Priest Accused of Sexual Assault

By Frank Wilkes Lesnefsky
Citizens Voice
March 25, 2020

https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/priest-accused-of-sexual-assault-1.2611005

The Lackawanna County district attorney’s office is investigating a 40-year-old sexual assault allegation against a Diocese of Scranton priest.

The diocese announced Monday the Rev. James J. Walsh had resigned as pastor of St. Maria Goretti Parish in Laflin after diocesan officials launched an investigation into a sexual assault allegation.

The allegation did not involve minors, the diocese said.

The alleged incident took place in 1979 while Walsh was serving as assistant pastor at the Church of St. Gregory in Clarks Green. The diocese learned of the incident on March 6, 2019, and notified the district attorney’s office, according to the diocese.

The allegation is under investigation, District Attorney Mark Powell said.

“Since it is under investigation, it would be inappropriate for me to comment at this time,” he said.

In addition to notifying authorities, the diocese’s outside counsel retained a professional investigator. During their investigation, the diocese received another allegation involving inappropriate behavior by Walsh with an adult, according to the diocese. The investigator also reviewed two prior reports of possible misconduct involving Walsh.

Walsh denied all allegations.

However, the diocese determined the allegations were credible. When the Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, bishop of the diocese, told Walsh he intended to remove him as pastor, Walsh resigned, the diocese said.

Contact the writer:

Contact: flesnefsky@timesshamrock.com

570-348-9100 x5181, @flesnefskyTT

The Rev. James J. Walsh’s appointments:

n Diaconate service, Annunciation Church, Williamsport, June 1972.

n Assistant pastor, St. Ann’s, Tobyhanna, May 1973.

n Assistant pastor, Holy Rosary, Scranton, September 1973.

n Assistant pastor, St. Clare, Scranton, September 1974.

n Assistant pastor, Cathedral of St. Peter, Scranton, March 1975.

n Studies at Catholic University in Washington, D.C., September 1977.

n Assistant pastor, St. Ann’s, Tobyhanna, May 1978.

n Studies at Catholic University in Washington, D.C., August 1978.

n Assistant pastor, St. Gregory Church, Clarks Green, June 1979.

n Assistant pastor, St. John the Evangelist, June 1983.

n Assistant pastor, St. Patrick’s, Olyphant, September 1984.

n Administrator, part-time, St. Francis Parish, Nanticoke, June 1985.

n Pastor, St. Joseph Parish, White Mills, September 1985.

n Pastor, St. Mary Parish, Avoca, June 1991.

n Pastor, Sacred Heart of Mary, Jermyn, July 1996.

n Pastor, Our Lady of Sorrows Parish, West Wyoming, and St. Joseph Parish, Wyoming, July 2006.

n Administrator, St. Francis of Assisi, Scranton, July 2009.

n Senior priest, St. Patrick Parish, Scranton, October 2009.

n Full-time in Diocesan Tribunal Office, July 2010.

n Pastor, St. Joseph Parish, Matamoras, July 2013.

n Pastor, St. Maria Goretti, Laflin, June 2015.

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