Frank J. O’Hara Sexual Abuse Allegations

Father Francis “Frank” J. O’Hara was a Catholic priest for many decades before retiring in 2001. He was accused by multiple women of sexual abuse during his ministry career in the 1970s. O’Hara reportedly sexually abused five people during his assignments, though this information did not come to light until after his death. 

• Primary Entity Name: Frank J. O’Hara
• Common Variations / Aliases: Father Frank O’Hara, Fr. Frank, Fr. O’Hara, Francis O’Hara
• Role/Title at Time of Incident: Parish Priest
• Current Status: Deceased (2006)

This page summarizes the history of abuse allegations against Father Frank J. O’Hara, his ministry assignments, and the institution’s response to his behavior.

Public Identification and Clergy Status

Frank J. O’Hara was not publicly identified until well after he died in 2006. Two entities that published his name to identify him as a sexually abusive priest include:

• The Diocese of Springfield, on November 29, 2018
• The Office of the Attorney General in Illinois, in a 2023 report about clergy abuse

In both cases, O’Hara was named due to substantiated claims of sexual abuse of minors. However, since he had already died years earlier, no further action was taken by the church. 

Key Status Facts

Ordination Year: 1941 in the Diocese of Springfield, IL

Years in Active Ministry: 1942-2001 (roughly 60 years)

Locations Where He Served: Diocese of Springfield (Springfield, Shipman, Orlando Park, and Rosewood Heights)

Restrictions: None

Criminal Convictions: None

Laicization: N/A

Public Disclosure: November 29, 2018, on the public list of substantiated sexual abuse claims in the Diocese of Springfield

Assignment History

Primary Diocese: Diocese of Springfield

Parish Assignments (as documented in public reports):

1942-1951 – Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Springfield, IL

1952-1959 – St. Denis Church in Shipman, IL, and Saint John the Evangelist in Medora, IL

1960-1985 – St. Kevin’s in Rosewood Heights, IL

1986-2001 – Saints Peter and Paul Church in Springfield, IL

2001 – Retired

Non-Church Assignments:

2002 – Saint Patrick Catholic Grade School in Springfield, IL

Known Allegations

According to the Attorney General’s report in 2023, O’Hara was credibly accused of sexually abusing five victims during his ministry career. The Diocese of Springfield received its first report of sexual abuse allegations in 1996. 

While Frank J. O’Hara was assigned to St. Kevin’s in Rosewood Heights, he allegedly sexually abused two girls between 1971 and 1978. Eventually, more victims came forward to claim that his abusive conduct began as early as 1968.

In September 2008, the two girls who were abused during O’Hara’s stint at St. Kevins filed a lawsuit to recover damages, even though he had passed away two years prior. They claimed he abused them as girls between 1971 and 1978.

It appears that the diocese took little action in response to the allegations received in 1996. In November 2018, when the diocese released the names of credibly accused clergy members connected to Springfield, Frank J. O’Hara was included. 

Summary: Frank O’Hara was accused of sexually abusing five victims during his ministry career, but there is no record of disciplinary action from the diocese before he died in 2006. 

Overseeing Authorities During Key Periods: 

• Bishop James A. Griffin (1924-1948)
• Bishop William A. O’Connor (1948-1975)
• Bishop Joseph A. McNicholas (1975-1983)
• Bishop Daniel L. Ryan (1984-1999)
• Bishop George J. Lucas (1999-2009)

Associated Organizations: Diocese of Springfield, Saint Patrick Catholic Grade School

Institutional Actions and Review

According to diocesan files and the Attorney General’s report, the church took little to no action against Frank J. O’Hara for sexual abuse allegations. Although it is reported that the diocese received allegations of abuse in 1996, no disciplinary action against O’Hara is recorded. 

After he died in 2006, the two women filed a lawsuit for the abuse they suffered in the 1970s. IT is unclear whether they were successful in recovering damages. The only notable response by the Diocese of Springfield was publishing O’Hara’s name in the list of accused IL priests with substantiated sexual abuse allegations against them. 

By all accounts, the accused priest did not suffer any repercussions for his abusive conduct during his lifetime. 

Timeline

1941 – Ordained in the Diocese of Springfield

1942-2001 – Assigned to various parishes and other ministry roles throughout his career of six decades

1971-1978 – Alleged abuse of the two women occurs while he is assigned to St. Kevin’s in Rosewood Heights

1996 – Diocese of Springfield records indicate the first allegations of sexual abuse were made

2001 – Retires from active ministry, though continues to serve in non-assignment roles

2006 – Dies

2008 – Two female survivors file a lawsuit for the abuse they suffered in the 1970s

2018 – The Diocese of Springfield publishes a list of sexually abusive clergy members with substantiated allegations against them, which includes Frank J. O’Hara

2023 – The Office of the Attorney General publishes a report following a years-long investigation of clergy abuse in Illinois, again including Frank J. O’Hara

Speak With an Attorney

Suffering from clergy abuse, particularly as a minor, can have a devastating impact on your physical and emotional health for the rest of your life. At the Injury Lawyer Team, our compassionate attorneys are committed to standing by your side as you pursue justice with a civil lawsuit. We will protect your rights and help you share your story to seek fair compensation for legal damages arising from your suffering. 

If you have been affected by sexual abuse by church officials in this state, contact us today to schedule a free and confidential consultation with an Illinois clergy abuse lawyer. 

Sources

This page is based on public records, official Church and diocesan disclosures, legal filings, and survivor reports, including:

• A profile of Frank J. O’Hara from the Office of the Attorney General
• A brief outline of Frank O’Hara’s background from Bishop Accountability
• The 2023 report from the Attorney General’s office on clergy abuse in Illinois
• The Attorney General’s report on the Diocese of Springfield

No criminal conviction is implied unless explicitly stated in public court records or official Church reports.

All content undergoes thorough legal review by experienced attorneys, including Jonathan Rosenfeld. With 25 years of experience in personal injury law and over 100 years of combined legal expertise within our team, we ensure that every article is legally accurate, compliant, and reflects current legal standards.