John Thompson
Fr. John Thompson has been confronted with various allegations of inappropriate behavior throughout his time as a priest for the Diocese of Brooklyn. In 2002, the former principal of St. Elizabeth Catholic High School in Queens, New York, brought a lawsuit against Fr. John Thompson which alleged that Fr. Thompson sexually harassed, threatened, and assaulted her on several occasions. During discovery in that civil suit, Fr. Thompson was accused of harboring young male lovers at Holy Name rectory in Brooklyn, New York, and St. Elizabeth’s rectory in Queens, New York. Later, in 2003, Fr. Thompson pleaded guilty to embezzling approximately $95,940 in church funds from St. Elizabeth’s. He was spared time in jail when he agreed to pay back the money he had embezzled from St. Elizabeth’s. Fr. Thompson resigned from St. Elizabeth’s in March 2003. He was later barred from presenting himself as a priest or celebrating Mass. However, as of 2005, no steps had been taken to laicize Fr. Thompson.
In 2005, Fr. Thompson stated in a deposition he continues to receive a check every month from the diocese. Frank DeRosa, a spokesperson for the Diocese of Brooklyn, confirmed the payments and commented that Fr. Thompson may be on administrative leave, but he is still a priest. As of 2005, Fr. Thompson was working as a case manager for an agency that provides housing for the homeless in Harlem, New York.
Fr. John Thompson was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Brooklyn in 1979 and worked at the following locations:
- 1978-1979: St. Matthew’s, Brooklyn, NY
- 1980-1986: Blessed Virgin Mary, Queens, NY
- 1987: Bishop Ford Central Catholic High School, Brooklyn, NY (Chaplain)
- 1987-1988: Holy Name, Brooklyn, NY
- 1988: Absent on sick leave
- 1989-1993: Corpus Christi, Queens, NY
- 1989-1994: Monsignor McClancy, East Elmhurst, NY (high school for boys)
- 1994-1998: St. Michael Archangel & St. Edward, Brooklyn, NY
- 1998-2002: St. Elizabeth’s, Queens, NY
- 2003-2007: Absent on leave
- 2008: Unknown
- 2009: Absent on leave
(Sources: Official Catholic Directory & www.bishop-accountability.org)