Father Francis Benham
Assignments:
Church of the Holy Spirit (Forestville, MD)
St. Jude Catholic Church (Rockville,
St. Nicholas Church (Zanesville, Ohio)
Community of Holy Rosary/St. John on the South Side (Columbus, Ohio)
Summary of Abuse Allegations against Father Francis Benham:
Father Francis Benham’s history is marked by serious and deeply troubling allegations of sexual misconduct that span decades. The Archdiocese of Washington first received a claim in 1979, involving the sexual abuse of a 13-year-old girl during a two-year period beginning in 1977.
The young girl was sexually assaulted and sodomized weekly for over two years. The victim stated that Benham manipulated her into believing his actions were acceptable, even in the eyes of God.
Despite these grave allegations, the Archdiocese failed to report the matter to law enforcement.
Instead, Benham was removed from his ministry duties in the Forestville, Maryland, parish, sent to counseling, and later allowed to return to ministry in the Diocese of Columbus, Ohio, where authorities were notified of the initial allegation.
After serving in Columbus from 1979 to 1985, Benham abandoned the ministry and began work as a counselor for convicted sex offenders in Illinois.
Two More Sexual Abuse Allegations in 1995 Against Father Francis Benham
A second allegation emerged in 1995, accusing him of abuse occurring in 1970-71. This allegation, alongside the original claim, was finally reported to the police following an internal review by the Archdiocese of Washington.
That same year, a third allegation arose when a victim directly contacted law enforcement. This instance involved the sexual abuse of a 15-year-old boy between 1977 and 1978 at the Church of the Holy Spirit in Forestville, Maryland.
More Trouble in the Early 2000’s
During the early 2000s, troubling revelations continued to surface. Despite his past, Benham became a certified child care provider in Illinois, housing boys over weekends to offer foster parents respite. However, in 2004, he was charged and arrested for second- and third-degree sex offenses.
Benham pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 18 months in prison, with most of the sentence suspended under a plea deal. His sentence included probation, registration on the national sex offender database, and the requirement to avoid contact with children under 18.
Blaming his crimes on alcoholism, Benham apologized for his actions.
Father Francis Benham was officially laicized in 2005
Benham was laicized formally in 2005, permanently removing him from the priesthood. Although released from prison in 2006, legal troubles persisted, as he was re-arrested in 2011 for failing to register as a sex offender and later cited in 2012 for practicing clinical psychology without a license in Illinois.
Public acknowledgment of his actions continued in subsequent years.
Both the Archdiocese of Washington and the Archdiocese of Columbus named Benham on their lists of credibly accused priests in 2018 and 2019, respectively. Still listed on the sex offender registry, Benham currently resides in Lincoln, Illinois.
Contact our Childhood Sexual Abuse Lawyers for Help.
The Yost Legal Group is here to support survivors of childhood sexual abuse by Catholic priests and clergy in the Archdiocese of Washington. If you or someone you know experienced abuse as a minor in a Maryland parish, you may have legal options to recover financial compensation, even if the abuse occurred many years ago.
Contact us today at 1-800-Yost-Law (1-800-967-8529) for a free, confidential consultation. We are here to answer your questions, listen to your story, and help protect your rights. Your voice matters.