Father Stephen Garrity
Ordained: 1970
Removed: 2007
Died: 2014
Assignment History
- 1971 - 1979: St. Joseph's Preparatory School, (Philadelphia, PA)
- 1980 - 1982: Jesuit Community at St. Joseph's Univ. (Merion Station, PA)
- 1982 - 1985: Loyola High School (Baltimore, MD)
- 1982 - 1985: Province Office (Baltimore, MD)
- 1985 - 1991: Scranton Preparatory School (Scranton, PA)
- 1991 - 2001: Loyola on the Potomac Retreat House (Faulkner, MD)
- 2001 - 2007: Holy Cross Parish (Durham, NC)
- 2007 - 2008: Jesuit Fathers and Brothers Provincial Curia (Baltimore, MD)
- 2008 - 2011: Jesuit Center - Jesuit Community (Wernersville, PA)
Summary of Abuse Allegations Against Father Stephen M. Garrity:
Father Stephen Garrity was ordained a Jesuit priest in 1970 and served in the Archdiocese of Washington DC, Philadelphia, Scranton, Raleigh, and Baltimore. He served in multiple parishes throughout his career and was assigned to high schools in Washington DC, Philadelphia, PA; Baltimore, MD; and Scranton, PA. He also served as the Province's vocations director, as director and rector of a Faulkner MD retreat house, and as a college chaplain and parish pastor in Durham, NC.
According to media reports, in 2007, he was removed from ministry by the Maryland Province of the Society of Jesus from Holy Cross Church in Durham, NC. The decision for removal came after Father Garrity admitted "inappropriate sexual contact" with five young adults, ages 18-23, in the early 1980s while in Baltimore and Philadelphia. He was sent for evaluation and received therapy.
In January 2013, the Jesuits told the Philadelphia district attorney that they received a credible allegation that Father Garrity had sexually abused a male student at St. Joseph's Preparatory School in North Philadelphia in the 1970s. He was sent to a monitored community residential treatment facility run by the Jesuit community in Pennsylvania.
The Maryland Province of the Society of Jesus said that Father Garrity, a graduate of the school, engaged in inappropriate sexual touching while teaching at the school from 1971 to 1979.
Garrity died in 2014.
In October 2018, Father Garrity's name appeared publicly on the Diocese of Raleigh's list of clergy credibly accused of sexual abuse of minors. It noted a sexual abuse allegation in 1970 and reported in 2018.
In December 2018, his name appeared publicly on the Diocese of Scranton's list. It noted a sexual abuse allegation in 1970 and reported in 2018. That same month, his name appeared on the Maryland Province of the Society of Jesus list of Jesuits with credible allegations of sexual abuse of minors since 1950. It noted multiple allegations.
In 2019, Fr. Garrity 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 Father Garrity.
Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy in the Archdiocese of Washington. If you need a lawyer because you were sexually abused by a priest in Washington, contact our office today. Although many years have passed, those abused by Catholic clergy in the Archdiocese of Washington now have legal options to recover damages due to a compensation fund created for victims. Call us at 888-283-9922 or send an email to [email protected] to discuss your options today.