Fr. Augustine M. Giella
Ordained for the Archdiocese of Newark NJ in 1950. Transferred to the Harrisburg PA in 1982. Retired in 1989; returned to NJ. Allegation in 1992 to the Harrisburg diocese that Giella had abused a child beginning in 1983. Arrested in NJ in 7/1992, indicted for child molestation and child porn. Pled not guilty to sex assault of an 11-year-old girl. Family filed lawsuit. He died in 5/1993, before he could be tried; suit settled with the diocese for $900K. Other women called news outlets saying they had been abused as minors in NJ in the 1960s by Giella. A PA woman filed suit in 2001; that and two other claims settled later in 2001. In 7/2018 two sisters alleging abuse through the 1980s by Giella asked a court to lift a gag order that was part of prior settlements with their other sisters. Accused of abuse of 5 girls in their family, one beginning at age 18 months. Name included on the Harrisburg diocese’s list released 8/1/2018. On Newark’s list 2/13/2019. The five sisters filed suit in 12/2019. Settlement of a claim in the low-to-mid six figures in 7/2023 that Giella sexually abused a boy, age 11-13, during 1984-1986. The abuse allegedly occurred at St. John the Evangelist Parish in Enhaut PA, where Giella was assigned.
- York Daily News 04.07.02
- York Daliy Record 08.09.16
- PennLive 08.09.16
- PennLive 07.02.18
- Associated Press 07.02.18
- Associated Press 07.02.18
- York Daily Record 08.01.18
- York Daily Record 08.01.18
- Pennlive 08.01.18
- Diocese of Harrisburg List 08.01.18
- PA Grand Jury Report Profile 08.14.18
- Mirror 09.09.18
- Morning Call 10.15.18
- The Patch 11.20.18
- Archdiocese of Newark List 02.13.19
- Archdiocese of Newark Tobin Letter 02.13.19
- Philadelphia Inquirer 12.01.19
- Patriot News 12.02.19
- Star Ledger 12.02.19
- Associated Press via Crux 12.03.19
- Bergen Record 12.09.19
- Bergen Record via NorthJersey com 12.01.20
- Law Offices of Mitchell Garabedian 10.30.23
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