Fr. James Edward Fritsch
“Edward.” Accused in a 2002 lawsuit of raping a girl, age 13, in 1966. The complainaint demanded release of Fritsch’s diocesan file. A settlement in 12/2004 revealed that the Covington Diocese had hospitalized Fritsch in 1965 after he had “contact with about 9 to 10 girls,” one age 15. He was assigned in 1965 to St. William’s in Lancaster, KY. The behavior continued during treatment. Fritsch was returned to work, then suspended. Sent to the Owensboro diocese. The complainant alleges abuse there and in the Evansville IN diocese. Fritsch left the priesthood and married in 1969. He went on to work in NJ as a clinical social worker and on a school board. Included on the Diocese’s list 7/31/2020 of those with substantiated allegation(s). On the Lexington Diocese’s list in 8/2020.
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