A Message from the President

A message from the president regarding the Maryland Province releasing the names of Jesuits credibly accused of sexual abuse of minors.

Dear Members of the University Community,

Today, the Maryland Province of the Society of Jesus is releasing the names of Jesuits from the province, and other Jesuits who have served the province, who have been credibly accused of sexual abuse of minors since 1950. The release is part of the Society’s efforts to foster reconciliation and healing for all those who have suffered by answering a demand for transparency and accountability.

Four of the Jesuits named in release were associated in the past with the Scranton Jesuit Community or the University.  These names were already included in the Pennsylvania Grand Jury Report in August or in earlier disclosures by the Province and the Diocese of Scranton over the years.  The Maryland Province encourages anyone who has been victimized by a Jesuit to contact the Victim Advocacy Coordinator at 443-370-6357 or at MARadvocacy@jesuits.org, and appropriate law-enforcement and child-protective agencies. 

The University of Scranton is deeply committed to our efforts to respond to this crisis in the Church through the Task Force on Reconciliation, Healing and Hope.  Members of the Task Force have done much already to listen and gather insight from campus constituents and others as they continue in their important work. Through the Task Force and the initiatives that it will implement, we commit ourselves to harnessing the personal, spiritual, pastoral and academic resources of The University of Scranton, as a Catholic and Jesuit university, to respond to the needs of God’s people here and everywhere. 

As our work progresses, let us always remember to hold in our hearts and prayers all those who were harmed, directly or indirectly, by clergy sexual abuse.

Sincerely,

Scott R. Pilarz, S.J.

President