Father John Connor
Diocese of Pittsburgh
Ordained: 1962
Retired: 2002
Assigned as Follows:
- 1965-1966: St. Mary's (Gloucester, NJ)
- 1966-1972: St. Rose's (Haddon Heights, NJ)
- 1972-1984: St. John (Collingswood, NJ)
- 1970-1984: Bishop Eustace Preparatory School (Pennsauken, NJ)
- 1984-1985: Sent to Southdown Institute in Canada for 8 months of treatment
- 1985-1986: Sewickley Valley Hospital (Sewickley, PA)
- 1985-1986: St. James (Sewickley, PA)
- 1986-1988: St. Alphonsus (Wexford, PA)
- 1988-1993: St. Matthew's (Conshohocken, PA)
- 1993-2001: Immaculate Conception (Bridgeton, NJ)
- 1993-2002: Bridgeton Hospital (Bridgeton, NJ)
- 2001-2002: St. Teresa of Avila (Bridgeton, NJ)
- 2002: Retired
Summary of Allegations Against Father John "Jack" Connor:
Father John "Jack" Connor was ordained a priest in 1962, who served in the Diocese of Pittsburgh. According to media reports, he had a long history of sexual abuse. In 1984, during his time teaching religion and coaching golf at Eustace Preparatory School in New Jersey, Connor was arrested for molesting a 14-year-old boy. He took the boy on an overnight trip to Cape May, gave him beer, and molested him.
The victim's mother called the police after hearing about the abuse through the victim's cousin. Diocesan attorneys and prosecutors agreed to a deal that allowed Father Jack Connor's record to be cleared if he admitted to the abuse and kept out of trouble for a year. Connor was then sent to Southdown Institute in Canada where he was treated for 8 months. After treatment, a "bishops helping bishops" deal was made between Camden Bishop Guilfoyle and then-Bishop Bevilacqua that allowed Connor to work in the Diocese of Pittsburgh.
He worked in a Sewickley Hospital and a parish in Wexford before moving to St. Matthew's in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania. Bevilacqua allowed the transfer and did not tell anyone at St. Matthew's about Connor's past issues. While there, he gave lots of attention and many gifts to a third-grade boy, the mother of whom revealed in 2005 that she believed her son had been molested by Father Jack Connor. The son did not acknowledge any abuse.
Connor's 1984 victim sued in 1993. The Camden Diocese granted him an out-of-court settlement, and Connor was moved back to Camden. Father Connor would visit the boy for the next two years, concerning a priest and nun enough for them to inform the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Only after clergy sexual abuse made headlines was Father John "Jack" Connor removed from active ministry.
He was named publicly as accused in a priest profile in the 2018 Pennsylvania Grand Jury Report.
Connor is still living and is believed to be residing in a retirement community for priests in New Jersey. He is approximately 80 years old.
Horowitz Law is a law firm 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 888-283-9922 or adam@adamhorowitzlaw.com to discuss your options today.