Rev. John Patrick Bertolucci

Summary of Case: Bertolucci was removed from active ministry in June 2002 due to a known history of sexually abusing boys in the Albany diocese. The diocese is said to have first known of the abuse in 1988. Bertolucci was a nationally known author and leader in the Charismatic Renewal Movement, and he was a televangelist on a nationally syndicated cable television show. He admitted to sexually abusing boys. Sent to live "a life of prayer and penance" in his family home in Catskill, NY. Died May 27, 2015.

Ordained: 1965

1965

Albany bishop was William Aloysius Scully (1954-1969).

1967

Scully was succeeded by Edwin Bernard Broderick (1969-1976).

Albany

1976

Howard James Hubbard replaced Broderick (1977- 2014).

Little Falls

• Bertolucci admitted in later years that he had sexually abused minors during the seventies.

• Bertolucci was accused in the early 1990s of having molested a 12 year- old boy in the late 1970s. The boy's parents met Bertolucci through the Charismatic Renewal in Albany, NY. The boy told other priests in the 1970s of the abuse, but they told no one reportedly due to the seal of confession.

• Bertolucci was named in 2011 as one of five priests who sexually abused a boy between 1986-1991 in the Albany diocese. The abuse is said to have taken place at Our Lady of Mercy parish, where the accuser's mother was a long time employee.

Bertolucci was a national leader in this movement. He also was an author and televangelist on a nationally syndicated cable TV show.

Rev. Alan Jupin is one of the five accused of taking turns abusing the boy between 1986-1991. Jupin was a priest of Our Lady of Mercy. Jupin had previously been accused of sexually abusing another boy. The priests are alleged to have sexually abused boys at "alcohol-fueled" parties at Jupin's apartment as well as at Our Lady of Mercy.

1979

Steubenville bishop was Albert Henry Ottenweller (1977-1992).

1988

Parish had a school with 302 students.

Church officials became aware of Berolucci's abuse of children in 1988. He was sent to Servants of the Paraclete in New Mexico for treatment.

Hudson

Bertolucci was removed from ministry in June 2002 as a result of the U.S. Bishops' then new "zero tolerance" policy for clergy sexual abuse of children.

He "opted for" a life of prayer and penance rather than laicization.

The parents of one of Bertolucci's victims sued him in 2002 for "harassing and intentionally inflicting emotional harm on the family". They claimed Bertolucci phoned them Sept. 11, 2002 to urge them to keep their son from coming forward and that he said, in part, "I was very proud of your son the way he repeatedly fought off my sexual advances most of the time." The victim's parents have said that Bertolucci "ripped our family apart".

Sources: Official Catholic Directory (New York: P.J. Kenedy and Sons, 1966-2002)

• Diocese Removes Six Priests Sexual Abuse Histories Cited, By Andrew Tilghman, Times Union [Albany, NY], June 29, 2002
• For Victims of Clergy Abuse, Pain Doesn't End, By Deborah Martinez, Times Union [Albany, NY], July 14, 2002
• Priest Retreats to Life of Penance, By Andrew Tilghman, Times Union [Albany, NY], July 21, 2002
• Man, Parents Sue Two Area Priests, By Andrew Tilghman, Times Union [Albany, NY], October 10, 2002
• Diocese Seeks a Dismissal of Count, By Andrew Tilghman, Newsday.com, February 4, 2003
• Judge Denies Access to Files, By Andrew Tilghman, Albany Times Union [Albany NY], September 24, 2003
• Judge Rejects Lawsuit over Priest's Phone Call, By Bruce A. Scruton, Times Union [Albany, NY], October 24, 2003
• Alleged Sexual Abuse Victim Suing Diocese: Leonard Claims Legal Action Is Only Way to Get Affirmation of 'Terrible Things That Happened', By Robert Cristo, Troy Record, July 15, 2004
• Frankfort Man Fights Motion to Move Trial, By Jessica Arsenault, The Evening Telegram [Frankfort NY], November 9, 2004
• Bishop Grants Mercy to Disgraced, By Michele Morgan Bolton , Albany Times Union [Albany NY] , August 16, 2005
• Retired Priest Removed, 3 on Leave, By Cathy Woodruff, Albany Times Union, March 19, 2011
• Alleged Victim: Priests Used Me As a Child Sex Slave, By Brendan J. Lyons, Albany Times Union, March 25, 2011
• Victim Alleges Fifth Catholic Priest Abused Him in Child Sex Case, By Brendan J. Lyons, Albany Times Union, August 13, 2011
• Bishop Grants Mercy to Disgraced, By Michele Morgan Bolton , Albany Times Union [Albany NY] , August 16, 2005
• Revised List, Diocese of Albany, November 30, 2018

Priests in a Parish: We use the following convention to show a priest's place among the clergy of a parish: 1/2 means that he is the first priest listed in the Official Catholic Directory (usually the pastor) and that there is a total of two priests at the parish. The shorthand 3/4 means that the priest is listed third on a four-priest roster. See our sample page from the Directory.

Note: The Official Catholic Directory aims to report the whereabouts of Catholic priests in the United States on January 1 of the Directory's publication year. Our working assumption is that a priest listed in the Directory for a given year was at the same assignment for part of the previous year as well. However, Kenedy and Sons will sometimes accept updates well into the year of publication. Diocesan clergy records are rarely available to correct this information. The Directory is also sometimes misleading or wrong. We have tried to create an accurate assignment record, given the source materials and their limitations. Assignment records are a work in progress and we are always improving the records that we post. Please email us with new information and corrections.

This assignment record collates Bertolucci's career history as it is represented in the Official Catholic Directory with allegations as reported in the media. We make no representation regarding the truth of the allegation we report, and we remind our readers that the U.S. legal system presumes that a person accused of or charged with a crime is innocent until proven guilty. Similarly, individuals who may be defendants in civil actions are presumed not to be liable for such claims unless a plaintiff proves otherwise. Admissions of guilt or liability are not typically a part of civil or private settlements. For more information, see our posting policy.

This assignment record was last updated on February 20, 2019.