Father Robert Purcell
Diocese of Albany
Ordained: 1974
Removed: 2011
Died: 2014
Assigned as follows:
- 1975-1978 St. Alphonsus (Glens Falls, NY)
- 1979-2002 Sacred Heart (Margaretville, NY)
Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations against Father Robert Purcell:
In 2011, three retired priests were placed on administrative leave based on allegations that they had sexually abused minors. One of the priests who was listed and removed was Fr. Robert H. Purcell. The abuse claim dated all the way back to 1957; 17 years before his ordination.
Purcell denied the allegations, and the Albany County district attorney declined to pursue any criminal charges. An investigation was initiated by the Diocese of Albany Sexual Misconduct Review Board, and the Diocese later admitted that they had received several other allegations made about Purcell back in 2010.
Purcell died in 2014 and received a long obituary praising his life and priesthood. Diocese later apologized for the obituary, saying it was inappropriate due to him being suspended.
His name also appeared on the list of “Clergy Credibly Accused While Serving in the Diocese of Albany,” which was released in November of 2018.
Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany. If you need a lawyer because you were sexually abused by a priest in New York, contact our office today. Although many years have passed, those abused by Catholic clergy in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany now have legal options to recover damages due to a compensation fund created for victims. Contact us at 888-283-9922 or at [email protected].