Angelus Ferrara
Ordained:
Diocese: Diocese of Scranton
From Report I of the 40th Statewide Investigating Grand Jury for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania:
On September 20, 2000, Bishop James C. Timlin received a request from Father Angelus Ferrara to establish the Society of the Annunciation of the Lord, which would serve as a retreat for priests and lay persons. The facilities were also to include the Mary Mother of God Monastery. Ferrara wanted to settle this religious community and monastery in the eastern part of Pennsylvania; however, he needed the sponsorship of a Diocesan Bishop in order to do so.
Upon receiving the approval from Rome, Timlin notified Ferrara that he was willing to receive him into the Diocese of Scranton for the purpose of establishing the new religious community as of January 1, 2001. The Society of the Annunciation of the Lord was not to become a separate parish, however, so as to take people away from their local churches and be viewed as a competitor. The community settled in Warren Center.
On November 26, 2003, Ferrara asked for the transfer of canonical sponsorship from the Diocese to the Eparchy of Newton for Melkite Greek Catholics in the USA.
On January 10, 2011, the Executive Director of Catholic Charities received a report from the mother of a 14-year-old boy who revealed that he was sexually abused by Ferrara at the retreat house. It was reported that Ferrara had the boy massage his male parts. Ferrara admitted that this conduct occurred.
On March 28, 2011, Ferrara was terminated from his monastic venture. He was criminally charged and pled guilty. He was sentenced to state prison.
Additional information regarding the widespread sexual abuse of children within the Catholic Dioceses of Pennsylvania and the systemic cover up by senior church officials is compiled in the Pennsylvania Diocese Victim’s Report published by the Pennsylvania Attorney General following a two-year grand jury investigation. A complete copy of the Report is available on the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s website.
