13 Springfield Priests On 'Credibly Accused' List

SPRINGFIELD, PA — One priest with a connection to the Springfield area are part of a comprehensive list of Catholic clergy who have been "credibly accused" of sexual abuse.

The searchable database — which includes hundreds of priests accused from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, as well as dioceses in Scranton, Allentown, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, and more — comes on the heels of a grand jury report that revealed hundreds of "predator" priests across the state.

The list, put together by Patch partner ProPublica, includes dozens of other priests who served in neighboring municipalities.

Here's the list of clergy who have worked in the Springfield area and have been credibly accused of sexually abusing minors.

Michael J. McCarthy — ordained in 1965, laicized (defrocked)

• Faculty, Cardinal O'Hara High School, Springfield 06/1965 - 06/1989
• Residence: St. Francis of Assisi, Springfield 06/1975 - 06/1989
• Parochial Administrator, St. Kevin, Springfield 06/1989 - 10/1992

James T. Henry — ordained in 1964, deceased

• Assistant Pastor, Holy Cross, Springfield 06/1985 - 12/1987

Leonard A. Furmanski — ordained in 1959, deceased

• Faculty, Cardinal O'Hara High School, Springfield 06/1964 - 06/1975

Thomas J. Smith — ordained in 1973, laicized

• Residence: St. Francis of Assisi, Springfield 06/1998 - 12/2004

Raymond O. Leneweaver — ordained in 1962, deceased

• Faculty, Cardinal O'Hara High School, Springfield 06/1966 - 09/1971

Francis A. Giliberti — ordained in 1970, deceased

• Faculty, Cardinal O'Hara High School, Springfield 06/1973 - 06/1978

John A. Cannon — ordained in 1948, deceased

• Faculty, Cardinal O'Hara High School, Springfield 06/1966 - 11/1985

Richard J. McLoughlin — ordained in 1963, life of prayer and penance

• Faculty, Cardinal O'Hara High School, Springfield 06/1973 - 06/1973

Richard G. Jones — ordained in 1963, deceased

• Faculty, Cardinal O'Hara High School, Springfield 09/1970 - 06/1987

Francis X. Trauger — ordained in 1972, laicized

• Assistant Pastor, Holy Cross, Springfield 11/1976 - 06/1980

Charles J. Schaeflein — ordained in 1949, deceased

• Faculty, Cardinal O'Hara High School, Springfield 06/1963 - 06/1965

James J. Brennan — ordained in 1989, canonical process pending

• Faculty, Cardinal O'Hara High School, Springfield 06/1991 - 04/1996

Francis J. Gallagher — ordained in 1973, laicized

• Faculty, Cardinal O'Hara High School, Springfield 06/1976 - 09/1989

>>Full List Released Of PA Catholic Clergy Accused Of Sex Assault

The Pennsylvania grand jury investigation, which prompted ProPublica's project, was described by the Associated Press as the "biggest and most exhaustive ever" into priest sex abuse by an individual state. The investigation revealed many priests admitted to their actions and were allowed to continue in the ministry for years despite having confessed to molesting children.

>>300 PA Priests Sexually Abused 1,000 Children: Grand Jury

In one case, after a priest confessed to anal and oral rape of at least 15 boys, a bishop who later met with him commended him as "a person of candor and sincerity."

Another priest who was "grooming his middle school students for oral sex," was accused by several victims before he was removed 15 years later, the grand jury found.

The Pennsylvania grand jury report was pivotal in spurring dioceses around the country to release lists of abusers associated with their churches, ProPublica said.