Priest accused of sexual assault

WILKES-BARRE (PA)
The Citizens Voice

March 25, 2020

By Frank Wilkes Lesnefsky

The Lackawanna County district attorney’s office is investigating a 40-year-old sexual assault allegation against a Diocese of Scranton priest.

The diocese announced Monday the Rev. James J. Walsh had resigned as pastor of St. Maria Goretti Parish in Laflin after diocesan officials launched an investigation into a sexual assault allegation.

The allegation did not involve minors, the diocese said.

The alleged incident took place in 1979 while Walsh was serving as assistant pastor at the Church of St. Gregory in Clarks Green. The diocese learned of the incident on March 6, 2019, and notified the district attorney’s office, according to the diocese.

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