Fr. Leonard A. Abercrombie

In a 7/1993 letter to Pope JP II, Denver’s Archbishop Stafford, and Los Angeles’ Cardinal Mahony, a man alleged he was sexually abused as a boy 1953-1957, from age 7, and said that others were also abused. Further, he said that in 1991 Abercrombie admitted the abuse to his (the man’s) sister. Abercrombie was a USAF chaplain 1950-1953 in L.A.; Baker diocese 1962-1964; listed on sick leave. V.A. chaplain in L.A. 1972-1993. Retired. Died in 10/1994. Abuse in the late 1950s reported to the Archdiocese of Denver in 2002. Suit filed in CA in 2003. The L.A. Archdiocese 2/17/2004 report noted two CA victims in the 1970s. Lawsuit in CO filed 9/20/2005. At least 9 men alleged abuse. Some suits were mediated. Others settled in 7/08. Per the CO Attorney General’s Report 10/22/2019, at least 18 boys were abused there by Abercrombie 1946-1972, and Denver knew as early as 1963. Victims were still surfacing in 2019.
- Murphy Letter to Pope 06.30.93
- L.A. Archdiocesan Report 02.17.04
- Denver Post 09.13.05
- Denver Post 09.21.05
- L.A. Archdiocesan Report Addendum 11.15.05
- Denver Post 12.18.05
- Denver Post 02.04.06
- Rocky Mountain News 02.14.06
- Denver Post 05.06.06
- Rocky Mountain News 05.24.06
- Rocky Mountain News 06.01.06
- Denver Post 11.02.06
- Denver Post 11.13.06
- Denver Post 01.05.07
- Colorado Springs Gazette 02.18.07
- Rocky Mountain News 09.14.07
- Rocky Mountain News 04.12.08
- Colorado Springs Gazette 05.25.08
- Denver Post 07.02.08
- CO Attorney General Report 10.22.19
- CO Attorney General Special Masters Report 10.22.19
- Catholic News Service 12.04.20
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