Fr. Fidelis Lazar - Diocese of Erie

Father Fidelis Lazar

Diocese of Erie (Benedictine)

Ordained: 1963

Withdrew from ministry: 1989

Died: 2018

Assigned as follows:

1966-1969: St. Vincent (Latrobe, PA)
1970-1975: St. Bede (Bovard, PA)
1975-1976: Sacred Heart (St. Marys, PA)
1976-1981: St. Clare (Clairton, PA)
1981-1982: St. Joan of Arc (Library, PA)
1982-1984: St. Mary (New Castle, PA)
1984-1986: St. Joseph (Bloomfield, PA)
1984-1987: St. Teresa (Koppel, PA)
1987-1989: Leave of Absence

Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations against Fr. Fidelis Lazar:

Fr. Fidelis Lazar was ordained a Benedictine priest of the in 1963, who served in multiple parishes in the Diocese of Erie. According to media reports, in October 1986, the Diocese of Pittsburgh received a report from a male teen that he had been sexually abused by Father Lazar in June 1986. The alleged victim said that Father Lazar took him on overnight trips and slept together in the same bed. He said the priest kissed him and began touching the boy’s genitals. While in bed, he pulled the boy so close to him, that the victim felt his erect penis.

When confronted, Father Lazar initially denied the allegation, stating the family was “troubled” and was singling him out. He was sent for treatment in November 1987. According to the summaries provided by his doctors, Father Lazar admitted to being sexually active with children after his ordination. Citing health reasons, he took a personal leave of absence from ministry.

By September 1989, Father Lazar was removed from active ministry as a result of the allegation and his diagnosis of Ephebophilia, the primary sexual interest in mid -to -late adolescents. In September 1994, another man alleged that he had been sexually abused by Father Lazar when he was 15 or 16 years old when the priest was assigned at St. Joan of Arc.

In March 2002, a man sent an email to the Diocese asking of Father Lazar’s status. He reported that Father Lazar had abused him while he was at St. Vincent’s Preparatory School in Latrobe when he was a Benedictine monk in the 1960’s.

Father Lazar died in Connecticut in March 2018. Later that year in May 2018, his name was added to the Diocese of Erie’s updated list of clergy and staff credibly accused of child sexual abuse. In August 2018, his name was included 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 Erie. 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 Erie may have legal options, but filing deadlines will apply so please do not delay in reaching out to us.