Rev. Russell J. Banner

Summary of Case: Placed on leave in 2002 pending review of past allegations. Previously underwent evaluation and treatment then returned to active ministry. In 2004 a second man alleged abuse for two years when he ages 12-14 and a resident at Parmadale Childrens' Home. Banner was a deacon counseling children at the home. This man filed suit in 2004. Banner worked in Phoenix, AZ 1986-87. Laicization announced March 19, 2015.  

Ordained: 1967
Laicized: 2015

   

Start Stop Assignment Town/Accusations State Position Notes
prior to ordination   Children's Village of St. Vincent de Paul, "Parmadale"

Cleveland

• In 2004 a man came forward with accusations that Banner sexually abused him when he was a boy residing at Parmadale, and Banner was a deacon. The man said he later served as an altar boy at Banner's ordination in 1967. (Plain Dealer [Cleveland, Ohio]
April 28, 2004)

OH Counselor  

1967

Cleveland bishop was Clarence George Issenman (1966-1974)

1970 St. Joan of Arc Chagrin Falls OH

2/2

 

 Parish had a school with 323 students.
1970 1974 Children's Village of St. Vincent de Paul, "Parmadale" Cleveland OH Chaplain Parmadale is described in the Directories ad a "Home for Dependent, Neglected, and Disturbed Children". There were 85-102 boys and 65-52 girls residing there during this time.

1974

Issenman was succeeded as bishop by James Aloysius Hickey (1974-1980)

1975 St. Martha's Akron OH 2/2 Parish had a school with 406 students.
1975 1979 Holy Family Stow OH 2/3, 3/4 Parish had a school with 702-683 students.

1979

Replacing Hickey was Anthony Michael Pilla (1980-2006)

1982 Epiphany Cleveland OH

1/1

 

 Parish had an elementary school with 302 children and a child enrichment/daycare center.
1979 1982 St. Catherine's Cleveland OH

4/4, 3/3

In residence

Parish had a school with 300-363.
1982 1983 St. Patrick's Cleveland OH 4/5 Parish had a school with 921 students.
1983 1984 Absent on Leave        
1984 1986 St. Clare's Lyndhurst OH 3/4 Parish had a school with 448-495 students.

1986

Phoenix bishop was Thomas Joseph O'Brien (1981-2003)

1987 St. Daniel the Prophet Scottsdale AZ 2/3 Parish had a school with 168 students.
1987 1989 Ascension Cleveland OH 2/4 Parish had a school with 553-545 students.
1989 2002 Annunciation

Cleveland

• Banner was suspended from ministry in April 2002, due to "years-old allegations of child sexual abuse". (Plain Dealer [Cleveland, Ohio]
April 9, 2002)

OH 1/2, 1/1 Parish had a school until 1994 with 175-122 students. The 2001-2002 Directories show a CCD program with 7-8 students.

2002

Pilla was followed as bishop by Richard Gerard Lennon
(2006- )

2009 Administrative Leave       As of 2004, Banner was living in Bradenton, FL. (Bradenton Herald
April 29, 2004)


Source: Official Catholic Directory (New York: P.J. Kenedy and Sons, 1968-2009)

Priests in a Parish: We use the following convention to show a priest's place among the clergy of a parish: 1/2 means that he is the first priest listed in the Official Catholic Directory (usually the pastor) and that there is a total of two priests at the parish. The shorthand 3/4 means that the priest is listed third on a four-priest roster. See our sample page from the Directory.

Note: The Official Catholic Directory aims to report the whereabouts of Catholic priests in the United States on January 1 of the Directory's publication year. Our working assumption is that a priest listed in the Directory for a given year was at the same assignment for part of the previous year as well. However, Kenedy and Sons will sometimes accept updates well into the year of publication. Diocesan clergy records are rarely available to correct this information. The Directory is also sometimes misleading or wrong. We have tried to create an accurate assignment record, given the source materials and their limitations. Assignment records are a work in progress and we are always improving the records that we post. Please email us with new information and corrections.

This assignment record collates Banner's career history as it is represented in the Official Catholic Directory with allegations as reported in the media. We make no representation regarding the truth of the allegation we report, and we remind our readers that the U.S. legal system presumes that a person accused of or charged with a crime is innocent until proven guilty. Similarly, individuals who may be defendants in civil actions are presumed not to be liable for such claims unless a plaintiff proves otherwise. Admissions of guilt or liability are not typically a part of civil or private settlements. For more information, see our posting policy.

This assignment record was last updated on October 29, 2020.