Fr. John Cornelius

Ordained: 1975
Status: Settled

Diocese: Archdiocese of Seattle WA

Alias John Cornelius McKenna. Seminarian in Boise ID, ordained for the Archdiocese of Seattle. Accused of molesting a boy in eastern Oregon in 1968, while a student at Mt. Angel Seminary. Worked in the Seattle archdiocese 1975-2002. Adopted several youths. Accused by at least 20 of them of abuse when they were minors in the 1970s-1980s. Laicized in 2004. In 2006 two brothers settled with the archdiocese for $1M. Several other cases pending at the time. Included on archdiocese’s list released 1/15/2016 of clergy or religious with admitted, established or credible allegations of sexual abuse of a minor. On the Boise diocese’s list in 10/2019. Settlement in 2022. Per Seattle’s list in 3/2023, Cornelius is deceased.

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