This just in: Edward J. Shoback is no longer a priest.In today's edition of the Catholic Light it was announced that the Vatican has removed the priestly faculties of accused child molester Shoback.
One thing not mentioned in the papers is whether there are any criminal charges against him.
I don't think I've heard of this guy before. Does anyone know this disgraced former priest? Is he still in the area? Hopefully we"ll have more details soon.
And in the meantime be sure to behave as proper Catholics and pray for this predator and his victims.
Below is the article from the Citizen's Voice
The Vatican has defrocked a priest who served in several Luzerne County churches and taught at Bishop O’Reilly High School in Kingston.
Edward J. Shoback was an active priest in the Scranton Diocese from 1967 through 2004, when he was relieved of his duties after the diocese learned he had engaged in sexual misconduct with a minor two decades before. An allegation concerning a second minor surfaced in 2006.
In a statement published in the most recent edition of the diocese’s Catholic Light newspaper, diocesan Chancellor James B. Earley announced that Shoback “has been dismissed from the clerical state. This action was taken in response to a finding of sexual misconduct involving minors.”
The decision means Shoback cannot function as a priest, hold office in the church or teach theology in a Catholic institution, the statement said.
Shoback, 69, served at St. Ann Parish in Shohola, St. Stephen Parish in Plymouth, Holy Rosary Parish in Ashley, St. Aloysius Parish in Wilkes-Barre, St. John Nepomucene Parish in Luzerne, Transfiguration Parish in West Hazleton and SS. Peter and Paul Parish in Scranton, according to The Catholic Light. He was also director of religious education at the former Bishop O’Reilly High School in Kingston while residing at St. Therese Parish in Wilkes-Barre.
Shoback could not immediately be reached for comment.
At least 25 priests from the Scranton Diocese have been accused of having sexual contact with minors since 1950, according to diocesan reports.
In 2007, the diocese agreed to a $3 million settlement with a Duryea man who was sexually abused by a diocesan priest from 1999 through 2002, beginning when he was 14. The settlement was largely paid by the diocese’s insurance carriers and its own insurance funds, the diocese said at the time.
3 comments:
"And in the meantime be sure to behave as proper Catholics and pray for this predator and his victims."
...Indeed.
Plus nice to know they're defrocking him and not just moving him somewhere else.
- L
Roaming Catholic writes:
I remember him from my student days at the now extinct Bishop Hoban HS., back in the mid-late 70's. I think he taught a theology course when I was there. Don't know much else, sorry.
I'm in my fifties and attended St. Stephen's in Plymouth when Father Shoback was the Asst. Pastor there. I attended catechism classes that Shoback conducted and was unaware of any problems. A friend told me of his defrocking and I looked up the story on the internet. According to this article (http://www.bishop-accountability.org/news2008/07_08/2008_07_13_Heydarpour_ScrantonFamily.htm), Shoback now lives in West Pittston.
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