Msgr. J. Michael Flood

Archdiocese of Philadelphia

Ordained: 1968

Named in civil lawsuit: 2009

Suspended from ministry: 2011

Reinstated: 2012

Died: September 28, 2026

Assigned as follows:

St. Patrick (Malvern, PA)
St. Rose of Lima (North Wales, PA)
Cardinal O'Hara High School (Springfield, PA)
St. Malachy (Philadelphia, PA)
Incarnation of Our Lord (Philadelphia, PA)
St. John Neumann High School (Philadelphia, PA)
St. Maria Goretti High School (Philadelphia, PA)
St. Madeleine Sophie (Philadelphia, PA) - Pastor
St. Luke the Evangelist (Glenside, PA) - Pastor / Pastor Emeritus
Regina Coeli Residence

Summary of Allegations against Father Michael Flood:

In 2009, Father Michael Flood was named in a civil lawsuit filed against the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Publicly, the Archdiocese stated that it had never heard the allegation before being served with the lawsuit and that Flood denied the allegation that he abused the plaintiff in 1976 while the boy attended St. John Neumann High School and Flood was his teacher.

The Archdiocese also slammed the man who filed the lawsuit because he opted to file his lawsuit using the common pseudonym "John Broe #1," rather than make his name part of the public record. This is a common practice in civil lawsuits; in our experience, most survivors of abuse choose to use a pseudonym, such as John Doe.

Flood remained in ministry for nearly two years, long after the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, until the second grand jury report was released in 2011. Just weeks after stating publicly that not a single priest active in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia had been accused of sexual abuse, he suddenly suspended Flood and 20 other priests on the grounds that they had been accused with little to no investigation done. The matters were referred to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia's internal review board for investigation and recommendation.

In late 2011, the plaintiff voluntarily dismissed his lawsuit after a particularly strenuous deposition that his lawyer said took a huge toll on him in part because of the effects of the abuse. He reiterated to the media that his client was still willing to participate in the Archdiocese's internal investigation.

Flood's lawyer, and the lawyer the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, on the other hand, touted the plaintiff as a manipulative liar who could not stand up to arduous cross-examination because he was a liar. "His credibility was completely shot," according to Flood's attorney.

Based solely upon the fact that the lawsuit was voluntarily withdrawn, and not any investigation of its own, the internal review board recommended that Flood be returned to ministry, unrestricted.

Flood remained a priest in good standing until he passed away in September 2026.

Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. 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 Archdiocese of Philadelphia may have legal options, but filing deadlines will apply so please do not delay in reaching out to us.

Msgr. J. Michael Flood – Archdiocese of Philadelphia