Sexually Abused By A Priest Of The Diocese Of Pittsburgh? We Can Help.
Our law firm is offering free, confidential evaluations of clergy sexual abuse claims involving priests of the Diocese of Pittsburgh. We have been handling clergy abuse cases for many years and have the experience you need to seek justice for what happened to you. Contact us today at 954-641-2100 or send an email to find out your legal options.
The facts are clear: the Diocese of Pittsburgh engaged in the coverup of the sexual abuse of children for decades.
The Diocese of Pittsburgh has been home to some of the most notorious priests alleged to have committed child sexual abuse. Thanks to a recent scathing grand jury report, the facts are now coming to light about how the Diocese officials, including its bishops, protected predator priests before the innocent children in its flock. Victims of abuse by priests in the Diocese of Pittsburgh may be able to seek justice in a court of law or through a voluntary settlement fund for what occurred.
The Pennsylvania Grand Jury Report reveals mountains of evidence of sexual abuse of minors committed by dozens of priests in the Diocese of Pittsburgh. This sexual abuse included grooming and fondling of genitals and/or intimate body parts, as well as penetration of the vagina, mouth, or anus. According to the 2018 Grand Jury Report,
“The Grand Jury uncovered evidence of child sexual abuse committed by dozens of priests, and in one case an aspiring priest, in the Diocese of Pittsburgh. This sexual abuse included grooming and fondling of genitals and/or intimate body parts, as well as penetration of the vagina, mouth, or anus. The evidence also showed that Diocesan administrators, including bishops, had knowledge of this conduct yet regularly placed the priests in ministry after the Diocese was on notice that a complaint of child sexual abuse had been made. This conduct was enabling to the offenders and endangered the welfare of children.
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Finally, the Grand Jury received evidence that several Diocesan administrators, including bishops, often dissuaded victims from reporting to police, or conducted their own deficient, biased investigating without reporting crimes against children to the proper authorities.”
The civil lawsuits that have been filed against the Diocese of Pittsburgh and the extensive Grand Jury Report into the practices of the Diocese of Pittsburgh have exposed a culture of sexual abuse and cover-up, and efforts by church to protect the reputation of the Diocese of Pittsburgh even if it meant putting children in harm’s way. The Grand Jury report identified a staggering 99 priests accused of sexual abuse in the Diocese of Pittsburgh over the last 70 years. Under pressure from the general public and fellow bishops to release the identities of all priests credibly accused of sexual misconduct with minors, the Diocese of Pittsburgh recently released the names of 84 priests accused of sexual abuse of minors, with the caveat that the Diocese considers the allegations against eight of those men to be “unsubstantiated.” The grand jury report has been redacted to conceal the identities of another eight priests who are fighting their inclusion in the grand jury report, so the entire list of the 99 priests may not have been fully revealed. As we discuss below, our investigation has identified 118 priest accused of sexual misconduct with minors in the Diocese of Pittsburgh.
The Diocese of Pittsburgh has established a voluntary compensation fund for survivors of sexual abuse in Pittsburgh, but you must act soon.
Recently, the Bishop of Pittsburgh, David Zubik, announced that the Diocese of Pittsburgh has formed a confidential, voluntary compensation settlement fund for victims of sexual abuse by clergy of the Diocese of Pittsburgh. The fund, which is modeled after similar funds in New York, will compensate victims in a shorter, more cursory process than full-blown litigation. Respected attorney Kenneth Feinberg, who administered the New York claims and other high profile, sensitive claims like the 9/11 Fund, and his business manager, Camille Biros, will review each claim as a neutral third party and award compensation. We have extensive experience handling claims in the New York area and are very familiar with the process and expectations of Mr. Feinberg and Ms. Biros in the process.
There will be a deadline by which all claims must be filed with the Diocese of Pittsburgh, so it is important that you act today to protect your rights under the fund. Contact us today.
We have identified 130 clergy publicly accused of sexually abusing children in the Diocese of Pittsburgh.
