Fr. Leo J. Houseknecht

Ordained: 1968
Status: Sued

Died: 07/10/1990
Diocese: Diocese of Allentown PA

In a 1/2004 civil lawsuit, a woman alleged sexual abuse by Houseknecht when she was a student at Notre Dame High School in Bethlehem Township in the 1970s and Houseknecht was a teacher. She said Houseknecht spoke to her using crude/sexual language and that he inappropriately hugged her, his penis erect, at her family home. Per the 8/14/2018 PA Grand Jury Report, the woman said Houseknecht and another priest knew she was being abused by Rev. Richard J. Giuliani. Houseknecht was an active pastor when he died in 1990 at age 53. His name was included on the 8/19/2018 Allentown list of credibly accused.


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.