Fr. Francis J. Fromholzer

Ordained: 1958
Status: Sued

Diocese: Diocese of Allentown PA

In 2002 a woman alleged sex abuse by Fromholzer, including on trip to the Poconos, in 9/1965 when she was a 13- to 14-year-old student and he was a young priest. Suit filed 1/2004. Second woman sued in 7/2004, alleging abuse on the same 1965 trip. No criminal prosecution due to the statute of limitations. Left active ministry in 9/2002. Last known to be living in FL. Named in the 8/14/2018 PA Grand Jury Report. Per the report, one girl told her school principal about abuse by Fromholzer in the 1960s and was then expelled. Another alleged victim said she told several priests in the 1980s who didn’t want to hear it and did nothing. She learned through the GJ report that after she came forward in 2002 to law enforcement the diocese investigated her. She filed suit against the diocese in 9/2018 alleging it caused the intentional infliction of emotional distress and defamation.


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