Fr. John E. Hammer

“Father Jack.” Ordained in 1979 for the Diocese of Youngstown. In 1985 Hammer was sent to St. Luke’s Institute for treatment due to allegations of child sexual abuse, after which he worked as a hospital chaplain in the Baltimore archdiocese. His faculties were removed in Baltimore in 1989. After Bishop Malone persuaded  Bishop Utener to take him, Hammer was assigned 1990-2002 to parishes in the Diocese of Saginaw, where he was incardinated in 1994. Hammer resigned from two pastorates in the Diocese of Saginaw in 4/2002 after admitting to sexually abusing an altar boy in Ohio 1980-1983. He was suspended in 5/2002. A lawsuit was filed in 9/2002 by three men from the Youngstown diocese and one from the Saginaw diocese, claiming church authorities knew of wrongdoing by Hammer as early as 1978. He moved back to Ohio to live with his family and found work at a fast-food restaurant. Included on the Baltimore archdiocese’s list of accused in 9/2002. Laicized in 2006. On the Saginaw diocese’s list 4/25/2018. On the Youngstown diocese’s list 10/29/2018. Included in the 4/5/2023 MD Attorney General’s Report and in the 6/25/2026 MI Attorney General’s Diocese of Saginaw Report. Per the MI A.G.’s report, there were allegations that Hammer abused six boys in Ohio,  ages 10-15, 1979-1985.