Stephen F. Shigo

Ordained: 1978
Diocese: Diocese of Allentown

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

The Diocese of Allentown was informed of one victim of sexual abuse by Father Stephen Shigo.  On November 17, 2011, the victim’s father contacted Diocesan officials on behalf of his son. The victim’s father reported that his son had a successful business as a builder but had previous issues with alcohol, drugs, and maintaining stable relationships. The victim’s father also told officials that he only heard about the sexual abuse from his daughter, who in turn found out from the victim’s ex-girlfriend. The victim was sexually abused by Shigo on a road behind the victim’s house during a ride home from the church.

The victim, who finally came forward at the encouragement of his father, reported his abuse in February 2012.  The victim told the Diocese he was sexually abused by Shigo when the victim was an altar boy during his eighth and ninth grades and that the abuse occurred at St. Ambrose church. The Diocese offered six months of counseling. However records indicate the victim was participating in counseling at least through June 2016, for which the Diocese paid.

Shigo died in 1991.

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.