Greensburg bishop supports public release of Catholic sexual abuse investigation

By Debra Erdley
Trib Live
May 21, 2018

http://triblive.com/state/pennsylvania/13674558-74/greensburg-bishop-supports-public-release-of-catholic-sexual-abuse-investigation

Bishop Edward Malesic of the Diocese of Greensburg.

A grand jury report on sexual abuse in six Pennsylvania Catholic dioceses is scheduled to be released in late June.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro led the 18-month investigation that has led to the arrest of one priest each in the Greensburg and Erie dioceses. On Monday, he said the leaders of two holdout dioceses — including Bishop Edward Malesic of Greensburg — joined four other dioceses in supporting the public release of investigation results. Also supporting the release was Bishop Ronald Gainer of Harrisburg.

“I commend Bishop Malesic and Bishop Gainer for doing the right thing,” Shapiro said.

Greensburg diocesan spokesman Jerry Zufelt confirmed Shapiro's comments.

“The Diocese of Greensburg supports the release of the grand jury report with due process,” Zufelt said.

The Rev. Nicholas S. Vaskov, director of communications for the Pittsburgh diocese, said church officials there welcome the attorney general's report.

“Throughout this investigation, the Diocese of Pittsburgh has never acted or even considered taking action to silence the voices of victims. With regard to the grand jury report, our only concern is to make sure the process is conducted fairly,” he said.

The investigation also looked at Catholic dioceses in Scranton and Allentown.

“Victims of this sexual abuse deserve the right to tell their stories to the people of Pennsylvania. That is why my legal team and I have worked tirelessly to have each diocese agree to give victims the opportunity to be heard,” Shapiro said.

“I expect to speak publicly on this comprehensive investigation by the end of June. The only thing that could stop these findings from becoming public at that time is if one of the bishops or dioceses would seek to delay or prevent this public accounting,” Shapiro said.

His office launched the probe after a 2016 state grand jury uncovered widespread cover-ups of sexual abuse in the Johnstown Altoona diocese over a 50-year period. A 2005 grand jury in Philadelphia uncovered child sexual abuse cases in the church there.