Assignment Record – Rev. John P. "Jack" Leary, s.j.

Summary of Case: A priest of the Oregon Province of the Society of Jesus ordained in 1951, Leary spent his career in higher education, founding several schools and establishing a reputation as a brilliant and charismatic innovator. Allegations that he was sexually abusing boys and young men began to surface in 1965 or 1966. Leary was president of Gonzaga University at the time; he was allowed to keep his post. In 1969 Spokane police were receiving reports of Leary's sexual abuse. They went to the Jesuits with the offer that Leary would be spared arrest if he left town within 24 hours; Leary was quietly sent away to a Jesuit boys' school in Lenox, MA to "recuperate." He went on to live and work in Logan, UT, Santa Clara, CA, San Francisco, CA, New York, NY, Reno, NV and Portland, OR. The Oregon Province Jesuits in 2006 claimed they didn't learn the details of allegations against Leary until 2006; they said documents show he may have abused "as many as" 12 youths.

Ordained: 1951
Died: Dec. 21, 1993

1951

San Francisco archbishop was John Joseph Mitty (1935-1961).

1952

Seattle archbishop was Thomas Arthur Connolly (1950-1975).

1955

Spokane bishop was Bernard Joseph Topel (1955-1978).

Spokane

• In 1965, Leary is said to have sexually assaulted an 18-year-old male Gonzaga freshman, whose job it was to drive Leary to a speaking engagement across the state. His accuser said that while he was sleeping in a hotel room during the trip, Leary slipped into his bed, naked, and tried to penetrate him. His accuser said he had to fight the priest off.

• Leary was accused in a 2006 lawsuit of sexually molesting a 12-year-old boy in 1965. The boy, who lived in a nearby neighborhood, is said to have been riding his bike near Gonzaga when Leary lured him into his office. Further, university officials are said to have found out about the incident and called the boy in for a meeting. They are said to have told the boy not to tell his parents, and that they would take care of it.

• In 1969 new allegations that Leary was sexually abusing boys and young men were reported to the Spokane police. The police told the Jesuits that Leary should leave town within 24 hours, or he would be arrested. Leary was quietly sent away.

Notes written by Leary show that in one case in 1966 he spoke with the parents of an accuser about the "misunderstanding." There was no investigation.

Jesuit officials stated publicly that Leary had to resign due to "ill health."

1969

Springfield bishop was Christopher Joseph Weldon (1950-1977).

1969

Salt Lake bishop was Joseph Lennox Federal (1960-1980).

1970

San Francisco archbishop was Joseph Thomas McGucken (1962-1977), followed by John Raphael Quinn (1977-1995).

1977

New York archbishop was Terence James Cooke (1968-1983).

1981

Reno-Las Vegas bishop was Norman Francis McFarland (1976-1986).

1987

Portland in Oregon archbishop was William Joseph Levada (1986-1995).

The 1988-1994 Directories do not list an assignment for Leary.

Leary died Dec. 21, 1993.

In 2006 the Oregon Province Jesuits stated they had recently discovered documents that showed Leary may have abused "as many as" 12 youths.

Sources: Official Catholic Directory (New York: P.J. Kenedy and Sons, 1952-1995)

• Public Statement of the Oregon Province of the Society of Jesus V. Rev. John D. Whitney, S.J. Provincial Superior, By Dale Goodwin and Peter Tormey, Gonzaga University, September 8, 2006
• Gonzaga Statement Regarding Sex Abuse Allegations, Gonzaga University Responds to Oregon Province Statement Regarding John Leary, S.J., Spokesman-Review, September 8, 2006
• Jesuits Hid Sexual Abuse by Ex-Gonzaga President, By Janet I. Tu and David Bowermaster, The Seattle Times [Spokane WA], September 9, 2006
• Cover-Up at Gonzaga, By John Stucke and Benjamin Shors, Spokesman-Review [Spokane WA], September 9, 2006
• Jesuits Say Educator Abused Boys, Gonzaga - Oregon Jesuit Officials Report a College President's Sex Offenses and the Order's Cover-Up, By Kimberly A.C. Wilson, The Oregonian, September 9, 2006
• Cover-Up at Gonzaga U., By Scott Jaschik, Inside Higher Ed [Spokane WA], September 11, 2006
• Sex Scandals at Catholic Colleges 'No Surprise', Says Catholic Education Lobby, Gonzaga President Abused Boys; Lacrosse Players Hire Strippers, LifeSite, September 13, 2006
• Spokane Abuse Victims Demand Lie Detector Test of Jesuit Leader, By Nicholas K. Geranios, The Associated Press, carried in KGW [Spokane WA], September 15, 2006
• Court Papers Reveal Man Took Gun to Kill Priest for Abuse of Son, The Associated Press, carried in KGW [Spokane WA], September 27, 2006
• Abuse Victims Seek Release of Accused Priests' Names, By Janet I. Tu, Seattle Times, October 4, 2006
• Abuse Cases Put Focus on Jesuits, By Janet I. Tu, The Seattle Times, October 16, 2006
• The Double Life of John Leary. The New College Founder Is Promoted As a Visionary. The College Should Openly Admit the Jesuit Priest Was a Pedophile, By Matt Smith , SF Weekly [Spokane WA], October 25, 2006
• Non-Monetary Undertakings of the Spokane Diocese, Diocese of Spokane , November 21, 2007
• Jesuit Head of Seattle U. Knew of Priest's Abuse, Lawsuit Claims, By Janet I. Tu and Nick Perry, Seattle Times, January 14, 2009
• A Safe Environment for Children & Youth, Catholic Diocese of Spokane, November 3, 2009
• Abuse Claims against Jesuits Reach 500, The Spokesman Review, December 6, 2009
• Northwest Jesuits Agree to Landmark Settlement for Hundreds of Clergy Sexual Abuse Victims, PVCA Press Release, March 25, 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 Leary'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 March 25, 2014.