Father John Flanagan
Archdiocese of Newark
Ordained: 1941
Died: 1975
Assigned as Follows:
- St. Bernard’s Church (Plainfield, NJ)
- Chaplain at St. Francis Hospital (Jersey City, NJ)
- Holy Rosary Church (Edgewater, NJ)
- Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church (Westfield, NJ)
- Our Lady of All Souls (East Orange, NJ)
- St. Peter’s Prep (Jersey City, NJ)
Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations against Father John Flanagan:
Father John Flanagan was ordained a priest in 1941. He served in multiple parishes throughout his career. In February 2019, the Archdiocese of Newark released the names of priests that it said had been credibly accused of child sexual abuse after internal investigations of the allegations. The list included Fr. Flanagan. It did not provide the details of the allegation, such as the age/gender of the victim or Fr. Flanagan’s assignment at the time of the abuse. The list did note that he was the subject of one credible allegation of abuse.
According to media reports, in December 2019, a man filed a lawsuit under New Jersey’s new Victim’s Rights Bill alleging that Fr. Flanagan sexually abused a 7-year-old boy for over a period of 10 years in the 1950s and 1960s. It claims he was among many victims abused by Fr. Flanagan.
According to the lawsuit, the abuse occurred at the church rectory and on the school grounds of Holy Trinity, “including during school when he would be sent to Fr. Flanagan.” It claims Fr. Flanagan pulled down the alleged victim’s pants, fondled his genitals and had him touch his own genitals. The abuse also included “anal penetration.” It continued when Fr. Flanagan served as the boy’s probation officer.
Fr. Flanagan died in 1975.
Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy in the Archdiocese of Newark in New Jersey. If you need a lawyer because you were sexually abused in the Archdiocese of Newark, contact our office today. Although many years have passed, those abused by Catholic clergy in the Archdiocese of Newark now 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 New Jersey and nationwide. We can help.
Contact us at 888-283-9922 or [email protected] to discuss your options today.