Altoona Priest Will Remain behind Bars; SNAP Responds

SNAP
September 29, 2014

http://www.snapnetwork.org/pa_altoona_priest_will_remain_behind_bars_snap_responds

An Altoona-Johnstown priest, who was arrested on child sex charges, will remain behind bars until the start of his trial. We are grateful that he will be kept away from children until his trial.

We now want Bishop Mark Bartchak to take real action to reach out to other potential victims. We asked Bartchak to write his Central American colleagues and urge them to aggressively reach out to others who may have seen, suspected or suffered crimes or misconduct by Fr. Joseph Maurizio. Bartchak should also use his own parish bulletins, church websites and pulpit announcements to persuade his flock to share what they know or suspect about this priest with law enforcement.

We are disappointed that he still has not responded to our request.

Fr. Maurizio says he has “traveled to 100 countries and has worked with orphanages in El Salvador, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Haiti, Nicaragua, Bolivia and Peru,” according to Tribune Review. That's very worrisome to us.

Now more than ever, we hope that every individual with knowledge of Fr. Maurizio's wrongdoing – in Pennsylvania or elsewhere – will find the courage to speak up, call law enforcement, and help get this troubling situation resolved.