Assignment Record – Rev. Louis A. Bonacci, s.j.

Summary of Case: A Jesuit priest of the Maryland Province, Bonacci was accused in April 2011 of having improperly touched a minor in Maryland between 1973-1982. A second person emerged with a similar accusation during the Province's investigation of the first case.
Bonacci was permanently removed from ministry in June 2011 and was said to be living in a monitored Jesuit residence.

Ordained: 1973

   

Start Stop Parish/Assignment Town/Accusations State/Country Position Notes
1963 1973       seminarian Entered the Jesuits in 1963.

1968

Philadelphia archbishop was John Joseph Krol (1961-1988).

1970 St. Joseph's Preparatory School Philadelphia PA teacher  

1970

Boston archbishop was Humberto Sousa Medeiros (1970-1983).

1973 Weston School of Theology Cambridge MA    

1973

Altoona-Johnstown bishop was James John Hogan (1966-1986).

1974 Novitiate of St. Isaac Jogues Wernersville PA    
1973 1974 Jesuit Center for Spiritual Growth Wernersville PA intern  
1974 1978 Pontifical Gregorian University Rome Italy student  

1978

Baltimore archbishop was William Donald Borders (1974-1989).

1982 Loyola College

Baltimore

• Bonacci was accused in April 2011 of "the improper touching of a minor in a family home", between 1978-1982.

• During the Jesuits' investigation of the first allegation, a second person accused Bonacci of "similar sexual contact" when this person was a minor in Maryland.

MD assistant director of campus ministry  

1982

Charlotte bishop was Michael Joseph Begley (1971-1984), followed by John Francis Donoghue (1984-1993)

1987 Our Lady of Mercy Winston-Salem NC 2/2, 3/3 In residence. Our Lady of Mercy had a school with 236-180 students.
1986 1988 Wake Forest University; NC School of the Arts

Charlotte NC campus minister  
1986 1988 Salem College; Winston-Salem State University Winston-Salem NC campus minister  
1987 1988 St. Benedict the Moor Winston-Salem NC 2/2 In residence.  

1988

Cincinnati archbishop was Daniel Edward Pilarczyk (1982-2009).

1990 Marianist Community Dayton OH Sabbatical and graduate studies at the International Marian Research Institute at the from 1988 until 1994. Bonacci's address is listed as Apt D, 963 Wilmington Ave., Dayton, OH. The 1989 Directory indexes him as Louis Bonacci, s.m.
1990 1991 Faber Jesuit Community Cincinnati OH    
1991 1994 Marianist Community Dayton OH   Bonacci's address is listed as Apt D, 963 Wilmington Ave., Dayton, OH.
1994 1999 Xavier University Cincinnati OH campus minister  
1994 1998 Jesuit Community at Xavier University Cincinnati OH    
1998 1999 Faber Jesuit Community Cincinnati OH    

1999

Wheeling-Charleston bishop wa Bernard William Schmitt (1989-2004).

2003 Wheeling Jesuit University Wheeling WV campus minister; adjunct professor of theology  

2003

Scranton bishop was Joseph Francis Martino (2003-2009), followed by Joseph Charles Bambera (2010-)

2011 The University of Scranton Scranton PA campus minister; adjunct professor of theology; editor of Shepherds of Christ newsletter Per news accounts, Bonacci held these roles at the University of Scranton from 2003-2004. The Directories list him as at the University consistently from 2003-2011.
2004 2005 Misericordia University Dallas PA    
2005 2011 Diocese of Scranton Scranton PA coordinator of spiritual direction for priests and deacons Bonacci was suspended from ministry in the diocese in April 2011, after an accusation of "improper touching of a minor" emerged, dating from 1978-1982. The Jesuits' Maryland Province removed him permanently from ministry in June 2011.

 

Sources: Official Catholic Directory (New York: P.J. Kenedy and Sons, 1974-2011)

• Former Campus Minister at Xavier Accused of Improperly Touching Minor, By Trina Edwards, Fox 19, June 7, 2011
• Statement from the Society of Jesus Regarding Fr. Louis Bonacci, S.J., Roman Catholic Diocese of Scranton, June 7, 2011
• Sexual Abuse Allegations Levied against Priest, By Erin L. Nissley, Citizens Voice, June 8, 2011
• Priest Removed from Ministry, Times Leader, June 8, 2011
• Newly Suspended Priest Worked in Scranton, SNAP, June 7, 2011
• Former XU Priest under Investigation, By Kevin Osborne, Cincinnati City Beat, June 8, 2011
• Former Loyola Ministry Director Accused of Sexual Abuse, By Don Markus, Baltimore Sun, June 9, 2011



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 Bonacci'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 April 23, 2013