Father Raymond Deviney
Diocese of Scranton
Ordained: 1959
Retired: 2007
Assigned as follows:
- 1959: St. Mary of the Mount (Mt. Pocono, PA)
- 1959-1960: St. John the Evangelist (Susquehanna, PA)
- 1960-1964: St. Thomas More (Lake Ariel, PA)
- 1964-1968: St. Gabriel (Hazleton, PA)
- 1968-1969: St. John the Evangelist (Pittston, PA)
- 1969-1976: St. John the Evangelist (Wilkes-Barre, PA)
- 1976-2007: Christ the King (Blakeslee, PA)
Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations against Fr. Raymond Deviney:
According to media reports, in 1994, Bishop James Timlin received a letter from a woman who reported that she was sexually abused by Fr. Raymond Deviney while she was a high school student. The grand jury report does not indicate where Deviney was assigned during this time, or how long ago the abuse took place. The woman further alleged that as an adult, she confided in Deviney after she lost a baby and her husband and that he saw it as an opportunity to engage in sexual contact with her again. Timlin acknowledge the woman’s letter and assured her that he would address the matter with Deviney himself. Nothing in the documents reviewed by the grand jury suggest that he did anything of the kind.
In 2001, the same woman contacted the Diocese of Scranton again, to see if Deviney ever received counseling or treatment for what she called “his alcoholism and abuse of women.” Timlin responded by saying that he was not aware of any treatment that Deviney had received and also that he doubted the 67-year-old priest would ever admit to needing any such treatment. He closed his written response by telling the victim that he hoped she could put it all behind her and move on.
Diocese files indicate that the her complaint was deemed “unsubstantiated.” However, Deviney’s name appears on the list of credibly accused priests released by the Diocese of Scranton in August 2018. That suggests that either a second allegation was deemed credible OR that the internal Review Board took a second look at the woman’s case and deemed her credible.
Deviney remained in ministry until he retired in 2007, at which time he was given the honor of being named Pastor Emeritus of Christ the King.
In 2018, he was first named publicly as accused in the PA Grand Jury Report.
Deviney is alive and believed to be residing in the Scranton area. He is 86 years old. Nothing suggests that his ministry has been restricted; publicly he remains a priest in good standing of the Diocese of Scranton, albeit a retired one.
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.
Contact us at 888-283-9922 or [email protected] to discuss your options today.