Thaddeus Kondzielski
Ordained: 1967
Diocese: Diocese of Erie
From the Report I of the 40th Statewide Investigating Grand Jury for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania:
Father Thaddeus Kondzielski was assigned as a teacher at Erie Cathedral Preparatory for 19 years. In January 2013, a victim contacted the Diocese to advise that 30 years earlier, when he was a sophomore at Cathedral Preparatory, Kondzielski would ask him to assist with grading papers in the rectory. On one occasion, Kondzielski asked him to stay and lift weights. When he said he did not have the proper clothes, Kondzielski suggested that they lift weights naked. They then proceeded to lift weights together while they were naked. When he told his parents about the naked weight lifting incident, they were shocked and told him to stay away from Kondzielski. When confronted with this allegations, Kondzielski claimed he did not remember the incident, but did not deny it because it could have happened. Kondzielski changed his version of lifting weights naked to him wearing a “Speedo” to lift weights.
The victim also reported, and Kondzielski admitted, that it was common practice for he and the students to swim naked in the school pool. Kondzielski stated that he did not think this was a big deal since the headmaster knew about it and never said anything about it. He did not admit to any physical contact with any of his students. He did admit, however, that students who helped him grade papers slept overnight in his bed.
The Grand Jury did not find any evidence that the Diocese of Erie notified law enforcement about Kondzielski’s behavior.
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.
