Parishioners Talk About Priest on Leave

By Christian Heilman
We Are Central PA
March 1, 2015

http://www.wearecentralpa.com/story/d/story/parishioners-talk-about-priest-on-leave/39282/DGwTdTccWE--y4Pw7iZ5cA

PHILIPSBURG -- Sunday was the first service at Saints Peter and Paul in Philipsburg since the diocese placed Father Robert Kelly on leave. Parishioners are trying to understand what happened.
 
Mass started at 10 AM Sunday as parishioners filed into church. This time, a different priest was overseeing the service.
 
We talked with half a dozen people leaving church about Father Robert Kelly.  They all said the same thing -- that Father Kelly was a kind, intelligent man and they don't believe he did anything wrong.
 
We spoke to a mother with children who said she had no reason to worry about Father Kelly.
 
No one wanted to speak on camera. During the service, Father John Gibbons told parishioners not to speak to the media.
 
Tony DeGol with the diocese says the allegations against Father Kelly are not new.
 
Tony DeGol, Secretary of Communications, Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown, said, "The bishop just feels it's in the best interest of the diocese to review certain things and this is one of those things."
 
DeGol said there is an internal investigation led by the bishop, and there is no timeframe for when it will be completed.
 
"Typically when a priest is being investigated it's not something that happens quickly because of the seriousness of the time is taken to make sure the proper channels are followed,” said DeGol. “There is a lot at stake here."