Fr. James F. Gaffney

Ordained: 1985
Status: Sued

Diocese: Diocese of Allentown PA

A suit filed in 2004 by a woman alleged she was sexually abused by Gaffney for two years beginning in 1990, when she was age 16 and he was Reading Catholic vice-principal. Per the suit, officials were notified and Gaffney was moved to St. Frances de Chantal in Easton, where he continued to have sex with the plaintiff when she was in college. Removed from active ministry in 2002. Laicized in 2015. Named in the 8/14/2018 PA Grand Jury Report and Allentown diocese’s 8/19/2018 list. Abuse alleged of a 14-year-old girl at 1985-1987, reported to the diocese in 1999. Also allegations of inappropriate sexual contact with adult women, one with a learning disability he was counseling. Suit filed in 1/2019 claimed harassment and threats of a former female Albright College student, where he taught after leaving the priesthood in 2002. She dropped the suit in in 6/2019.

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