Diocese: Retired priest said he abused minor in 1980s

Associated Press
September 28, 2019

https://apnews.com/10813fe9d8434ccda46dadb0baa20d52

The Diocese of Allentown says an 87-year-old priest recently said he sexually abused a minor in the 1980s.

Stephen J. Halabura has been barred from ministry.

Halabura was ordained in 1961 and retired in 2008. Since his retirement he had been serving as a substitute priest.

After he notified officials of the abuse in May, the diocese investigated and found the account to be credible. The matter has been referred to law enforcement.

In a news release Friday, the diocese said the abuse occurred at the former St. Anthony of Padua parish in Millmont, Berks County, where Halabura was assigned from 1971 to 1984. The parish later was merged into St. John Baptist de la Salle in Shillington.

Halabura had eight other assignments between 1961 and 2008.