Fr. Fred Ruse – Diocese of Orlando

| Jan 10, 2021 | Abuser Profiles, Catholic Church

Father Fred Ruse

Diocese of Orlando

Ordained: 1976

Retired: May 2018

Assignment History:

  • 1976-1979:  Church of Our Saviour (Cocoa Beach, FL)
  • 1979-1984: Holy Names of Jesus (Satellite Beach, FL)
  • 1984-1994: St. Paul Catholic Church, Pastor (Daytona Beach, FL)
  • 1994-2004: St. Matthew, Pastor (Winter Haven, FL)
  • 2005 Sabbatical:  January – July 2005
  • 2005-2006: St. John Vianney, Associate Pastor (Orlando, FL)
  • 2006-2015 Diocese in Dominican Republic, Missioner
  • December 2015 – March 2016:  Sabbatical
  • March 2016-May 2018: Church of Our Saviour (Cocoa Beach, FL)

Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations Against Father Fred Ruse:

Fr. Fred Ruse was accused of sexually abusing a 14-year-old boy multiple times from 2001 to 2002 while the alleged victim was at the Demilly Correctional Institution in Polk City, Florida. According to a lawsuit filed in 2020, Fr. Ruse of the Diocese of Orlando used his status as a clergyman to meet privately with the boy. He actively groomed the boy and gained his trust by showering him with attention and giving him gifts such as Harry Potter books according to the complaint. As their relationship developed, Fr. Ruse allegedly began to fondle the victim’s genitals and masturbate himself to ejaculation. The complaint states that the sexual contact progressed to Fr. Ruse giving oral sex to the boy and receiving oral sex from him.

Fr. Ruse retired in 2018.

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