PENNSYLVANIA
We Are Central PA
By Carolyn Donaldson | cdonaldson@wtajtv.com
Published 05/16 2016
Hollidaysburg, Blair County
New allegations have been brought against the Altoona-Johnstown Catholic diocese.
These allegations come from alleged victims, who have identified their abusers as priests and a sister still currently working within the diocese.
George Foster is the Altoona businessman and Catholic who has heard from victims, police and attorneys after he first wrote an editorial in a local paper in 2002, writing that abusers in the church should be thrown out. They’ve continued to contact him over the years. He provided the Attorney General’s office with names of dozens of victims and abusers, which lead to a grand jury investigation this past March.
Now he says he has more names of alleged abusers.
Last week, Foster sent a letter with those names to Bishop Mark Bartchak.
A copy of that letter dated May 11th was sent to members of the media Monday morning.
Foster says these new allegations came after dozens of alleged abuse victims called him. Foster says he has shared this information with the Attorney General’s office. The allegations range from inappropriate searches of chat rooms known for homosexual behavior, to sexual incidents involving a priest and a victim. In this case, the victim allegedly went to confession and expressed thoughts of sexual confusion. It’s alleged the priest had sexual relations with the victim following this sacrament of confession.
Foster says several priests named in the letter are “higher ups” in the diocese.
Monday he called for 5 active priests and a sister to be removed from their current posts and investigated. Foster claims these religious men and woman all have credible charges of misconduct brought up.
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