PENNSYLVANIA
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
By Ann Rodgers, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh has placed the Rev. James Graham on administrative leave while it investigates an allegation of sexual abuse of a minor.
Father Graham, 72, pastor of the St. Lawrence O’Toole parish in Garfield, was scheduled to retire on April 30. A letter announcing the allegation and the decision to place him on leave was read to parishioners at weekend Masses. The parish is scheduled to merge into a new parish, St. Maria Goretti, in June.
The allegation “involved a minor a number of years ago. Though the allegation concerns events from many years ago, the length of time makes no difference,” Bishop David Zubik wrote to parishioners. “The allegation has been judged to have what we call a ‘semblance of truth’ — that the timing and circumstances surrounding the allegation fit the facts that are known. It does not mean, however, that a definite judgment has been reached.”
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