Rev. Ross S. Frey, b.s.

Summary of Case: Frey was a Melkite-Greek Catholic priest, accused in the 1990s of having sexually abused at least eleven teen boys during weekend retreats. He targeted boys who were going through crises, such as the death of a close family member. He was placed on leave in 1996.

Ordained: 1974

     

Start Stop Assignment Town/Accusations State Position Notes

1974

Eparchy of Newton bishop was Joseph Elias Tawil (1969-1989), followed by Ignatius Ghattas, B.S. (1989-1992)

1990 Basilian Salvatorian Fathers

Methuen

• Accused in the 1990s of sexually abusing at least 11 adolescent boys in the 1970s and 1980s during weekend retreats at the Salvatorian Center. (Boston (MA) Herald
December 12, 2002)

MA Assistant to the Rector and Director of Encounters and Retreats 1975-1982; Director of Youth Activities 1982-1983; Supr. 1983-1986; Vocations Director 1985-1986  

1990

John Adel Elya, B.S. replaced Ghattas (1993-2004)

1995 St. Joseph Plains Community Center Lawrence MA  
1990 1995 St. Joseph's Lawrence MA 1/1  
1995 1996 Basilian Salvatorian Order Methuen MA Local Supr.  
1996 1997 On Duty Outside the Eparchy       Not indexed beyond the 1997 Directory. Per news reports, Frey was transferred to Lebanon in January 1996 after a police officer warned church officials that there was going to be some "bad publicity". Frey was later placed on leave. (Union Leader (Manchester NH)
December 12, 2002)


Source: Official Catholic Directory (New York: P.J. Kenedy and Sons, 1975-1997)

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 Frey'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 March 8, 2010