Bishop James Timlin Has Died

…for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.”

Genesis 3:19

Another protector of predator priests has passed on to his “higher reward.” Bishop Emeritus James C. Timlin from the Diocese of Scranton died on April 9, 2023, according to several news reports in various media outlets covering Northeastern Pennsylvania.

While much of the media coverage of his passing is filled with people calling him a “man of the people” or a “humble servant of God,” many survivors of sexual crimes in the Diocese of Scranton know that this man zealously protected predator priests under his authority instead of the children or vulnerable adults they preyed upon.

In 2018, a Pennsylvania Grand Jury Report detailed his complicity in covering up crimes against children. He is responsible for returning Robert Gibson to ministry by directing his subordinate, Monsignor Bambera (current Bishop of Scranton), to assign him to a parish. Gibson began grooming a child once he was back in a parish. Robert Gibson preyed on me in 1973-1974. The Times Leader extensively reported Bishop Timlin’s nefarious activities, including helping one of his priests arrange an abortion for a woman impregnated by that priest.

Children, alive and yet to be born, are safer with Timlin’s passing.

Funeral Services will be held on April 18 in Scranton. Maybe we should all go and say goodbye.