Greensburg bishop supports public release of Catholic sexual abuse investigation

PENNSYLVANIA
Trib Live

May 21, 2018

By Debra Erdley

A grand jury report on sexual abuse in six Pennsylvania Catholic dioceses is scheduled to be released in late June.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro led the 18-month investigation that has led to the arrest of one priest each in the Greensburg and Erie dioceses. On Monday, he said the leaders of two holdout dioceses — including Bishop Edward Malesic of Greensburg — joined four other dioceses in supporting the public release of investigation results. Also supporting the release was Bishop Ronald Gainer of Harrisburg.

“I commend Bishop Malesic and Bishop Gainer for doing the right thing,” Shapiro said.

Greensburg diocesan spokesman Jerry Zufelt confirmed Shapiro’s comments.

“The Diocese of Greensburg supports the release of the grand jury report with due process,” Zufelt said.

The Rev. Nicholas S. Vaskov, director of communications for the Pittsburgh diocese, said church officials there welcome the attorney general’s report.

“Throughout this investigation, the Diocese of Pittsburgh has never acted or even considered taking action to silence the voices of victims. With regard to the grand jury report, our only concern is to make sure the process is conducted fairly,” he said.

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