Father W. Jeffrey Paulish
Diocese of Scranton
Ordained: 1988
Removed from ministry: 2013
Convicted (by guilty plea): 2014
Assigned as follows:
- 1988-1991: Our Lady of the Snows (Clarks Summit, PA)
- 1991-1992: Annunciation (Williamsport, PA)
- 1992: St. Cecilia (Exeter, PA)
- 1992-1993: Most Precious Blood (Hazleton, PA)
- 1993-1994: Sacred Heart (Peckville, PA)
- 1994-2000: Little Flower Manor (Wilkes-Barre, PA)
- 2000-2004: St. Francis Xavier (Friendsville, PA)/St. Patrick (Middletown, PA)/St. Thomas the Apostle (Little Meadows, PA)
- 2004: Leave of Absence
- 2004-2005: St. Joseph (Minooka, PA)/Immaculate Conception (Taylor, PA)/St. John the Baptist (Taylor, PA)
- 2005: St. Mary’s Villa (Elmhurst, PA)
- 2005-2006: Leave of Absence
- 2006: St. Cecilia (Exeter, PA)
- 2006-2008: St. Mary (Old Forge, PA)
- 2008-2011: St. Elizabeth (Bear Creek, PA)
- 2011-2012: Leave of Absence
- 2012: Holy Cross (Olyphant, PA)
- 2012-2013: Leave of Absence
- 2013: Prince of Peace (Old Forge, PA)
Summary of Abuse Allegations against Father W. Jeffrey Paulish:
In September 2013, the Diocese of Scranton was notified by the local prosecutor that Father William Jeffrey Paulish was in police custody after he was caught having sex with a 15-year-old boy. Campus security at the University of Scranton caught him in the act. He was convicted by guilty plea in January 2014 and sentenced to 8 to 23 months in prison.
In 2018, he was first named publicly as accused in the PA Grand Jury Report.
William Jeffrey Paulish is still alive and residing in the Blakely, Pennsylvania, area. He continues to be a Tier 1 registered sex offender. He remains a member of the priesthood, though not in active ministry. According to the Diocese of Scranton he has been “sentenced to a life of prayer and penance.” The extent of his daily monitoring by the Diocese of Scranton is not known.
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 now have legal options to recover damages due to a compensation fund created for victims. Contact us at (954) 641-2100 or [email protected] today.