March 11, 2005

Church secretary resigns over letter

TOLEDO (OH)
Toledo Blade

By ROBIN ERB
blade staff writer

A nearly three-month delay in getting Bishop Leonard Blair's letter of apology to parishioners at a West Toledo Catholic parish has cost a church secretary her job.

Patti Roshak resigned yesterday from her post, which she held for five years at St. Pius X Church, after a controversy arose over her handling of the letter apologizing for alleged abuse by a former associate pastor.

No one would say whether Ms. Roshak was forced to step down, but the Rev. Jim Sanford, the parish's pastor, said he had no choice but to accept her resignation.

"It's real tough because she's a nice person, but she made a mistake that caused too much hurt to too many people," Father Sanford said.

In December, the letter from Bishop Blair was hand-delivered to the church office on Carskaddon Avenue. It extended an apology to Teresa Bombrys, one of several women who accused former priest Chet Warren of abusing them when they were younger.

Mr. Warren was removed from his ministry.

Posted by kshaw at March 11, 2005 06:31 AM