Through our own research, we have identified more than 100 priests assigned to the Diocese of Pittsburgh who have been accused of or who have admitted to abusing kids. The list of priests below includes many habitual re-offenders and other priests who allegedly committed abuse. In some cases, priests were alleged to have abused kids at multiple parishes:
- Fr. Alvin Adams
- Fr. James R. Adams
- Fr. James Armstrong
- Fr. John Armstrong
- Fr. John Bauer
- Archbishop Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua
- Fr. Jerome Binder
- Bishop Anthony Bosco
- Fr. John Brueckner
- Fr. Leo Burchianti
- Fr. Robert J. Castelucci
- Fr. Mauro J. Cautela
- Fr. Robert Cedolia
- Fr. Charles Chatt
- Fr. John R. Chess
- Fr. Anthony J. Cipolla
- Fr. John P. Connor
- Fr. Bernard B. Costello
- Fr. Paul Coyle
- Fr. John David Crowley
- Deacon Rosendo Dacal
- Fr. Richard Deakin (Capuchin Friar)
- Fr. Charles Demblowski
- Fr. Ferdinand B. Demsher
- Fr. Myles Eric Diskin
- Fr. John F. Doherty
- Fr. Jason Dolan (Byzantine)
- Fr. Henry J. Donabedian
- Fr. Jerome Doody
- Fr. Richard J. Dorsch
- Fr. James Downs
- Fr. David F. Dzermejko
- Fr. Ralph Esposito
- Fr. Joseph Feltz
- Fr. John (Jack) Fitzgerald
- Fr. Joseph M. Ganter
- Fr. John A. Genizer
- Fr. Charles Richard Ginder
- Fr. Joseph Girdis
- Fr. James G. Graham
- Fr. Bernard Joseph Hartman (Marianist)
- Fr. William C. Hildebrand (Marianist)
- Fr. John Hoehl
- Fr. James Hopkins
- Fr. John Huber
- Fr. Edward G. Huff
- Fr. Edward Joyce
- Fr. Marvin Justi (Franciscan)
- Fr. Bernard J. Kaczmarczyk
- Fr. Joseph D. Karabin
- Fr. Matthew Kebe
- Fr. John Keegan (Marianist)
- Fr. William Kiefer (Marianist)
- Fr. James Kline (Marianist)
- Fr. Francis Koryak
- Fr. Henry Krawczyk
- Fr. Edward Kryston
- Fr. Anujit Kumar
- Fr. George Kurutz
- Fr. Hugh J. Lang
- Fr. Fidelis Lazar
- Fr. George Leech
- Fr. Richard M. Lelonis
- Fr. Albert Leonard
- Fr. Casimir Lewandowski
- Fr. John Lukasik
- Fr. John P. Maloney
- Fr. Julius F. May (Marianist)
- Fr. William J. McCashin
- Fr. Dominic E. McGee (Franciscan)
- Fr. Thomas McKenna
- Fr. Donald W. McIlvane
- Fr. Albert McMahon (Franciscan)
- Fr. John McMahon
- Fr. Francis Meder (Marianist)
- Fr. Robert Mellott
- Deacon John C. Miller
- Fr. Arthur R. Merrell
- Fr. Joseph Mueller
- Fr. Richard J. Mueller
- Fr. Anthony J. Muszynski
- Fr. Kenneth Myers
- Fr. John O’Brien (aka Br. Firmilian John)
- Fr. William O’Brien
- Fr. Lawrence O’Connell
- Fr. Thomas M. O’Donnell
- Fr. William P. O’Malley
- Fr. Ernest C. Paone
- Fr. George J. Parme
- Fr. Peter Pilarski
- Fr. Paul E. Pindel
- Fr. Francis Pucci
- Fr. John W. Rebel
- Fr. Joseph W. Reschick
- Fr. Raymond R. Rhoden
- Fr. Edward Ricards
- Fr. Carl M. Roemele
- Fr. Michael C. Romero
- Fr. Oswald E. Romero
- Fr. David Scharf
- Fr. Richard Scherer
- Fr. Raymond T. Schultz
- Fr. Francis A. Siler
- Fr. Rudolph M. Silvers
- Fr. Edward P. Smith (Cong. of the Holy Spirit)
- Fr. Larry Smith
- Fr. Thomas E. Smith
- Fr. James E. Somma
- Fr. Bartley A. Sorensen
- Fr. Robert E. Spangenberg
- Fr. Paul G. Spisak
- Fr. Vincent Stancelewski
- Fr. Lawrence F. Stebler
- Fr. James Stewart
- Fr. Andrew J. Suran
- Fr. Richard G. Terdine
- Fr. Charles Thomas
- Br. David Trichtinger
- Fr. John Unger
- Fr. John W. Wellinger
- Fr. Joseph Wichmanowski
- Fr. Thomas R. Wilson
- Fr. George Wilt
- Fr. Robert Wolk
- Fr. William B. Yockey
- Fr. Theodore P. Zabowski
- Fr. George Zirwas
- Fr. Stanislaus Zolnierzak
- Fr. Richard F. Zula
In addition, Fr. Cyprian Duru has been accused of sexually assaulting and abusing adult women during his ministry in the Diocese of Pittsburgh.
Horowitz Law representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy in the Diocese of Pittsburgh. 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 Pittsburgh may have legal options, but filing deadlines will apply so do not delay in reaching out to us.
Contact us at 954-641-2100 to discuss your options today.