Fr. Jan C. Olowin
Ordained: 1968
Assignments:
- 1969: Cathedral Preparatory School for Boys, Erie, PA (E)
- 1970-1985: St. Patrick, Erie, PA (E)
- 1975-1984: Soldiers and Sailors, Erie, PA (E)
- 1982-1983: Immaculate Conception, Erie, PA (E)
- 1985-1986: St. Adalbert, Farrell, PA (E)
- 1987-1992: St. Joseph, Oil City, PA (E)
- 1993-1998: St. George, Erie, PA (E)
- 1999: Unknown
- 2000-2008: St. Bernard, Bradford, PA (E)
- 2002-2008: Federal Correctional Institution, Bradford, PA (E)
- 2009-2012: St. Michael, Emlenton, PA (E); Clarion University, Emlenton, PA (E)
- 2013-2018: Retired
- 2019: Unknown
The 2005 Pennsylvania Grand Jury Report stated that in 1993, the Diocese of Erie received a report that alleged that Fr. Jan C. Olowin sexually abused the caller and two of his friends when they were children. Despite its instantiation in 1993, there was seemingly no investigatory or disciplinary action taken until 2016, when he was restricted from ministry. In 2019, Fr. Olowin was included on the Diocese of Erie’s “Public Disclosures List” that includes “Every person named on this list was credibly accused of actions that, in the diocese’s judgment, disqualify that person from working with children,” in the section “These individuals are currently under investigation, and each is presumed innocent unless proved otherwise.” According to this list, Fr. Olowin is retired in Peoria, Arizona which is within the Diocese of Phoenix. Fr. Olowin’s status as a priest, current whereabouts, and whether he has access to children are unknown.
Pennsylvania Grand Jury Report (2018) Boilerplate Copy – Covers Allentown, Erie, Greensburg, Harrisburg, Pittsburgh, and Scranton
Jan C. Olowin was included in a 2018 Pennsylvania Grand Jury Report following an investigation into six of the eight Catholic Pennsylvania Dioceses: Allentown, Erie, Greensburg, Harrisburg, Pittsburgh, and Scranton. The investigation uncovered the sexual abuse of over 1,000 children over the course of 70 years by more than 300 predator priests. Also outlined in this report is the Catholic Church’s “playbook for concealing the truth.” The seven-point playbook details how top Church officials in the dioceses across Pennsylvania covered up the sexual abuse of children by clergy.