ELLWOOD CITY (PA)
KDKA
Aug 29, 2005 4:08 pm US/Eastern
Elwood City (KDKA) An Ellwood City priest has resigned while authorities are investigating serious allegations into his conduct.
The Rev. Mauro Catuela, former pastor of Holy Redeemer Parish, is facing allegations that he had a sexual relationship with a teenage boy, and spent thousands of dollars of church money on gambling and buying pornography.
The Pittsburgh Catholic Diocese contacted the Lawrence County District Attorney's office as soon as they received the allegations, according the Rev. Ron Lengwin, spokesman for the Diocese.
"People made the allegations, we met with them, we met with father Cateula who denied all of the allegations, and then we turned the matter over to the district attorney, and then we began our own process to determine suitablility," Lengwin said.
The case is now in the hands of state police and the Lawrence County District Attorney's Office.
The diocese is doing its own investigation as well to ascertain whether Catuela is "suitable" to pastor at another parish, according to Lengwin.