Fr. John A. Sarro

Ordained: 1979
Status: Charged

Died: 07/23/2018
Diocese: Diocese of Wilmington DE and MD

Credible allegation of abuse, stemming from the early 1980s while working in Papua New Guinea. Diocese said it learned of this in 1997; removed from ministry 1998. Name first released by Bishop Saltarelli 11/16/2006 on list of abusive priests. Living in a monitored religious community in Maryland. As of 11/2009 the Diocese was paying his pension and health benefits and $4,000/mo for assisted living expenses. Personnel file released in 2/2012. The bishop said the Diocese applied for laicization in 2009, but the Vatican did not approve. Sarro was criminally charged in 1/2018 with fondling and raping a girl under age 16 in the early 1990s, when he was pastor of St. Helena in Bellefonte. Sarro stated it “happened by accident.” Pleaded not guilty 2/9/2018. Died 7/23/2018, six months before scheduled trial.

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