Fr. Joseph T. Hammond

Ordained: 1931
Status: Accused

Died: 02/10/1985
Diocese: Diocese of Scranton PA

First named publicly as accused in the 8/14/18 PA Grand Jury Report. In 6/16 a man testified that when he was in high school in 1961, Hammond masturbated in front of him and tried to fondle him in the rectory of St. Leo’s in Ashley. He said other boys saw Hammond masturbating that night, too. The man said, in part, that he drove to the police station and that the officer on duty, who was a St. Leo’s parishioner, told him he didn’t want to hear it and to leave. He said he told his girlfriend, then his mother, who contacted the diocese, and that the diocese told her it would be taken care of. Hammond was kept in ministry and made Monsignor in 1968. He died in 1985. Hammond’s diocesan file had no record of the allegation, and the Ashley police had no record of the report. The GJ was able to corroborate the man’s story via another person who was there that night and from the man’s his wife, who was his girlfriend in 1961. On diocese’s list 8/19/18.


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.