Rev. Charles F. Engelhardt, o.s.f.s.

Summary of Case: A priest of the Oblates of St. Francis DeSales, Engelhardt was charged in February 2011 with orally sodomizing and molesting a 10 year-old altar boy in 1998 and 1999. The charges were the result of a Philadelphia District Attorney's investigation, which also resulted in the arrests of two other priests and a parochial school teacher on similar charges. Arrested, too, for knowingly putting children in harm's way, was a Monsignor who had been Secretary of Clergy for the archdiocese under Cardinal Bevilacqua. Engelhardt denied the accusations. Englehardt was convicted January 30, 2013.

Ordained
: 1977

   

Start Stop Parish Town/Accusations State Position Notes

1977

Philadelphia archbishop was John Joseph Krol (1961-1988)

1983 Salesianum School Wilmington DE Listed as assistant principal in the 1983 Directory. This was a high school with 1,100-1,220 students, all male.

1983

Anthony Joseph Bevilacqua succeeded Krol (1987-2003)

1992 Northeast Catholic High School Faculty House Philadelphia PA   Northeast Catholic had 1680-940 students, all male.
1992 2000 Fr. Judge High School for Boys Philadelphia PA   Fr. Judge HIgh had 1,431-1400 students.
1998 2000 St. Jerome's

Philadelphia

As the result of a Philadelphia District Attorney's investigation, Engelhardt was arrested in Feb. 2011 on charges that he orally sodomized and raped a 10 year-old altar boy in St. Jerome's sacristy from 1998 to 1999. Engelhardt was accused also of giving the boy altar wine and showing him pornography. Engelhardt maintained he was innocent. The case went to trial in January 2013.

PA 4/5

St. Jerome's had a school with 831-823 students.

Charged in Feb. 2011 along with Engelhardt for the same offenses against the same boy was Edward Avery, an archdiocesan priest who had been defrocked in 2006. The boy's sixth grade teacher, Bernard Shero, was arrested in Feb. 2011 for orally and anally sodomizing the same boy at age 11. Shero was convicted in Jan. 2013. Rev. James Brennan, another archdiocesan priest, was arrested in Feb. 2011 on charges that he had sodomized a 14 year old in 1996, while on leave. Brennan was assigned to St. Jerome's in 1997. Msgr. William J. Lynn, who had been Secretary of Clergy for the archdiocese, was arrested in Feb. 2011 for knowingly putting children in harm's way, "going out of his way to put known abusers into contact with adolescents", which lead to the abuse of at least two more boys. Lynn was convicted in June 2012. The Grand Jury Report details the D.A.'s findings.

2000

Justin Francis Rigali replaced Bevilacqua (2003- )

2005 Mater Dolorosa Philadelphia PA 1/1, 1/2 Mater Dolorosa had a school until 2003 with 196-125 students, and a religious education program with 25 students.
2005 2007 St. Anthony of Padua Wilmington DE 3/5 St. Anthony's had a grade school with 364 students and a high school with 595 students. It also had a religious education program with 45-58 students.
2007 Dec. 2010 Resurrection of Our Lord Philadelphia PA

2/2, 2/3

Parochial Vicar

Parish had a school with 609-510 students and a religious education program with 113-62 students.

Engelhardt was ordered to leave this parish when the archdiocese was notified of sexual abuse allegations against him on Jan. 30, 2009. He was found to still be at the parish doing office work in Dec. 2010. The archdiocese told news sources that they "intervened and it ended."

2009 Feb. 2011 Villa De Sales Oblate Residence Wyndmoor PA    
Feb. 2011          

A trial scheduled for early Sept. 2012 was postponed indefinitely, due to a death in the family of a defense attorney.

Englehardt was convicted January 30, 2013.

 

Sources: Official Catholic Directory (New York: P.J. Kenedy and Sons, 1978-2010)

