Fr. Harold J. Burkhardt
Monsignor. A man told the diocese in 2005 that Burkhardt sexually abused him when the man was age 9, and Burkhardt was pastor of St. Mary Immaculate Conception in Altoona. Abuse included fondling, digital penetration of the boy’s anus, and the priest forcing the boy to orally copulate him. Bishop Adamec’s response was to have the Review Board hire private detectives to investigate the victim; he also relied on the input of “child predator” Rev. William Rosensteel, who told him the family didn’t attend church often and he couldn’t imagine Burkhardt doing “anything like [that].” The diocese did not report the allegations to law enforcement. Died 3/19/00.
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