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	Harrison Priest Steps down after Diocesan Audit By Anya Sostek Pittsburgh Post-Gazette March 2, 2008 http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08062/861869-54.stm A Harrison priest has resigned as pastor of two Catholic parishes following an audit of his financial practices. The audit conducted by the Diocese of Pittsburgh of the Rev. Richard J. Tusky's actions "turned up more questions than answers," Bishop David A. Zubik told a standing-room-only crowd at an afternoon Mass yesterday at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament church in the Natrona Heights section of Harrison. Father Tusky, 60, also was pastor of St. Joseph Church in Natrona. The audit concerned parish receipts from memorial booklets, rental property and an estate sale. It did not concern the general financial health of the parishes, which is "strong and sound," the bishop said. The Diocese will conduct a further investigation of the matter and will also bring in an outside accounting firm to conduct a review, Bishop Zubik said. "The crucial issue is that people don't lose trust in the credibility of the church," he said. Bishop William Winter, a retired auxiliary bishop, will serve as a temporary administrator of both parishes until April 14, when the Rev. Thomas A. Wagner will become the new pastor. Father Wagner is now pastor of Good Shepherd parish in Braddock but previously was a parochial vicar at Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament. Father Tusky had served as pastor at the parishes since July 5, 2004. He was given the option of either resigning or stepping down until the investigation was finished, and chose to resign, said Bishop Zubik. The Diocese has been investigating the matter since the beginning of the year, he said, when several different people brought it to his attention through letters and phone calls. For longtime members of Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament, yesterday's announcement also dredged up bad memories from a decade ago, when the late Rev. Walter Benz was accused of embezzling more than $1 million from two parishes, including Most Blessed Sacrament, where he served as pastor for nearly 20 years. In 1992, Most Blessed Sacrament merged with Our Lady of Perpetual Help. "It is truly unfortunate that that kind of cloud should arise again," said Bishop Zubik during yesterday's Mass. Anya Sostek can be reached at asostek@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1308.
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