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  Priest Named in Assault Apologized, Boy's Mother Says

By Tawanda D. Williams
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
August 30, 1994

The North Side priest charged last week with molesting a boy apologized to the boy's mother and asked for forgiveness after she confronted him about the accusation, according to an affidavit filed with a McCandless district justice.

The mother of the boy, who was identified in the court document as a 13- year-old altar boy at Risen Lord Parish, told police that the Rev. Richard Dorsch said, "I'm very sorry. Please forgive me. What can I do?" when she confronted him about the assault, which the boy said occurred Aug. 2 in North Park.

Dorsch, 50, a co-pastor at Risen Lord on California Avenue, was arrested Friday and charged with three counts of indecent assault and one count each of indecent exposure and corrupting the morals of a minor. He faces a preliminary hearing at 9 a.m. tomorrow before District Justice William Wagner of McCandless.

The police report said Dorsch had known the boy since June, had taken him out for breakfast several times and had been friendly with his family. The Post-Gazette does not identify victims of sexual assaults.

On Aug. 2, the affidavit states, Dorsch took the boy to North Park for an outing of golf, basketball and swimming. The boy said the priest assaulted him while teaching him how to hit a golf ball, while they were playing basketball and at the swimming pool.

After the last assault, the boy said he was sick and wanted to go home. Dorsch told him, "Don't tell anybody that I took you out," according to the affidavit.

During a routine physical exam with a pediatrician, the boy told a doctor about the incident, who reported it to the boy's mother.

Police said Dorsch had no criminal record.

In a statement read over the weekend to Risen Lord parishioners, the Pittsburgh Catholic Diocese said Dorsch had been placed on administrative leave.

 
 

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