Priest, on Leave, Steps down from Sewickley Parish

By Bobby Cherry
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
July 31, 2012

http://triblive.com/news/2311486-74/leave-parish-diocese-lengwin-valentine-church-complaint-james-office-personal

A Roman Catholic priest on leave from his Sewickley parish officially will step down later this month even after investigators deemed no charges would be filed against him following a complaint about Facebook postings to a minor.

The Rev. Daniel Valentine of St. James Catholic Church, who began a leave of absence May 19 because of a complaint about online posts, will leave the Sewickley church on Aug. 15, Pittsburgh diocese spokesman Rev. Ronald Lengwin said this week.

In May, Pittsburgh Bishop David Zubik said the diocese requested the Allegheny County District Attorney's Office do a forensic audit of both the parish computers and Valentine's personal computer following the complaint the diocese received.

Following the investigation, which ended late last month, the district attorney's office said no criminal charges are warranted.

In a letter, published on the St. James website, Zubik said the DA's office "informed the diocese that while the postings were a matter of poor judgment, there was no criminal activity involved."

Lengwin said Valentine decided to resign "for the good of the parish."

"The reason he gave was that he needs time to find some peace in his life to address the number of personal issues while he remains on his personal leave of absence," Lengwin said.

Valentine, a Bethel Park native, was transferred in June 2006 to St. James from Holy Spirit Church in West Mifflin.

He will be replaced by Rev. Thomas Burke, who is the pastor of Good Shepherd Parish in Braddock.

Burke will begin Aug. 27, Lengwin said.