Fr. Philip A. Altavilla

Ordained: 1992
Status: Charges Dropped

Diocese: Diocese of Scranton PA

Vicar General and moderator of the curia 9/11-10/12. Pastor of St. Peter’s Cathedral in 4/14 when arrested and arraigned for molesting a 13-year-old altar girl in 112/15/98 after a midnight mass at St. Patrick’s. Accuser told police 4/2/14 that Altavilla gave her alcohol in the rectory, then drove her home. She said he he pulled into a parking lot and touched her inappropriately. Police had her call him; he reportedly admitted to giving her alcohol, touching her feet, and moving his hands up her thigh towards her vagina. He admitted to pantyhose, feet, strangulation and chloroform fetish. Diocese removed him and suspended his faculties. After accuser testified at preliminary hearing 5/27/14, magistrate ruled that matter to go forward to trial. Charges dropped 8/1/14 due to SOL. Civil suit filed, settled in 2014.

Return to main database page. See abbreviations and posting policy. Send corrections.

Our Database of Publicly Accused does not state or imply that individuals facing allegations are guilty of a crime or liable for civil claims. The reports contained in the database are merely allegations. The U.S. legal system presumes that a person accused of or charged with a crime is innocent until proven guilty. Similarly, individuals who may be defendants in civil actions are presumed not to be liable for such claims unless a plaintiff proves otherwise. Admissions of guilt or liability are not typically a part of civil or private settlements. For more information, see our posting policy.