Fr. Thomas Marshall (Paulists) – Diocese of Buffalo

| Oct 21, 2019 | Abuser Profiles, Catholic Church

Father Thomas Marshall

Diocese of Buffalo

Ordained: 1959

Died: 2012

Assigned as follows:

  • 1959-1960      Boston Archdiocese Park Street Center
  • 1960-1962      Los Angeles Archdiocese St. Paul the Apostle Church
  • 1962-1966      Chicago Archdiocese Old St. Mary’s Church
  • 1966-2002      Toronto Archdiocese St. Peter’s Church/Missions
  •  2002-2009      Senior Ministry
  •  2009-2012      Nursing Home

Summary of Abuse Allegations against Father Thomas Marshall:

Father Thomas Marshall was a member of the Paulist religious order. According to media reports, he was accused of child sexual abuse and criminally charged with 20 counts of lewd acts upon two altar boys, ages 11 and 13. The alleged abuse occurred at St. Paul the Apostle Church in West Los Angeles between 1959 and 1963, while he was a priest at the church.

In 2003, allegations against Father Marshall became public during the civil proceedings against the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. He had already moved to Canada, and the DA was trying to extradite him. As of September 2009, he was in residence at the Paulist Centre for Catholic Evangelization in Toronto. He died in December 2012.

According to a Buffalo news report, a man said that Father Marshall tried to ejaculate on him at St. Teresa’s Church in South Buffalo in the 1960s or 1970s. He said Father Basil Ormsby, (later accused of child sexual abuse himself), threw Father Marshall out of the church when he was told of the allegation. The man also provided documentation from the Paulist organization in Toronto, acknowledging the alleged abuse.

In November 2018, Father Marshall’s name was included in the Diocese of Buffalo’s updated list of priests with substantiated claims of sexual abuse of a minor. The original list was published in March 2018. His name is also included on the Paulists’ list of clergy credibly accused of child sexual abuse. It notes allegations reported in 2002, 2003, 2008 and 2018. It also notes abuse in Los Angeles from 1959-1960, 1960-1962 and  1961-1962, as well as in 1956 and 1959 in Lake George, NY, and in Buffalo, NY in 1982.

Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims of sexual abuse in the Diocese of Buffalo and throughout New York. The Diocese of Buffalo filed for federal bankruptcy protection in February 2020. Anyone sexually abused by a priest or employee of the Diocese of Buffalo may be entitled to file a claim against the Diocese in these bankruptcy proceedings, but very strict filing deadlines apply. Most victims of abuse in the Diocese of Buffalo will never be able to take action against the Diocese of Buffalo if they miss this bankruptcy filing deadline, so it is important that you contact us immediately to discuss your potential case.

Contact us at 888-283-9922 or [email protected] to discuss your legal options today.