Fr. James F. Rapp

Order: OSFS
Ordained: 1967
Status: Convicted

Diocese: Diocese of Salt Lake City UT

Worked in PA, UT, NY, IL, MI and OK. Teacher, wrestling coach. Accused of abuse of at least two MI boys in 1987. Removed, sent to counseling. Accepted in 1987 into the Joliet diocese by Bishop Imesch, who knew of Rapp’s sexual abuse of boys. Also worked in OK; abused boys there. Convicted 1999 in OK; 40-year sentence. $5M settlement in OK civil suit. Accused in 2003 Utah suit by two brothers; dismissed on SOL. Laicized 9/21/2009. Charged in 5/2015 with abuse in the 1980s of boys at Lumen Christi High in Jackson MI. Six more counts added 6/26/2015. Pleaded no contest in 2/2016. Sentenced to up to 40 years 4/29/2016. On the Salt Lake diocese’s list 12/4/2018, where he was accused 11/00-2002 of abuse of four minors 1969-1975. On Lansing list 9/27/2019. On OK City list 10/3/2019. On Joliet list (ord date wrong). New suit 10/2020 in UT. New suit 11/2020 v Salt Lake diocese alleges a nun walked in on Rapp abusing a boy, did nothing, threatened the boy. Included in the 5/23/2023 IL Attorney General’s Report.


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