Fr. John Douglas Edwards
Named publicly on the archdiocese’s list 11/6/2018. Assignments included fourteen parishes over the years, often for only a year or two. Leaves of absences 1973-1974 and 1986-1987. Last assignment was 1987-1989. Removed from ministry in 2/1990. Laicized in 1992. Died in 1997. Lawsuit filed in 12/2018 by a man alleging abuse 1976-1978 when he was an altar boy, ages 12-15. Included in the 3/24/2023 GA PAC Report. Indications in Edwards’ personnel file of issues as early as 1962, when he admitted to “charges” involving boys, leading to Archbishop Hallinan prohibiting Edwards from visiting private homes and requiring him to report monthly to the Archbishop. In 2018 a man disclosed that Edwards abused him at ages 12-13 in 1962-1964. The PAC report details reports of abuse of boys in every decade of his career, and that he was sent to treatment and reassigned, despite concern expressed to the Archdiocese from at least one fellow priest, a nun, and parishioners.
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