Fr. Francis G. Kulig - Diocese of Scranton

Father Francis Kulig

Diocese of Scranton

Ordained: 1974

Resigned (temporary): 1987

Removed: 2002

Died: 2015

Assigned as follows:

1974: St. Matthew (East Stroudsburg, PA)
1974-1979: Immaculate Conception (Scranton, PA)
1979-1985: St. John the Evangelist (Wilkes-Barre, PA)
1985-1986: Nativity BVM (Tunkhannock, PA)
1986-1987: St. Mary of the Lake (Lake Winola, PA)
1987-2001: Mercy Center Convent (Dallas, PA)
2001-2002: Holy Family Residence (Scranton, PA)

Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations against Fr. Francis Kulig:

Fr. Francis Kulig was ordained a priest in 1974, who served in multiple parishes in the Diocese of Scranton. According to media reports, in late 1986, a father wrote to the Diocese of Scranton to report that his son was molested by Father Francis Kulig from 1979-1985, starting with the boy was 12 years old. The family attended St. John the Evangelist parish in Wilkes-Barre. The abuse only ended when Kulig was transferred to Nativity BVM in Tunkhannock.

Kulig admitted to the allegation when confronted by the Chancery, but minimized the extent of the abuse (e.g., he admitted to masturbating the boy but denied oral sex and sodomy with the child). Kulig was sent to inpatient treatment in early 1987 for six months. Following his discharge, he was assigned as chaplain to Mercy Center Convent, an assignment we note other credibly accused priests held following allegations of abuse.

Upon learning that Kulig was still in ministry, the family repeatedly wrote to the Diocese of Scranton to express frustration and fear that Kulig was still in ministry. He continued in ministry until shortly after the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops annual meeting in Dallas, Texas, in June 2002.

Kulig died in 2015. There is no evidence that Kulig was ever removed from the priesthood (laicized) before his death at the age of 66.

In 2018, he was first named publicly as accused 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.