Priest: Bishop Guilfoyle suspended him for social media

By Russ O’reilly
Altoona Mirror
June 21, 2016

http://www.altoonamirror.com/page/content.detail/id/639116/Priest--Bishop-Guilfoyle-suspended-him-for-social-media.html?nav=742

The Rev. Brian Saylor said that Bishop Guilfoyle Catholic High School officials suspended his privileges to attend school functions because of the celebrities he followed on social media and the racy photos they posted on their sites.

"While there was no ill-will intended, I should have realized under the current environment that exists how my innocent actions could be misinterpreted and viewed negatively by others," Saylor wrote in a statement.

Acts of child molestation by dozens of diocesan priests, which had allegedly been covered up by church officials over the past 40 years, were enumerated in a statewide grand jury investigation report published in March.

Saylor's mysterious suspension following that report concerned parents. Neither the high school nor Bishop Mark Bartchak explained the decision, and Saylor previously declined to comment. Some parents who spoke with the Mirror said they had concerns as Saylor prepares to become pastor of the diocese's new middle school in the fall.

"(While) I had originally thought that this matter did not merit an explanation, the things that have been said, written and implied compel me to respond," he wrote in a statement provided by attorney Tom Hooper.

The celebrities' photos were not part of Saylor's social media account, he said, but the individuals were listed among those that he "followed," which in social media lingo means he has an interest in those people's TV shows.

"This incident originated with two people I followed on social media," Saylor wrote in a statement. "I follow a number of shows and people on social media. Two of these people had racy pictures posted on their accounts. It was brought to my attention that two students from Bishop Guilfoyle High School had accessed their pages through my page," he wrote.

"I did not submit any (social media) friend requests to any students, but accepted several friend requests that student sent to me," Saylor wrote.

Bishop Guilfoyle President Joe Adams said the school's policy bans adults affiliated with the school from accepting social media friend requests from students.

When the students reported the photos they found through Saylor's account, the matter was forwarded to the Altoona Police Department by the school's administration.

"I was asked at that time by the bishop and Bishop Guilfoyle High School to discontinue my use of social media and to distance myself from the school's events for the time being," Saylor wrote.

"Despite being cleared of any criminal wrongdoing, I was notified by the Board at Bishop Guilfoyle by letter dated April 11, 2016, that my privileges to attend school functions had been suspended. I have complied with these requests," his statement read.

"I have also agreed that should I restart any social media, the diocese will have access and that I will follow any policies that the diocese establishes for its usage in the future.

"As the Altoona Mirror reported, the police investigation found nothing criminal in the incident. I do however acknowledge that I should have been more prudent and mindful of whom I followed on social media and how I dealt with follow/friend requests, having previously accepted any request from someone I knew."

Saylor clarified that he is no longer a member of the Bishop Guilfoyle Catholic High School Board.

In a June 12 story, the Mirror used information from Bishop Guilfoyle's website that was incorrect. That incorrect information was repeated in a Sunday editorial.

"I resigned from the board over a difference in opinion on the handling of the Advanced Placement Seventh and Eighth Grade at the school," Saylor said. "I regret that this situation came to pass through any actions of mine."