Fr. Mark G. Balczeniuk

Ordained: 1983
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Scranton PA

First named publicly as accused in the 8/14/18 PA Grand Jury Report. (Spelled Balczeniuk.) Told the diocese 3/30/10 that on the previous Friday evening he kissed and hugged the mentally slow young adult son of family friends. He said he came forward because the boy’s father was upset and was going to report the incident to the diocese. The father did so the same day, and said the priest kissed the boy – who was age 18 – on the mouth, embraced him, and rubbed his back under his shirt. Removed from ministry and was to be sent to St. John Vianney Center for treatment. In 6/10 Balczeniuk admitted that in the mid-1970s, when he was a seminarian, he touched the genitals of young boys at Camp St. Andrew, where he was a counselor. Requested laicization 3/11; granted 10/7/11. On diocese’s list 8/19/18 (spelled Balzceniuk). Died 3/23/18 in FL, where he had worked as a bereavement counselor for a Daytona Beach hospice.


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