Investigation of Sexual Abuse by Clergy II, City of Philadelphia, February 10, 2011
Philadelphia Grand Jury Final Presentment, February 10, 2011
Statement from the District Attorney on the Arrest of Four Philadelphia Clergy Members and Teacher, City of Philadelphia, February 10, 2011
Philadelphia Grand Jury Final Report, February 10, 2011
4 Priests Charged in Sex Abuse Investigation, By David O’Reilly, Philadelphia Inquirer, February 10, 2011
3 Priests, 1 Teacher Accused of Sexual Abuse in Philadelphia, Island Crisis, February 10, 2011
Philly DA Charges Priests, Teacher with Assault, Washington Post, February 10, 2011
3 Priests, 1 Teacher, Charged with Sexual Assault, By David Chang, NBC Philadelphia, February 10, 2011
Philadelphia DA Charges Priests, Teacher in Sex Abuse Case, CBS Philly, February 10, 2011
Statement of Cardinal Justin Rigali, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia, February 10, 2011
Three Philadelphia Priests, Teacher Charged with Sexually Abusing Boys, By Sarah Hoye, CNN, February 10, 2011
Philly DA Charges Priests, Teacher with Assault, Times Leader, February 10, 2011
Priests, Teacher Charged with Rape, By James Mcginnis, Bucks County Courier Times, February 11, 2011
Philly DA Charges Priests, Teacher with Assault, NPR, February 11, 2011
Philadelphia Priests Accused by Grand Jury of Sexual Abuse and Cover-up, By Jon Hurdle, New York Times, February 11, 2011
Three with Area Connections Named in Priest Sexual Assault Case, By Patti Mengers, Main Line, February 11, 2011
Grand Jury Report: Archdiocese's Policies on Sex Abuse by Priests Feeble and Ineffective, By John P. Martin, Philadelphia Inquirer, February 11, 2011
Philly Priest in Child Sex Assault Case Worked in Wilm., By Amy Cherry, WDEN, February 15, 2011
Editorial: Archdiocese's Response to Abuse Flawed, Daily Times, February 16, 2011
Jury Convicts Lynn of One Count, Deadlocks on Brennan, By John P. Martin and Joseph A. Slobodzian, Philadelphia Inquirer, June 23, 2012
Bishops Cullen and Cistone to Be Named Defendants in Ongoing Civil Case against Archdiocese of Philadelphia, By Ralph Cipriano, Philadelphia Priest Abuse Trial Blog, August 21, 2012
Sex Abuse Victim to Sue 2 Bishops with Philadelphia Ties, By Pat Ciarrocchi, CBS Philly, August 24, 2012
Trial to Open in Notorious Archdiocesan Abuse Case, By Joseph A. Slobodzian, Philadelphia Inquirer, September 2, 2012
Accuser Returns for Another Philly Priest Trial, By Maryclaire Dale, Seattle Pi, September 3, 2012
Trial of a Priest and a Teacher Accused in Boy's Rape Set to Begin in Philadelphia, By Sarah Hoye, CNN, September 4, 2012
Ex-Priest, School Teacher Head to Trial, Accused of Sexually Abusing Same Boy, By Victoria Cavaliere, New York Daily News
September 4, 2012
Clergy Sex Abuse Trial Part 2 Delayed Indefinitely, By Tony Hanson, CBS Philly, September 4, 2012
Deaths in Lawyer's Family Delay Sexual Abuse Trial of Priest and Teacher, By Joseph A. Slobodzian, Philadelphia Inquirer, September 5, 2012
2nd Philly Priest-Abuse Trial Set for Oct. 22, By Maryclaire Dale, KTVU, September 7, 2012
Phila. Prosecutors May Call Defrocked Priest to Testify, By Joseph A. Slobodzian, Philadelphia Inquirer, September 7, 2012
Jury Selection for Engelhardt/shero Trial Begins Monday, By Susan Matthews, Catholics4change, January 04, 2013
Part Two of Landmark Clergy Sex Abuse Case to Begin Monday, Jan. 7, By Ralph Cipriano, Philadelphia Priest Abuse Trial Blog, January 04, 2013
Trial Starts Monday for Priest, Teacher in Philadelphia Clergy Sex-Abuse Case, By Joseph A. Slobodzian, Philadelphia Inquirer,
January 7, 2013
Jury Selection Begins in Priest Sex Abuse Case, By Joseph A. Slobodzian, Philadelphia Inquirer, January 7, 2013
Priest, Teacher Face Sexual Abuse Allegations at Philly Trial, By Tom MacDonald, The Newsworks, January 7, 2013
Four Jurors Picked in Philly Sex-Abuse Trial of Priest and Teacher, By Joseph A. Slobodzian, Philadelphia Inquirer, January 8, 2013
Prospective Juror Doesn't Buy Celibacy, Big Trial, January 8, 2013
Prospective Juror Has a Priest Cousin Who Wrote a Love Letter to an Altar Boy, By Ralph Cipriano, Big Trial, January 8, 2013
Former Altar Boy Faces a Grilling, By Ralph Cipriano, Big Trial, January 9, 2013
Six More Jurors Selected in Sex-Abuse Trial, Philadelphia Inquirer, January 9, 2013
Testimony in Philadelphia Clergy Sex-abuse Trial to Begin Monday, By Joseph A. Slobodzian, Philadelphia Inquirer, January 10, 2013
Priest, Ex-Teacher Face Sex Trial in Philadelphia, By Maryclaire Dale, ABC News, January 13, 2013
Editorial: Suspected Pedophile Clergy Still Flying under Radar, The Daily Times, January 14, 2013
Alleged Clergy Sex Abuse Trial Scheduled to Begin, By Tony Hanson, CBS Philly, January 14, 2013
Money Is Motivating Phila. Priest Sex-abuse Claims, Says Defense Attorney, By Tony Hanson, CBS Philly
January 14, 2013
Opening Statements in Priest Abuse Trial, By Allison Steele, Philadelphia Inquirer, January 14, 2013
