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	Diocese Head of Schools on Leave Lackawanna County Da: Casciano under Investigation for Alleged Sexual Misconduct. By Mark Guydish Times Leader January 13, 2010 http://www.timesleader.com/news/Diocese_head_of_schools_on_leave_01-13-2010.html SCRANTON (PA) -- The Diocese of Scranton has remained mum about an investigation of allegations of sexual misconduct by Superintendent of Schools Joe Casciano. The diocese confirmed Jan. 6 that Casciano had "requested a leave of absence" from his multirole position as "secretary for Catholic schools/superintendent of schools and acting secretary for parish life and evangelization." Diocesan Apostolic Administrator Cardinal Justin Rigali, head of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, had granted the leave, effective Dec. 28, and appointed Kathleen P. Hanlon as acting secretary for Catholic schools/superintendent. The diocese formally announced the change in the Jan. 7 edition of its newspaper, The Catholic Light. That same day, spokesman Bill Genello also confirmed via e-mail that the diocese "did bring an allegation of sexual misconduct by a lay employee to the attention of the Lackawanna County District Attorney," and was cooperating with the investigation, but declined to link Casciano's leave with the investigation. Lackawanna County District Attorney Andrew Jarbola has since said it is Casciano under investigation for an incident several years old that was only recently reported to the diocese. As per policy established by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops after priest sex scandals swept the nation in 2002, the diocese promptly relayed the information to appropriate law officials, in this case the District Attorney's Office. The diocesan policy also has been to make no comment pending the outcome of any investigation. Casciano was superintendent of schools during the tumultuous, diocesan-wide reorganization that closed many buildings, including four Luzerne County high schools, with one reopening as Holy Redeemer. Despite his title, he rarely appeared or commented in public, leaving that to Genello or the increasingly infrequent public appearances of Bishop Joseph Martino, who announced the numerous school closings at a press conference in January 2007, nearly two years after Casciano had been appointed to oversee schools in the 11-county diocese. Martino retired at the end of August, and Rigali, the cardinal of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, was appointed to head the Scranton Diocese until a new bishop is named by the pope. While Hanlon took over as superintendent of schools, Rigali appointed David Clarke as acting secretary for parish life and evangelization. Contact: mguydish@timesleader.com
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