Fr. Augustine Giella

Diocese: Archdiocese of Newark

Notes:

Transferred from Newark NJ in 1982. Retired 1989. Returned to NJ. Allegation in 1992 to the Harrisburg diocese that Giella had abused a child beginning in 1983. Arrested in NJ 7/92, 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 5/93, before he could be tried; suit settled with the diocese for $900,000. 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 7/18 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. On Harrisburg diocese’s list released 8/1/18. On Newark’s list 2/13/19.

Sources:

Harrisburg Patriot 08.20.92; Harrisburg Patriot 12.05.94; Legal Intelligencer (PA) 12.07.94; York Daily News 04.07.02PennLive 08.09.16York Daliy Record 08.09.16Associated Press 07.02.18Associated Press 07.02.18PennLive 07.02.18Pennlive 08.01.18York Daily Record 08.01.18York Daily Record 08.01.18Mirror 09.09.18Morning Call 10.15.18The Patch 11.20.18Archdiocese of Newark List 02.13.19Archdiocese of Newark Tobin Letter 02.13.19; http://bishop-accountability.org