Father Joseph Sabadish
Archdiocese of Philadelphia
Ordained: 1945
Inpatient treatment: 1974
Faculties restricted: 1976-1979, 1985-1986
Assigned outside Archdiocese: 1976-1978, 1982
Died: 1999
Named in civil lawsuit: 2006
Assigned as follows:
- 1945 Immaculate Conception (St. Clair, PA)
- 1945-1952 St. Mary (Beaver Meadows, PA)
- 1952-1953 St. Catherine of Siena (Allentown, PA)
- 1953-1957 St. Margaret (Reading, PA)
- 1957-1962 St. Michael (Levittown, PA)
- 1962-1967 St. Mark (Bristol, PA)
- 1967-1973 St. William (Philadelphia, PA)
- 1973-1974 St. Timothy (Philadelphia, PA)
- 1974 Leave of Absence (Villa St. John Vianney)
- 1974-1976 St. Thomas Aquinas (Croydon, PA)
- 1976-1979 Leave of Absence/On Duty Outside Diocese
- 1979-1982 St. Robert (Chester, PA)
- 1982 Leave of Absence/On Duty Outside Diocese
- 1982-1985 Ss. Philip and James (Exton, PA)
- 1985-1986 No Assignment/Faculties restricted
- 1986-1994 Sacred Heart Hospital (Norristown, PA)
- 1994-1997 St. Stanislaus (Lansdale, PA)
- 1997-1999 Leave of Absence
Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations against Father Joseph Sabadish:
Father Joseph Sabadish was ordained a priest in 1945 and served in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. He served in multiple parishes throughout his career. According to media reports, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia has not provided any information to the public about the allegations against Father Joseph Sabadish, who has multiple red flags in his assignment history that suggest the Archdiocese of Philadelphia knew he was abusing children at least as early as 1974.
According to media reports, Sabadish sexually abused multiple girls during his ministry. At least one man has also accused Sabadish of sexually abusing him as a pre-pubescent child as well.
In 1962, Sabadish was a person of interest in the rape and murder of a 9 year old girl who attended St. Mark's parish in Bristol. Sabadish was unable to provide a verifiable alibi for the night of her murder. He was questioned by police but never charged. The murder remains unsolved, though there is forensic evidence that could be tested were police to exhume Sabadish's body (or obtain DNA from a family member).
Sabadish was named in a civil lawsuit filed in 2005 that was later dismissed.
Sabadish has since been the subject of additional allegations of abuse by women in media interviews.
Sabadish died in 1999.
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.
Contact us at 888-283-9922 or adam@adamhorowitzlaw.com to discuss your options today.