John O’Keefe: Archdiocesan Clergy Credibly Accused of Sexual Abuse of a Minor

John O’Keefe

John O'Keefe

In 2015, the Archdiocese of New York suspended Fr. John O’Keefe from ministry after it received an allegation of child sexual abuse against him. The survivor alleged that Fr. O’Keefe sexually abused him in the 1980s in New York and Virginia while he was a student and Fr. O’Keefe was a teacher and guidance counselor at Cardinal Hayes High School. The survivor’s allegations were later deemed credible by the Archdiocese of New York. Subsequently, two more survivors came forward with credible allegations of child sexual abuse against Fr. O’Keefe. He was laicized in 2016.

Fr. John O’Keefe was ordained in 1972. He worked at high schools in the Bronx and White Plains, New York, and at several parishes in New York.

The Independent Reconciliation and Compensation Program of the Archdiocese of New York has made financial settlement available to at least one survivor of Fr. O’Keefe’s abuse

Per bishopaccountability.org, Fr. John O’Keefe was ordained in 1972 and worked at the following locations:

  • 1972-1974: St. Thomas Aquinas, New York (Bronx), NY
  • 1974-1979: Christ the King, New York (Bronx), NY
  • 1979-1980: St. Thomas Aquinas, New York (Bronx), NY
  • 1977-1993: Cardinal Hayes High School, New York (Bronx), NY
  • 1993-2004: Archbishop Stepinac High School, White Plains, NY
  • 2004-2015: Saint Margaret of Antioch, Pearl River, NY
  • 2016: Laicized

(Sources: www.bishopaccountability.org ; http://www.bishop-accountability.org/news2016/05_06/2016_05_30_Michael_News_Former_lsquo.htm)