Following the release of the Pennsylvania Grand Jury Report in August 2018, Bishop Joseph C. Bambera made a promise that he would be open and transparent in the way that the Diocese of Scranton handles occurrences of child sexual abuse. That commitment remains true.
In August 2018, the Diocese published on its website a list of all clergy, staff and volunteers who had been credibly accused of child sexual abuse. Since that time, additional names have been added to the online list as necessary, with public notification.
The Diocese was recently notified by the Franciscan Friars, Holy Name Province, that the name of a friar who had previously been stationed in ministry within the Diocese was being included on its listing against whom credible sexual abuse/misconduct claims have been made. As a result of this information, the
Diocese of Scranton has also decided to add the following name to its original list of credibly accused individuals:
MEMBERS OF RELIGIOUS ORDERS
Hennessy, Placid (OFM)
If you are aware of additional allegations of wrongdoing or any information that should be included on this list, please contact our Victim Assistance Coordinator, Mary Beth Pacuska at (570) 862-7551 or Father Gerald W. Shantillo, V.G., S.T.L., Vicar General, at (570) 207-2269. If you have suffered abuse by clergy or anyone working on behalf of the Diocese, you are encouraged to immediately contact law enforcement and/or Mary Beth Pacuska.