PENNSYLVANIA
CBS Pittsburgh
[with video]
Lynne Hayes-Freeland
BEAVER COUNTY (KDKA) – Over the weekend, parishioners of Our Lad of Peace in Conway learned their pastor, Rev. John Fitzgerald, was being placed on administrative leave.
It’s because of an ongoing investigation into allegations he sexually abused a minor, almost 20 years ago.
“An allegation had been brought against him, it’s the only allegation, one person and he was removed from ministry temporarily,” said Fr. Ron Lengwin, spokesman for the Pittsburgh Catholic Diocese.
That means Fr. Fitzgerald can not wear clerical air or identify himself as a priest as long as he investigation is ongoing. He has denied that the abuse took place.
The diocese is not saying where it happened, but has asked both the Lawrence County and Allegheny County Distrcit Attorneys to investigate.
Fr. Fitzgerald was affiliated with a number of churches throughout the Pittsburgh area. But during the 1990s, which is the focus of the investigation, he was the chaplain at Pittsburgh International Airport.
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