GREENSBURG (PA)
Tribune-Review
By Mary Pickels
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Friday, January 7, 2005
More than two years ago the Diocese of Greensburg announced it had removed from the priesthood for life a priest then on leave because of allegations of sexual abuse of boys.
At that time, citing diocesan policy, the Rev. Roger Statnick, vicar general of the diocese, refused to identify the priest. He did say, however, the priest most recently had served as a chaplain.
The Rev. Maj. Roger A. Sinclair, 57, originally of the Pittsburgh area, was in April 2002 on a leave of absence for personal reasons. Associate pastor at four parishes between 1974 and 1983, Sinclair had for years served as an Air Force chaplain and later served in Veterans Administration hospitals.
Along with two other priests, Sinclair began his leave as the diocese announced it would take action against a priest accused of decades-old sexual abuse.
On Thursday, The Catholic Accent, the diocesan newspaper, announced Sinclair's retirement.
Angela Burrows, executive director of infomedia services, said it is common policy that any time there is a change in status regarding a priest it is published as an official announcement.
An announcement in yesterday's edition reads: "Effective Saturday, Jan. 1, 2005, the Rev. Roger A. Sinclair has resigned from priestly ministry in the Diocese of Greensburg."
"He had not served (in the diocese) for years," Burrows said yesterday.