https://ffrf.org/uploads/legal/386201839-Interim-Redacted-Report-and-Responses.pdf
Information in the form of correspondence provided by the Diocese indicates that, on May 17, 2011, the wife of a known victim called the Diocese to report that her husband had been sexually abused by priests when he was in elementary and high school. It was reported that Lawrence abused the victim while he attended Sacred Heart Elementary School in Bethlehem, Jones abused the victim while he attended Notre Dame High School in Easton, and abused the victim on an occasion when he visited the Seminary. The caller did not give any further information about the abuse. Attempts were made by the Diocese to interview the victim. The victim did not participate in any interviews or give any further information about the abuse. Information provided by the Diocese shows that they contacted the appropriate District Attorneys about the reported abuse. No further information was provided.
On April 9, 2002, another known victim reported in writing to the Diocese that he was abused by Jones beginning when he was approximately fourteen and lasting until he was approximately sixteen. The abuse began when Jones hired him to work at bingo games at St. Vincent's in Minersville, Schuylkill County. The victim's mother was dying at the time and his father was rarely around. Jones began the abuse by placing his hand into the money apron of the victim and touching his penis on several occasions. Jones continued the abusive behavior on another occasion when the victim was locking up the gym at St. Vincent's after playing basketball with other boys. Jones approached the victim, placed his hand inside the victim's underwear, and touched his penis for several minutes.
According to the victim, Jones also was physically abuse, once hitting him in the face with a "full wing" open hand after Jones believed the victim had misbehaved by running on a recently waxed floor.
When the victim was fifteen, he went to the rectory looking for friends who often hung out there. He found Jones at the rectory, not his friends. Jones took him upstairs to watch television in a room next the Jones' bedroom. Jones took down the victim's pants, performed oral sex on the victim and told the victim he had a great body and not to get fat.
Jones then shared the victim and friends of the victim with another sexual predator, Father Kean. Kean took the victim and five other boys to his home in Tower City, Schuylkill County. Kean performed oral sex on the victim and several other boys in the bedrooms of his home. Kean was undressed when he performed oral sex on the victim, who was fifteen at the time of abuse. Kean performed oral sex on him three times.
The victim further reported that, when he was almost sixteen, Jones took him driving as practice for his driver's license test. While the victim was driving, Jones would fondle the victim's genitals. The victim reported this happening on several occasion. When the victim was sixteen, Jones took him into Jones' bedroom, took off his clothes, and then removed the victim's clothes. The victim and Jones were on the bed, where Jones performed oral sex on the victim and wanted the victim to touch Jones.
Two days after the victim reported the abuse, the Diocese confronted Jones about the allegation. In a memorandum-to-file marked confidential, Monsignor John McCann wrote that he and Monsignor Alfred Schlert confronted Jones with the allegation of sexual abuse. Jones admitted to one specific instance of abuse in which he performed oral sex on the victim while the victim was fifteen. Jones denied all other allegations but offered his resignation and was advised he could not exercise any public ministry in the Diocese or elsewhere. A letter was prepared by Bishop Edward Cullen to be read to the parish of Jones' assignment at the time, St. Patrick's in Pottsville. The letter, which was eventually read to the parish, indicated that a "credible allegation of sexual misconduct" was made against Jones and that Jones was confronted with the allegation. The letter mentioned nothing about Jones actually admitting to the sexual abuse of a minor. According to information provided, then-District Attorney Frank Cori declined prosecution, citing the statute of limitations. The Diocese offered the victim counseling.
On May 10, 2002, a second known v1ct1m came forward and advised Monsignor McCann in person that he too was sexually abused by Jones. The abuse occurred when the victim was thirteen years old and attending St. Francis in Allentown. The victim reported that the abuse was a single incident, about which he told his mother. The mother advised the victim to stay away from Jones and reported it no further. The victim told McCann he had not allowed this incident to ruin his life and declined counseling offered by McCann. No further information was provided as to the allegation brought by the second victim.
On June 19, 2002, a third victim came forward to report Jones' predatory behavior to the Diocese. The third victim reported in writing to Bishop Cullen that, when he was fourteen years old, Jones took a "special interest" in him while he was attending St. Jane Francis in Easton. Jones encouraged him to take trips to the seminary in Philadelphia and would take the victim to dinner during the week, at one point serving him alcohol. Eventually Jones made it clear to the third victim that he wanted their relationship to become physical, telling the victim, "Don't knock it until you tried it." On another occasion when Jones made a sexual advance on the victim and the victim resisted, Jones became very agitated and in a threatening tone told the victim it would "not be prudent" to tell anyone about their conversations. The victim reported a final incident that occurred in 1972, when Jones asked him to "house sit" the rectory. While at the rectory, Jones "very directly" made his intentions clear for more "intimacy." Again the victim resisted. Jones' attitude towards him and his family became one of "rarely speaking to my parents or me" during the rest of his time at St. Jane Francis. The third victim ended his letter by pleading with the Bishop to "please protect people from this charming and articulate but very dangerous and damaged man." Cullen told the victim in a responsive letter that the information he provided would be shared with the District Attorney's Office.
Jones was never laicized and remained a priest until his death in 2004. According to an article in the Pottsville Republican & Herald, at a memorial Mass held for Jones, Reverend Joseph T. Whalen delivered an emotional homily about Jones' life, describing Jones as a ''jolly" man who "never neglected his priestly and Christian duties." Whalen told the paper that delivering the homily was very difficult since he had a close friendship with Jones. Even though Jones had confessed to the Diocese two years prior to his death that he sexually abused a boy, Whalen publicly proclaimed at the Mass that it was Jones who "suffered greatly his last years because of scandal" and "he suffered for more than a year at the hands of scandal." Records provided by the Diocese, including memos, e-mails, and other correspondence between the victim and Diocesan representatives, show that the first victim and his family truly suffered as they battled with the Diocese for the next eight years to receive paid counseling as they attempted to put their lives back together.
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