Bishop, diocese need to resolve latest concerns

The Altoona Mirror
June 19, 2016

http://www.altoonamirror.com/page/content.detail/id/639003/Bishop--diocese-need-to-resolve-latest-concerns.html?nav=728

While the Altoona-Johnstown Catholic Diocese should not resort to poorly thought-out, knee-jerk reactions regarding concerns brought to its attention, there are significant matters - such as current concerns over the status of two parochial school leaders - that should not be hanging unresolved.

In light of the rampant, decades-long child sex abuse scandal and cover-up exposed earlier this year, parents of children enrolled in Catholic schools of the diocese, as well as other diocese parishioners, are right in expecting expeditious diocesan response to new issues having tentacles construed as relating to the scandal, as well as issues perceived as having an indirect tie.

The fact that parents and parishioners haven't gotten a response regarding the two school leaders in question is cause for dismay and raises questions about the pace at which the diocese is trying to heal from the sordid scandal revelations that seriously damaged its reputation.

That pace does not qualify as only a local concern. It deserves interest all the way up to the Vatican.

The scandal has caused many Catholics to question their faith and their clergy and has negatively impacted financial support from some loyal parishioners, who during their adult lives, have opened their wallets and pocketbooks generously on behalf of their church and diocese.

Altoona-Johnstown Bishop Mark L. Bartchak ought to be sticking to his pledges of transparency and about cleaning up remaining issues directly or indirectly related to the scandal. Regarding the two school officials, his onging silence is contrary to that promise, duty and expectation.

It came as a shock to Altoona-Johnstown parishioners that past diocesan leaders had used millions of dollars of their contributions for payments to abuse victims, with the intent of ensuring their silence. Now, the non-reaction of the diocese regarding the two school leaders at the center of the current concerns has again raised the issue of silence.

Parishioners and school students' parents are justified in being disturbed about that.

The two school leaders, Sister Donna Marie Leiden and the Rev. Brian Saylor, have been labeled "unwelcome" at Johnstown's Bishop McCort Catholic High School and Altoona's Bishop Guilfoyle Catholic High School.

Leiden, currently the diocese's education director, was principal when two child molesters - one a priest and one a teacher who was studying to become a church deacon - preyed on more than 80 McCort students.

Saylor, pastor of the diocese's new Altoona middle school, a member of the school's board of trustees and former teacher, is the subject of concern for recent social media activity contrary to the prohibition of school-affiliated adults contacting students on a personal social media account.

Saylor also is involved with the diocese's youth summer camp.

Guilfoyle and McCort currently are independent of the diocese and its bishop, but Bartchak is a member of the board of trustees for both Catholic educational facilities. As a trustee, he was party to the decision to ban Saylor, according to BG President Joe Adams.

Although the Leiden-Saylor issue wasn't in the public spotlight until recent days, Altoona area parochial school parents reportedly have been waiting for weeks for a statement from Bartchak on Saylor's status, and the Bishop McCort community has been waiting for the same about Leiden.

It's important that the bishop's silence end quickly.