Father Thomas J. Bender -- Diocese of Allentown

Assignment Record:

DatesAssignment
Approx. 1961 Ordained in the Diocese of Allentown
1961 – 1962 St. Joseph Church, Ashland, PA
1962 – 1965 St. Joseph Church, Girardville, PA
1965 – 1966 Holy Family Church, New Philadelphia, PA
1965 – 1966 Marian High School, Tamaqua, PA
1966 – 1971 Nativity High School, Pottsville, PA
1966 – 1970 St. Kieran Church, Heckscherville, PA
1970 St. Mary Church, St. Clair, PA
1970 – 1971 St. John the Baptist Church, Pottsville, PA
1971 Bethlehem Catholic High School, Bethlehem, PA
1971 – 1972 St. Francis Orphanage, Orwigsburg, PA
1972 – 1982 Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, Gordon, PA
1973 – 1982 “Diocesan Tribunal”
1982 – 1986 Most Blessed Sacrament Church, Bally, PA
1983 – 1987 “Liturgical Commission”
1986 – 1987 St. Francis of Assisi Church, Allentown, PA
1987 St. Anthony of Padua Church, Easton, PA
1987 Council of Catholic Nurses (Regional Director)
Sources:
  • Report I of the 40th Statewide Investigating Grand Jury, released by the Office of the Pennsylvania Attorney General, dated July 27, 2018; and
  • The Official Catholic Directory, Kenedy & Sons

Father Bender is not indexed in the Official Catholic Directory after 1987. According to the Grand Jury report, Father Bender retired in 2002 and was dismissed from the priesthood in 2005.

Summary:
  • Father Thomas Bender was accused of sexually abusing a male minor child on at least three occasions from approximately 1966 to 1967 when the male child was approximately fourteen to fifteen years old. At the time of the sexual abuse, Father Bender was assigned to Nativity High School in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, and the male child was a student at the school. The sexual abuse took place in locations including the boy’s family home in Pottsville.
  • The sexual abuse by Father Bender included the following: Father Bender fondled the boy’s penis and testicles over the boy’s clothing.
  • The claim settled in April 2020 in the low six figures.