J. Pascal Sabas

Ordained: 1954
Diocese: Diocese of Allentown

From the Report I of the 40th Statewide Investigating Grand Jury for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania:

At the age of 14, a boy who is now a renowned sculptor and artist in New York, was sexually abused by Father J. Pascal Sabas beginning in 1964. Sabas bought the victim a slot car racing set and had the victim set it up in the victim’s basement.  Sabas would come over to the play slot cars and then abuse the victim while they were alone in the basement.  Sabas also abused the victim while in the corridor of his school and after the victim served Mass as an altar boy with Sabas.  Sabas also threatened the victim, telling him, “Don’t tell your parents.  They would be very hurt if they knew what you were doing.”  The abuse only ended when Sabas was transferred out of the victim’s parish.

In 1974, the victim reported the abuse to Bishop McShea.  The victim entered into counseling which he paid.  In 1989, the victim filed a civil lawsuit against the Diocese and Sabas. The lawsuit was settled out of court in 1991 for $40,000.

After years of counseling and three marriages, the victim reported it again and requested a group meeting with Bishop Cullen and three other survivors of sexual abuse by clergy. Cullen refused the meeting.

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.