Lawyer Says Accuser Can’t Be Believed in Philadelphia Abuse Trial Involving Priest, Ex-Teacher ,Washington Post , January 14, 2013
Lawyer Attacks Accuser in Philly Priest Sex Abuse Trial, By Maryclaire Dale, Daily Times, January 14, 2013
Trial Begins for Priest and Teacher Accused of Abusing Altar Boy, By Jon Hurdle, The New York Times, January 14, 2013
Former Altar Boy Faces a Grilling, By Ralph Cipriano, Big Trial, January 15, 2013
Philly Priest Accuser Could Testify Tuesday, Daily Times, January 15, 2013
Sex-Abuse Trial Begins for Priest, Former Teacher, By Allison Steele, Philadelphia Inquirer, January 15, 2013
Policeman’s Son Says He Withdrew, Turned to Heroin after Abuse by 2 Philly Priests, Teacher, Washington Post, January 15, 2013
Man, 24, Testifies of Childhood Assaults by Priest, Teacher, By Allison Steele, Philadelphia Inquirer, January 15, 2013
"Billy Doe" Returns to Courtroom 304, By Ralph Cipriano, Big Trial, January 15, 2013
Lawyer: Church Accuser Gave 3 Locations for Rape, By Maryclaire Dale, Houston Chronicle, January 16, 2013
Lawyer Questions Memory of Philadelphia Accuser, By Maryclaire Dale, Stamford Advocate, January 16, 2013
Accuser in Philadelphia Priest Sex Abuse Case Is Grilled by Defense Attorneys, By Tony Hanson, CBS Philly, January 16, 2013
Witness: after Rape by Teacher 'I Had to Go' to School, By Joseph A. Slobodzian, Philadelphia Inquirer, January 17, 2013
Ex-priest Recants, Throwing Wrench into Sex-abuse Case, By Mensah M. Dean, Philadelphia Daily News, January 18, 2013
Prosecution Rests Its Child Abuse Case against Philadelphia Priest, Teacher, By Tony Hanson, CBS Philly, January 22, 2013
Lawyers for Two Accused of Abuse Paint Different Pictures, By Joseph A. Slobodzian, Philadelphia Inquirer, January 23, 2013
Social Worker Testifies about Pa. Priest Accuser, The NECN, January 23, 2013
Archdiocese Victim-Services Coordinator Testifies, By Joseph A. Slobodzian, Philadelphia Inquirer, January 23, 2013
"Billy Doe" Told Catholic Social Workers from the Archdiocese Wild Stories about Violent Sex Attacks from Predators, By Ralph Cipriano, Big Trial , January 23, 2013
Teacher's Lawyer Says Sex Accuser "Gaming System", By Maryclaire Dale, San Luis Obispo Tribune, January 24, 2013
Abuse Case against Phila. Priest and Former Teacher Nears Its End, By Joseph A. Slobodzian, Philadelphia Inquirer, January 24, 2013
Teacher's Lawyer Says Sex Accuser "Gaming System", NECN, January 24, 2013
Two Defendants Elect Not to Testify in Archdiocese Sex Abuse Case, By Ralph Cipriano, Big Trial, January 24, 2013
Case of Philadelphia Priest and Former Teacher Accused of Raping Altar Boy Headed to Jury, By Joseph A. Slobodzian, Philadelphia Inquirer, January 25, 2013
Pa. Priest Trial Closes As Civil Lawyers Look on, By Maryclaire Dale, News Times, January 25, 2013
Jury Starts Work on Sex-abuse Case against Priest, Ex-teacher, By Joseph A. Slobodzian, Philadelphia Inquirer, January 25, 2013
Prosecutor Tries Vainly to Plug All the Holes in His Case, By Ralph Cipriano, Big Trial, January 25, 2013
No Verdict in Philly Church-abuse Trial, but Jurors Ask about Accuser's Absent Brother, The Republic, January 28, 2013
Judge in Archdiocese Sex Abuse Case Keeps Jury Questions Secret, By Ralph Cipriano, Big Trial, January 28, 2013
Priest, Teacher Convicted in Pa. Church Abuse Case, by Maryclaire Dale, Associated Press, Philadelphia, January 30, 2013




Priests in a Parish: We use the following convention to show a priest's place among the clergy of a parish: 1/2 means that he is the first priest listed in the Official Catholic Directory (usually the pastor) and that there is a total of two priests at the parish. The shorthand 3/4 means that the priest is listed third on a four-priest roster. See our sample page from the Directory.

Note: The Official Catholic Directory aims to report the whereabouts of Catholic priests in the United States on January 1 of the Directory's publication year. Our working assumption is that a priest listed in the Directory for a given year was at the same assignment for part of the previous year as well. However, Kenedy and Sons will sometimes accept updates well into the year of publication. Diocesan clergy records are rarely available to correct this information. The Directory is also sometimes misleading or wrong. We have tried to create an accurate assignment record, given the source materials and their limitations. Assignment records are a work in progress and we are always improving the records that we post. Please email us with new information and corrections.

This assignment record collates Engelhardt's career history as it is represented in the Official Catholic Directory with ... as it is reported in the media. We make no representation regarding the truth of the allegation we report, and we remind our readers that 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.

This assignment record was last updated on Jan. 30, 2013