Thomas J. Gaffney
In October 2003, Fr. Thomas Gaffney of the Archdiocese of New York was accused of sexually abusing a boy at St. Charles Catholic Church on Staten Island, New York. After the survivor went public in January 2004, a second survivor came forward with similar allegations of child sexual abuse against Fr. Gaffney. The second survivor alleged abuse at St. Joseph by the Sea High School on Staten Island. The first survivor filed a lawsuit seeking redress for his abuse, and Fr. Gaffney denied the sexual abuse and filed a defamation countersuit. He remained in ministry. Criminal charges were not filed because the statute of limitations had expired.
Fr. Thomas Gaffney was ordained in 1950. He worked in parishes in Rosendale, High Falls, the Bronx, and Staten Island, New York. He worked at schools in the Bronx and Staten Island. In 1987, he was elevated to Monsignor. Fr. Gaffney died on March 27, 2004.
Fr. Thomas Gaffney worked at the following locations:
1950-1953: St. Peter’s, Rosendale, NY
1950-1953: Our Lady Help of Christians, High Falls, NY
1953-1955: St. Ann’s, New York (Bronx), NY
1955-1974: Cardinal Hayes High School, New York (Bronx), NY
1973-1982: St. Joseph by the Sea High School, New York (Staten Island), NY
1977-1982: Mission of the Immaculate Virgin for the Protection of the Homeless and Destitute Children, Mount Loretto (Staten Island), NY
1982-2004: St. Charles’, New York (Staten Island), NY
(Source: http://www.bishopaccountability.org/Gaffney_Thomas_J.html)