Fr. Robert Brague
Diocese of Scranton
Ordained: 1970
Leave of Absence: 1979, 1988
Died: 1997
Assigned as follows:
- May 1970 - September 1970 St. Ann (Tobyhanna, PA)
- September 1970 - April 1972 St. Peter (Wellsboro, PA)
- April 1972 - September 1979 St. John the Evangelist (Pittson, PA)
- September 1979 - June 1980 Leave of Absence
- June 1980 - September 1980 St. Maria Goretti (Laflin, PA)
- June 1980 - September 1980 Pocono Central Catholic High School (Cresco, PA)
- September 1980 - September 1982 St. Ann (Tobyhanna, PA)
- September 1980 - September 1982 St. John the Evangelist High School (PIttston, PA)
- September 1982 - September 1984 St. Ann (Williamsport, PA)
- September 1984 - September 1988 SS Peter & Paul (Towanda, PA)
- September 1988 Leave of Abseence
- January 19, 1990 St. Ann Naples, FL
- Holy Cross (Palmetto, FL)
Summary of Abuse Allegations against Fr. Robert Brague:
According to media reports, in 1979, less than 10 years after he was ordained, Fr. Robert Brague took a leave of absence from ministry in the Diocese of Scranton because he had serious doubts about his desire to continue in ministry as a Catholic priest. He returned to work in June 1980.
The Diocese of Scranton reportedly received information that was sexually abusing a girl from his parish. Brague later testified in a civil lawsuit against the Diocese. He admitted that when she was 17 years old, in 1987, he initiated a sexual relationship with her. He originally denied the allegations when confronted by the Bishop of Scranton, and the abuse continued. Four months later, she became pregnant and he was forced to admit that he had sexually abused her. He was put on a second leave of absence in September 1988.
The Diocese first became aware of the situation when the girl's sister wrote to then-Bishop James Timlin to outline the situation. He responded by saying that both Brague and his victim were to blame for the situation, not the Diocese, and that he expected that "certainly Fr. Brague will take care of his obligations."
The child was born in April 1989. When he turned 6, the Diocese of Scranton arranged for him to be admitted, on full scholarship, to a Catholic grammar school.
Brague moved to Florida in 1990, where he continued to work as a priest. The victim's lawsuit was settled in 1995, but his faculties were never restricted except that he was forbidden to work in the Diocese of Scranton again. Other than that, the Bishop of Scranton highly recommended Brague for work in the Diocese of Venice, Florida, in 1989.
Brague died in 1997. He was residing in the Naples, Florida, area at the time and continued to work as a priest in the Diocese of Venice (Florida) until his death.
In 2018, his name was included on the Diocese of Scranton list of clergy credibly accused of child sexual abuse, as well as in the PA Grand Jury Report.
Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy in the Diocese of Scranton. 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 Scranton may 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 Pennsylvania and nationwide. We can help.
Contact us at 888-283-9922 or adam@adamhorowitzlaw.com to discuss your options today.