PITTSBURGH (PA)
Tribune Review
Oct. 7, 2019
By Tom Davidson
An Allegheny County judge will decide whether a trust that a Westmoreland County farmer and former state representative bequeathed to the Roman Catholic church to help needy boys can be used by the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh to help pay victims of clergy sexual abuse.
Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro’s office opposes using the 120-year-old Toner Trust — now valued at more than $8 million — for the diocese’s Independent Reconciliation and Compensation Program.
“This distribution would be inconsistent with the charitable intent of James L. Toner,” Senior Deputy Attorney General Gene Herne wrote in a brief opposing use of the trust to settle sexual abuse claims.
Diocesan spokeswoman Ellen Mady declined comment. The diocese is awaiting a hearing to be set in the matter, she said.
Shapiro’s office didn’t return requests for further comment.
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