Pennsylvania AG Reveals 301 Priest Accused of Sexual Abuse Against Children, 41 From Erie Diocese

HARRISBURG, PA – A new report says more than 300 Roman Catholic priests in Pennsylvania – including one who worked in both Warren and Erie Counties – sexually abused thousands of children over a 70-year period.

An 884-page report made public Tuesday by Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro after a two-year investigation contained graphic examples of children being groomed and sexually abused by clergymen, and then silenced through “the weaponization of faith” and a systematic cover-up campaign by their bishops.

The investigation was largely based on documents from secret archives kept by the dioceses, including handwritten confessions by priests.

The investigation included details of the wrongdoings of 301 priests across the state including 41 from the Erie diocese. Among them was a priest who served in Erie and later served as pastor at St. Joseph Church in Warren.

According to a report from the Post-Journal, Father Thomas Smith is accused of sexually assaulted at least 15 boys between the ages of 7 and 17 at multiple parishes in the Erie Diocese between his ordination in 1967 and his placement in Warren in 1987. During that time it was discovered that he was assaulting children and he was directed by the Erie Bishop to undergo therapy. However, within a year his therapy was over and he was permitted to return to work and continue working around children at various parishes in Erie County. He then served as pastor at St. Joseph in Warren from December of 1987 through September of 1992.

He then returned to Erie County to serve in a parish and was reported as “very active” in a program for children. Smith retired in 2002.

The Vatican finally acted in 2006 and removed Smith from the priesthood, but the reasons for his removal were never made public.

Representatives of the six Pennsylvania dioceses included in the report could not be reached for comment.