Tag: Diocese of Erie

Msgr. Charles Kaza – Diocese of Erie

Posted by admin on May 20, 2019

Msgr. Charles Kaza

Diocese of Erie

Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations against Msgr. Charles Kaza:

In May 2019, the Diocese of Erie announced that it placed Msgr. Charles Kaza on administrative leave pending an unspecified investigation into an allegation that he sexually abused a minor child.

According to the Diocese of Erie, the allegation was first made to the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office. All the Diocese has said about the allegation is that the alleged misconduct occurred in the 1980s while Kaza was assigned to St. John the Baptist in Erie.

It is not clear from the details offered by the Diocese if the pending investigation refers to a law enforcement investigation, which will likely conclude that the statute of limitations has expired on any crimes actually committed, or an internal diocesan investigation which will be conducted by diocesan employees.

At the time of his removal, Kaza was the pastor at St. Tobias in Brockway and the President of the Dubois Central Catholic School Board.

The Diocese of Erie says that Kaza is residing with family members in a private home. He is without faculties to minister for so long as the investigation remains open.

Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy in the Diocese of Erie. 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 Erie may have legal options, but filing deadlines will apply so please do not delay in reaching out to us.

Time is Running Out to Register Your Sexual Abuse Claim Against the Diocese of Erie

Posted by admin on May 1, 2019

The deadline for survivors of sexual abuse to register their claims with the Diocese of Erie’s Independent Survivors’ Reparations Program (ISRP) is rapidly approaching. All claims must be registered by Friday, May 31, 2019.

Anyone sexually abused as a child by a Diocese of Erie priest or a lay employee in the Diocese of Erie is eligible to receive compensation from the ISRP regardless of how many years ago the abuse occurred. This includes anyone harmed by non-clergy such as teachers, coaches, school administrators, and music ministers. This opens the fund to a broader group of claimants than similar funds in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.

The ISRP is administered by a neutral third party, meaning that each claim is evaluated independently by a mediation firm, not by the Diocese of Erie itself, to determine the appropriate compensation for victims. The claims are generally resolved on a timeline that is much shorter than traditional litigation, and the process is completely confidential.

The voluntary settlement fund is currently the only vehicle for most survivors of sexual abuse to take action against the Diocese of Erie for what happened to them as children. Pennsylvania’s restrictive statute of limitations makes filing a lawsuit impossible in most cases.

Once the fund closes, most survivors of sexual abuse in the Diocese of Erie will have no other legal recourse unless there is a major change in Pennsylvania’s statutes of limitations. Due to the significant amount of time required to prepare the claims form, it is important to contact an attorney right away to begin the claims process.

The deadline for filing claims with the ISRP is May 31, 2019, so if you are a survivor of sexual abuse in the Diocese of Erie, please contact us now to discuss your options. You can reach us at (954) 641-2100 or at adam@adamhorowitzlaw.com.

Fr. Robert Pudlo – Diocese of Erie

Posted by admin on April 29, 2019

Fr. Robert Pudlo

Diocese of Erie

Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations:

In October 2018, the Diocese of Erie announced that it received an allegation of sexual abuse involving Fr. Robert Pudlo. The Diocese did not release any details about the allegation, such as the age/gender of the victim, the nature of the misconduct alleged, or Pudlo’s assignment with the Diocese of Erie at the time of the alleged abuse.

All the Diocese of Erie has said is that its internal review board is now investigating.

Pudlo died in 1986.

Frank Mariella – Diocese of Erie

Posted by admin on April 29, 2019

Frank Mariella, Sr.

Diocese of Erie

Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations:

In October 2018, the Diocese of Erie announced that it received an allegation of sexual abuse involving Frank Mariella, Sr. The Diocese did not release any details about the allegation, such as the age/gender of the victim, the nature of the misconduct alleged, or Mariella’s affiliation with the Diocese of Erie at the time of the alleged abuse.

All the Diocese of Erie has said is that its internal review board is now investigating.

Mariella is deceased, according to the Diocese of Erie.

Msgr. Conrad Kraus – Diocese of Erie

Posted by admin on April 29, 2019

Msgr. Conrad Kraus

Diocese of Erie

Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations:

In April 2019, the Diocese of Erie announced that it received an allegation of sexual abuse involving Msgr. Conrad Kraus. The Diocese did not release any details about the allegation, such as the age/gender of the victim, the nature of the misconduct alleged, or Kraus’ assignment at the time of the alleged abuse.

All the Diocese of Erie has said is that its internal review board is now investigating.

Kraus is deceased, according to the Diocese of Erie.

Ann Marie (Strall) Hanes – Diocese of Erie

Posted by admin on April 29, 2019

Ann Marie (Strall) Hanes

Diocese of Erie

Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations:

In April 2019, the Diocese of Erie announced that it had received an allegation of sexual abuse against its former employee, Ann Marie (Strall) Hanes. The Diocese did not release any information about the allegation, such as the age/gender of the victim, the nature of the misconduct alleged, or DiFrancisco’s affiliation with the Diocese of Erie.

All the Diocese of Erie stated is that its internal review board found the allegation against Hanes credible.

According to the Diocese of Erie, Hanes now resides in Spokane, Washington.

Michael DiFrancisco – Diocese of Erie

Posted by admin on April 29, 2019

Michael DiFrancisco

Diocese of Erie

Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations:

In April 2019, the Diocese of Erie announced that it had received an allegation of sexual abuse against its former employee, Michael DiFrancisco. The Diocese did not release any information about the allegation, such as the age/gender of the victim, the nature of the misconduct alleged, or DiFrancisco’s affiliation with the Diocese of Erie.

All the Diocese of Erie stated is that its internal review board is conducting an investigation.

DiFrancisco is deceased, according to the Diocese of Erie.

Albert Davies – Diocese of Erie

Posted by admin on April 29, 2019

Albert Davies

Diocese of Erie

Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations:

In April 2019, the Diocese of Erie announced that it added Albert Davies to its list of credibly accused child molesters. The Diocese did not release any additional information about the allegation(s) against Davies, such as the age/gender of his victim(s), the nature of the misconduct alleged, or Davies’ affiliation with the Diocese.

Davies is deceased.

Fr. Stephen Anderson – Diocese of Erie

Posted by admin on April 29, 2019

Father Stephen Anderson

Diocese of Erie

Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations:

In April 2019, the Diocese of Erie announced that it had received an allegation of sexual abuse committed by Fr. Stephen Anderson, and that the allegation is under investigation by its internal review board.

The Diocese of Erie did not release any additional details, such as the age/gender of the alleged victim, the nature of the misconduct alleged, or Anderson’s assignment at the time of the alleged abuse.

Anderson died in 2013.

Jonathan Borkowski – Diocese of Erie

Posted by admin on April 29, 2019

Jonathan Borkowski

Diocese of Erie

Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations:

In July 2018, the Diocese of Erie announced that it was adding Jonathan Borkowski to its list of accused child molesters. At the time, the Diocese of Erie announced that Borkowski was the subject to an internal investigation by the Diocese. In April 2019, the Diocese of Erie announced that it was amending its list to indicate that the sexual abuse allegation against Borkowski was deemed credible by the Diocese’s internal review board.

The Diocese of Erie has never released any information about the allegation, such as the age/gender of the victim, the misconduct alleged, or Borkowski’s affiliation with the Diocese of Erie.

Borkowski is believed to be residing in Fairview, Pennsylvania. He is 67 years old.