Br. Francis A. Russell

Donate Photo
Order: SM
Status: Accused

Died: 06/19/1991
Diocese: Archdiocese of Cincinnati OH

Professed vows in 1939. Worked in OH, Puerto Rico, KY, Washington DC, NY, PA. In 11/2019 an anonymous former Purcell High School teacher told a news outlet that Bro. Frank Russell was known to sexually abuse students. He said that in 1978 a student told him and another teacher that Russell raped him; the former teacher said he immediately reported the abuse to the school. As vice-principal, Russell was in charge of detention and would allegedly take students who were in trouble to a motel and sexually abuse them. The Marianists denied receiving the 1978 report and said they did not receive another until 1994, after Russell’s death. Russell left Purcell in 1978, was assigned to the Diocese of Covington’s Office of Religious Ed then to Holy Cross High School in Latonia, KY. Retired in 1983. Died in 1991. On the Marianists’ list of accused 6/24/2020. On the Covington diocese’s list 7/31/2020.


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