BishopAccountability.org
	Bishop Zubik Denies Inappropriate Contact with Ex-Student WPXI October 5, 2011 http://www.wpxi.com/news/29394349/detail.html [with video] PITTSBURGH -- Pittsburgh Bishop David Zubik has been accused of inappropriate contact with a student while working for a Catholic high school in the 1980s. At a news conference on Wednesday, Zubik said he would not name the former student, who also accused two other priests of inappropriate contact. Channel 11 News has learned that the accuser is 45-year-old Mike Rock. Rock was a Quigley Catholic High School student in the 1980s when Zubik was the vice principal of the school. "My accuser alleged, 'He was the most violent with me. He forced me up against a wall in the chapel and tired to tongue kiss me,'" Zubik told reporters. "I'll do in any direction I can to help victims but at the same time for anybody to decide to do false accusations to demean priesthood is something I will defend as I'm doing here now." "The fear of every priest is that someone, sometime, somewhere, somehow will level a false accusation against him. That nightmare has been realized for me," Zubik said. The accuser made the claims after he was denied liturgical service at his parish after a background check, Zubik said. Zubik called the accusation "false, offensive and outrageous." In August, the accuser put information about Zubik being inappropriate towards him on the Quigley High School Facebook page, according to reporter Brandon Hudson. The webmaster saw the information and took it down, Hudson said. Zubik said he doesn't feel these are accusations or allegations, rather a threat. Channel 11's Jodine Costanzo reported that Rock first went to the Diocese with allegations against two other priests last year. Rock was given the chance to meet with Zubik, but investigators said he didn't respond until May. The bishop said during that meeting Rock didn't talk about the two priests and instead asked him to overturn the background check that prohibited him from working at a local church. Zubik said after he told Rock that he would not overturn the decision is when Rock posted the accusations against him on Facebook. The incident has been passed on to the Vatican and Diocesan Review Board for review. Zubik also passed the matter on to the Beaver County district attorney, who also held a new conference on Wednesday to discuss the investigation. "In my opinion there is no base of law or fact to substantiate this claim," said Beaver County district attorney Tony Berosh. Berosh said Rock never came to police and never reported the alleged assault by Zubik and began investigating when the Diocese contacting him. "He's making these allegations and not coming to us and telling us what happened. That speaks volumes for what he has to say," said Berosh. Berosh said that the Bishop did nothing wrong and said Rock has a lengthy criminal record with charges including burglary, indecent exposure and open lewdness. The district attorney said they conducted an investigation even though the statue of limitations was up. Berosh said Rock was hard to reach and was not cooperative. When Rock finally responded, Berosh said he told him that he was represented by council civilly and was going to handle matters in his own fashion.
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