Father P. Lawrence Homer
Diocese of Scranton
Ordained: 1959
Resigned: 1993
Removed: 2002
Died: 2015
Assigned as follows:
- 1959-1961: Holy Rosary (Scranton, PA)
- 1961-1964: St. John the Baptist (Scranton, PA)
- 1965: Gate of Heaven (Dallas, PA)
- 1965-1966: Holy Trinity (Hazleton, PA)
- 1966-1967: St. Boniface (Williamsport, PA)
- 1967-1970: Queen of Peace (Hawley, PA)
- 1970-1977: St. John the Baptist (Pittston, PA)
- 1976 - Unknown: Seton Catholic High School (Pittston, PA)
- 1977-1993: Holy Trinity (Hazleton, PA)
- 1987-1993: Our Lady of Mount Carmel (Hazleton, PA)
- 1993-1994: In residence Marian Convent (Scranton, PA)
- 1994-2002: In residence Our Lady Queen of Peace (Brodheadsville, PA)
- 1996-2015: In residence St. Mary Czestochowa (Scranton, PA)
Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations against Fr. P. Lawrence Homer:
Fr. P. Lawrence Homer was ordained a priest in 1959, who served in multiple parishes in the Diocese of Scranton. According to media reports, in 1967, the Diocese received information that Father Lawrence Homer called a 14-year-old girl into his office and kept her there for the duration of an entire class period while he asked her about her sexual development and commented on how developed her body was for a 14 year old.
The Diocese then learned of a second 14-year-old that was subjected to the same type of interrogation, but was also forced to undress while Homer kissed and touched her. While the high school is not identified in the grand jury report, the abuse occurred at the time Homer was assigned to St. Boniface in Williamsport, and was principal of West Side Central Catholic High School. Homer was transferred to Queen of Peace parish in Hawley, Pennsylvania after these reports.
In 1988, a woman reported to the Diocese of Scranton that she was molested by Homer in 1964. She too was 14 years old at the time of the abuse.
Homer was sent for inpatient evaluation and treatment twice, but the grand jury was able to glean very little information about the nature of the treatment (except that both were related to allegations of sexual misconduct). The dates of his treatment were not provided in the grand jury report. However, based upon his assignment history, it would seem that at least one round was in 1993, either just before or around the time he resigned his ministry at Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Hazleton.
Homer was also the subject of multiple allegations that he sexually exploited adult women during fragile points in their lives, including one nun who said that she was touched and kissed by Homer against her will.
Homer continued to be a priest in good standing until 2002. He died in 2015. There is no evidence that he was ever laicized (removed from the priesthood).
In 2018, he was first named publicly as accused in the PA Grand Jury Report.
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.
Contact us at 888-283-9922 or adam@adamhorowitzlaw.com to discuss your options today.