PENNSYLVANIA
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
By Liz Zemba
Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2014
The bishop of the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown on Monday told parishioners at a Somerset County church whose priest is accused of sexually exploiting teenage boys at a Central American orphanage that he can’t speak about the case.
But Bishop Mark L. Bartchak told about 300 gathered at Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church in Central City that he shares their concerns regarding the allegations against the Rev. Joseph D. Maurizio Jr., 69.
“This is an extremely difficult time,” said Bartchak after a 7 p.m. Mass. “I share the same awkward and difficult feelings about this whole matter.”
In a criminal complaint, federal officials said Maurizio, under the guise of doing relief work through a self-run charity, visited an orphanage in El Progreso, Honduras, at various times for a decade, promising candy and cash to orphaned boys to watch them shower, have sex or fondle them.
During a detention hearing on Monday in Johnstown, Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Haines told a federal magistrate judge that two boys, ages 5 and 7, made allegations during the weekend that are under investigation.
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