Father W. Jeffrey Paulish – Diocese of Scranton
Ordained: 1988
Leaves of absence: 2004, 2005-2006, 2011-2012, 2012-2013
Arrested/removed from ministry: 2013
Convicted (by guilty plea): 2014
Assigned as follows:
- 1988-1991 Our Lady of the Snows (Clarks Summit, PA)
- 1991-1992 Annunciation (Williamsport, PA)
- 1992 St. Cecilia (Exeter, PA)
- 1992-1993 Most Precious Blood (Hazleton, PA)
- 1993-1994 Sacred Heart (Peckville, PA)
- 1994-2000 Little Flower Manor (Wilkes-Barre, PA)
- 2000-2004 St. Francis Xavier (Friendsville, PA)/St. Patrick (Middletown, PA)/St. Thomas the Apostle (Little Meadows, PA)
- 2004 Leave of Absence
- 2004-2005 St. Joseph (Minooka, PA)/Immaculate Conception (Taylor, PA)/St. John the Baptist (Taylor, PA)
- 2005 St. Mary’s Villa (Elmhurst, PA)
- 2005-2006 Leave of Absence
- 2006 St. Cecilia (Exeter, PA)
- 2006-2008 St. Mary (Old Forge, PA)
- 2008-2011 St. Elizabeth (Bear Creek, PA)
- 2011-2012 Leave of Absence
- 2012 Holy Cross (Olyphant, PA)
- 2012-2013 Leave of Absence
- 2013 Prince of Peace (Old Forge, PA)
Summary of Abuse Allegations against Father W. Jeffrey Paulish:
In September 2013, the Diocese of Scranton was notified by the local prosecutor that Father William Jeffrey Paulish was in police custody after he was caught having sex with a 15 year old boy. Campus security at the University of Scranton caught him in the act. He was convicted by guilty plea in January 2014 and sentenced to 8 to 23 months in prison.
Paulish is still alive and residing in the Blakely, Pennsylvania, area. He continues to be a Tier 1 registered sex offender. His most recent photograph is posted above (on the right).
Notably, Paulish remains a member of the priesthood, though not in active ministry. According to the Diocese of Scranton he has been “sentenced to a life of prayer and penance.” The extent of his daily monitoring by the Diocese of Scranton is not known.
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 now have legal options to recover damages due to a compensation fund created for victims. Contact us at (954) 641-2100 or adam@adamhorowitzlaw.com today.