PITTSBURGH (PA)
KDKA TV
November 28, 2018
By Andy Sheehan
In the wake of scathing Pennsylvania grand jury report on clergy sexual abuse, mass attendance is down in the Pittsburgh Diocese and those still left in the pews are contributing less.
KDKA’s Andy Sheehan: “They don’t want to give donations to pay for the sins of the fathers.”
Fr. Lou Vallone: “And it’s understandable.”
Parishioners are concerned that their donations will be going to lawyers and lawsuit settlements related to decades of clergy sex abuse. Many were surprised to learn that the diocese continues to financially support the accused.
Now, KDKA has confirmed that at least six priests named in the grand jury report are living on the grounds of St. Paul Seminary, at St. John Vianney Manor, a newly-renovated retirement home for priests. The diocese won’t comment except to say that it is obligated to provide for them in retirement.
Named in the grand jury and living at St. John Vianney are fathers John Fitzgerald, Edward Kryston, David Scharf, Paul Spisak and Richard Terdine. Richard Lelonis, whose name is redacted in the report, is also living at the manor house.
“They’re human beings. They’ve got to be somewhere. We don’t have capital punishment for abusers,” said Fr. Vallone.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.