Father Kevin Downey
Diocese of Paterson (Franciscan Friars)
Ordained: 1982
Removed: 2017
Assigned as follows:
- 1982-1983: St. Bonaventure Friary (Allegany, NY)
- 1983-1985: Quincy College (Quincy, IL)
- 1985-1986: St. Anthony (Butler, NJ)
- 1986-1991: Quincy College (Quincy, IL)
- 1991-1993: St. Francis of Assisi (Raleigh, NC)
- 1994-1996: Unknown
- 1997-1999: Our Lady of the Assumption (Pompton Lakes, NJ)
- 2000-2002: St. Bonaventure (Allegany, NY)
- 2000-2002: St. John the Baptist (Vandalia, NY)
- 2003-2011: Our Lady of the Assumption (Pompton Lakes, NJ)
- 2011-2016: St. Francis of Assisi (Triangle, VA)
Summary of Abuse Allegations against Fr. Kevin Downey:
Fr. Kevin Downey is a priest of the Franciscan Friars of Holy Name Province. He had various parish assignments in the dioceses of Buffalo, NY, Butler, NJ, Raleigh, NC, Paterson, NJ, and Arlington, VA. From the 1980s until 1991, he worked in the Diocese of Springfield, Illinois, at the Franciscan’s Quincy College.
In May 2016, the Diocese of Arlington in Virginia quietly announced that Downey was suspended during an investigation of sexual misconduct with a male minor. He denied the allegation. The alleged abuse occurred in 1990 “in another state”. According to the Official Catholic Directory, Downey was working at Quincy College in Illinois in 1990.
In April 2017, Holy Name Province announced that the claim was found to be credible. Downey was permanently removed from all public ministries.
In October 2018, Downey’s name first appeared publicly on the Diocese of Raleigh’s list of clergy credibly accused of sex abuse of minors.
In October 2021, the Holy Name Province published a list of Franciscan friars with substantiated child sexual abuse and misconduct claims following a review of its files by an advisory firm. Kevin Downey was one of 23 the friars named.
Downey is still a friar, living at St. Anthony Friary in St. Petersburg, FL.
Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy in the Diocese of Paterson. If you need a lawyer because you were sexually abused by a priest in Paterson, contact our office today. Although many years have passed, those abused by Catholic clergy in the Diocese of Paterson now have legal options to recover damages due to a compensation fund created for victims. Call us at 888-283-9922 or send an email to [email protected] to discuss your options today.