PHILADELPHIA (PA)
Delaware County Daily Times [Exton PA]
August 9, 2023
By Alex Rose
Assault allegedly took place in 2006 by Pastor John Close
The Archdiocese of Philadelphia has agreed to pay $3.5 million to settle a case alleging one of its priests, the late Reverend Monsignor John A. Close, sexually assaulted a 14-year-old boy in 2006.
Close allegedly took the boy’s confession, then raped him and told him the sexual assault was necessary to absolve him of his sins. Close also allegedly threatened the victim with eternal damnation if he told anyone.
The alleged victim, now 30, was attending religious classes at St. Katherine’s of Sienna in Wayne at the time, attorneys David Inscho and Lorraine Donnelly said in a release. He did not report the assault until 2018, but continues to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, the release states.
The case settled just before going to trial in Philadelphia Common Pleas Court, according to the release.
Kenneth Gavin, chief communications officer for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, said in a statement that the church acknowledges the settlement and the resolution it brings, but that it had no knowledge of this specific allegation prior to Close’s death in 2018.
“It was brought forward by the plaintiff’s attorneys in July 2019,” said Gavin. “In accordance with policy, the archdiocese reported the allegation to law enforcement.”
Attorneys for the plaintiff say the archdiocese was aware that Close was a danger to children as early as the 1970s, however, when a pastor reported that he had teenage boys sleeping overnight in his room in the rectory. Close was reassigned to another parish, the attorneys state.
Another alleged victim told the archdiocese sometime prior to 2004 that Close sexually assaulted him when he was an altar boy in the late 1960s at Christ the King parish in Philadelphia, the release says, but that allegation was dismissed after the archdiocese – conducting an internal investigation – found “inconsistencies” in the victim’s case.
A third alleged victim reported in 2011 that Close sexually assaulted him when he was a student at Archbishop Wood High School in Warminster in the early 1990s, where Close was the principal. The archdiocese again cleared Close of wrongdoing in that case, according to the release.
Suspect died in 2018
According to information provided by Gavin, Close was ordained a priest in 1969.
He served at Christ the King Parish from 1969-1972; St. John the Evangelist Parish in 1972; Cardinal O’Hara High School from 1972-1984; St. James Catholic High School for Boys from 1984-1987; St. Pius X High School from 1987-1990; Archbishop Wood High School from 1990-1994; St. Michael the Archangel Parish from 1994-1996; St. Charles Borromeo Seminary from 1996-2000; Cathedral Basilica of Ss. Peter and Paul from 2000-06; and St. Katharine of Siena Parish from 2006-2011.
Close was placed on administrative leave and had his priestly faculties restricted in 2011 before his retirement in 2012. Close resided at Villa St. Joseph in Darby until his death on March 6, 2018. He was still in good standing with the church at that time, according to the plaintiff’s attorneys. It was unclear Wednesday whether the settlement would change that standing.
“This latest settlement holds the archdiocese accountable for failing to protect our client and other children,” said Inscho, an attorney at Kline & Specter PC. “Through litigation we were able to expose that the archdiocese protected Father Close despite multiple reports of inappropriate behavior with children. The archdiocese’s handling of allegations against Close, through secretive and biased investigations, allowed him to remain in ministry and assault our client.”
Gavin said every allegation of such abuse is reported to law enforcement and no canonical or internal investigation is done unless and until any criminal investigation or prosecution is concluded. Those found to have sexually abused a minor are permanently removed from ministry, and their name, photograph and assignment history are posted on the archdiocesan website, he said.
“With today’s announcement, the archdiocese reaffirms its longstanding commitment to preventing child abuse, protecting the young people entrusted to its care, and providing holistic means of compassionate support for those who suffered sexual abuse at the hands of our clergy,” he said. “We deeply regret the pain suffered by any survivor of child sexual abuse and have a sincere desire to help victims on their path to healing.”
Kline & Spector previously secured the largest civil settlement from the Philadelphia Archdiocese in 2018 for an undisclosed amount in the case of Sean McIlmail, who died of a drug overdose in 2013 during pendency of criminal charges against Father Robert Brennan.
Brennan — a priest with longstanding ties to Delaware County who had been accused of inappropriate contact with numerous minors over the years — was sentenced to five years of probation last year after lying to federal investigators about knowing McIlmail and his family.
Gavin noted none of the funds given to the Catholic Charities Appeal, Seminary Appeal or other donor-designated funds would be used for the settlement.
He urged anyone who wants to report an allegation of sexual abuse or any other criminal activity perpetrated by a priest, deacon, employee, or volunteer of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia to contact your local law enforcement agency and/or the Archdiocesan Office for Investigations at 1-888-930-9010.