PENNSYLVANIA
Tribune-Review
By Richard Gazarik
Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2014
A Roman Catholic priest was placed on indefinite leave because federal agents raided his Somerset County church office and residence last week.
Bishop Mark Bartchak of the Altoona-Johnstown Catholic Diocese suspended the Rev. Joseph Maurizio Jr., 69, of Windber, diocesan spokesman Tony DeGol said on Wednesday.
Maurizio has been pastor of our Lady Queen of Angels Church in Central City, near Indian Lake Resort, since 2003, according to the diocese.
His suspension occurred because neighbors said they saw agents from Homeland Security searching his rectory office and his Windber home, carting off boxes of records.
Maurizio has extensive connections in Central and Latin America through orphanages that he supports financially, according to tax records.
DeGol said the diocese is not aware of Maurizio’s nonprofit organizations and has no idea what the probe involves.
“Obviously, this is a federal investigation, and we’re not privy to that,” he said.
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