaughlin was soon discovered.
According to media reports, 2002, McLaughlin's niece alleged that she was touched in an inappropriate manner by priest as a child. While in therapy, the niece had recovered a memory that in 1959, McLaughlin hugged her in a sexual manner at his ordination. Officials at the Maryland Province of the Jesuits first became aware of the allegation in 1990. In 2010, the allegations were deemed "credible" during an internal review by the Jesuits.
McLaughlin was sent for an evaluation and was diagnosed as a latent pedophile in 2002. The Jesuits recently sent McLaughlin for another evaluation; the professional conducting that evaluation purportedly opined that there was an error in the first evaluation and that McLaughlin was not a threat to children.
In 2006, the Diocese of Scranton received notification from the Jesuit community that it was recommended that McLaughlin continue ministry but that it be restricted to ministry that did not involve children.
In 2007, McLaughlin was assigned to the Jesuit Provincial Community in Baltimore, Maryland. McLaughlin was notified by the Diocese of Scranton that his faculties were withdrawn.
In 2008, an adult female reported to the Jesuits that McLaughlin touched her in an inappropriate manner in 1963 when she was 10 years old. The allegation was reported to the local police department in Maryland but wasn't made public until 2010.
In 2018, he was first named publicly as accused in the PA Grand Jury Report.
According to the most recent records, McLaughlin was last living at Colombiere Jesuit Community in Baltimore, Maryland.
Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy in the Diocese of Scranton. If you need a lawyer because you were sexually abused by a priest in Pennsylvania, contact our office today. Although many years have passed, those abused by Catholic clergy in the Diocese of Scranton may have legal options, but filing deadlines will apply so do not delay in reaching out to us. Our lawyers have decades of experience representing survivors of clergy sexual abuse in Pennsylvania and nationwide. We can help.
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