Wagner, Francis (Fr.)

Father Francis Wagner was ordained on May 14, 1940. In 1995 a victim reported that she was sexually abused by Wagner in the late 1960’s. When the victim was 11 or 12 years old when she slept in her school’s rectory in a room next to Wagner. Throughout the night Wagner entered the victim’s room and molested and possibly raped the victim. He smelled like alcohol and told the victim she would go to hell if she told anyone about what he did. When Wagner was appointed as pastor of St. Joan of Arc Church he received a letter from the archbishop, telling Wagner “Lay persons shall not, without the written approval of the Ordinary, reside regularly in the rectory. This will, of course exclude any arrangement whereby children would have residency in the rectory.” The Archdiocese does not list Wagner as credibly accused.