Donald J. Dorsey
Ordained:
Diocese: Diocese of Scranton
From Report I of the 40th Statewide Investigating Grand Jury for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania:
On February 3, 1959 and February 6, 1959, the Diocese of Scranton received two complaints about Father Donald J. Dorsey. One complaint indicated that Dorsey was with a high school girl. The other complaint indicated that Dorsey was creating scandal by spending time with–and being too close with–females in the town. On February 13, 1959, Bishop Hannon directed Dorsey to report to hospice and that his faculties were to be withdrawn. He further directed that Dorsey was forbidden to enter any house in Ashley, or in the territory of St. Leo’s parish, and that he was forbidden to meet at any place under any circumstances–or to communicate in any way with–any person of the female sex whose domicile or quasi-domicile was at this time, or at any time within the territory of Ashley or within the territory of St. Leo’s parish.
On October 1, 1959, the Diocese reinstated Dorsey and appointed him to St. Ann. With this appointment, Hannon forbid Dorsey to visit any homes in Ashley or Wilkes-Barre. Dorsey was again placed in hospice.
On June 29, 1964, Hannon revoked the faculties of the Diocese for Dorsey.
Hannon subsequently received inquiries from the Diocese of New York and the Diocese of Burlington, Vermont about Dorsey. Hannon notified them that Dorsey was an incorrigible recidivist. He advised that Dorsey was first sent to the Diocesan hospice after he became sexually involved with a high school girl.
Dorsey was listed as withdrawing from the Diocese in 1975.
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.
