Father Francis Stinner
Archdiocese of New York
Ordained: 1967
Removed: 1997
Laicized: 2005
Died: 2017
Assigned as follows:
- 1967-1972: Immaculate Conception (Port Jervis, NY)
- 1972-1980: John S. Burke Catholic High School (Goshen, NY)
- 1980-1989: John F. Kennedy Catholic High School (Somers, NY)
- 1991-1997: St. Joseph’s (Bronxville, NY)
- 1997-2002: Saint John and St. Mary (Chappaqua, NY)
- 2003-2004: Unknown
Summary of Abuse Allegations against Father Francis Stinner:
Fr. Francis Stinner spent most of his career as an educator. He was initially assigned to Immaculate Conception in Port Jervis as Associate Pastor. According to media reports, while there, he sexually abused multiple children. He remained in ministry and went on to teach at two high schools, where he also coached soccer at John F. Kennedy Catholic High School. He then went on to serve at St. Joseph’s in Bronxville and St. John’s and St. Mary’s in Chappaqua, New York.
In 1988, the Archdiocese received a letter from the parents of a child sexual abuse survivor alleging that Stinner had abused their son in the early 1980s. Stinner denied the allegations and he remained in ministry. However, the Archdiocese assured the survivor’s parents that he would get treatment. In 1995, though, the survivor learned that Stinner was still active and working at St. Joseph’s Church in Bronxville, and complained to Archdiocese officials again. The survivor settled with the Archdiocese for $35,000 and signed a release, but church officials never turned over the investigative report to police.
In 1997, three men accused Stinner of sexually abusing them in the 1960s and 1970s in Orange County, New York. According to media reports, the Archdiocese bought one of the alleged survivors a car and paid for a semester of school and two months of therapy, but denied that this represented an admission of the priest’s guilt. Stinner was then removed from his position at St. Joseph’s. The Archdiocese hired a firm to investigate the allegations, which subsequently confirmed that Stinner had sexually abused the men. It has also been reported that Fr. Stinner, during his tenure as soccer coach at John F. Kennedy Catholic High School would stand at the gym showers leering at the players while they showered.
In 2002, Stinner’s name was included on the Archdiocese list of priests accused of abuse. The list was turned over to prosecutors in Orange County, but again, not the investigative firm’s report confirming the priest’s abuse. In 2005, Stinner was laicized.
In May and October 2017, settlements with alleged victims were reached as part of the archdiocese’s Independent Reconciliation and Compensation Program (IRCP). In April 2019, Stinner’s name appeared on the Archdiocese of New York’s list of clergy credibly accused of sex abuse of minors. It noted he abused at least 10 victims, with the abuse to have included rape.
Stinner died in 2017.
Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy in the Archdiocese of New York. If you need a lawyer because you were sexually abused by a priest or other Catholic clergy in New York State, contact our office today. Although many years have passed, those abused by Catholic clergy in the Archdiocese of New York now 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 New York and nationwide. We can help.
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