Fr. Francis A. Pettit: Substantiated Claims of Sexual Abuse of a Minor

Fr. Francis A. Pettit

Ordained: 1937

Assignments within the Archdiocese/Diocese(s) in Colorado: Denver, Pueblo

Assignments:

  • 1938-1939: Grand Junction, CO (DEN)
  • 1940-1943: Annunciation, Denver, CO (DEN)
  • 1944: St. Leo the Great, Denver, CO (DEN)
  • 1945-1947: Blessed Sacrament, Denver, CO (DEN)
  • 1948-1953: St. Anthony of Padua, Hugo, CO (DEN)
  • 1954-1957: Our Lady of Lourdes, Denver, CO (DEN)
  • 1958-1963: St. Therese, Denver, CO (DEN)
  • 1964-1967: On Sick Leave – Location Unknown
  • 1968: St. Joseph’s, Fort Collins, CO (DEN)
  • 1969: St. Jude, Denver, CO (DEN)
  • 1970-1975: Our Lady of Fatima, Denver, CO (DEN)
  • 1976: Notre Dame, Denver, CO (DEN)
  • 1977-1980: Retired, Denver, CO (DEN)
  • 1981-1986: Retired, Pueblo, CO (PBL)
  • 1987: Died

Fr. Francis Pettit was a priest for the Archdiocese of Denver for a number of years. Fr. Francis Pettit was included in the Colorado Attorney General’s Special Master’s Report on “Roman Catholic Clergy Sexual Abuse of Children in Colorado from 1950 to 2019.” According to the Special Master’s Report, Fr. Pettit sexually abused a minor girl, numerous times, when she was in grade school at St. Therese Parish in approximately 1963. According to the Special Master’s Report, Fr. Pettit’s sexual abuse of this minor was rst reported in 1989 by a witness to a priest of the Archdiocese of Denver. The allegations were again reported, in 2019, to the Denver Archdiocese; however, the Archdiocese did not investigate or report to law enforcement.