Greensburg Diocese Removes Priest After Sex Abuse Of Minor Allegation

KDKA
August 29, 2018

https://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2018/08/29/greensburg-diocese-removes-priest-child-sex-abuse-allegation/

U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos is preparing new guidelines for how schools should handle sexual offenses.

GREENSBURG (KDKA) – A priest in the Greensburg Catholic Diocese has been removed after a credible allegation of sexual abuse of minor was received.

According to a statement from the diocese, the allegation was made against Fr. Joseph Bonafed and dates back 28 years.

“My understanding is the Attorney General’s hotline received this report in April,” said Bishop Edward Malesic, of the Greensburg Catholic Diocese. “We received the report earlier this week from a person related to the survivor, and we took action immediately.”

Fr. Bonafed was removed from his pastor positions at Holy Family Parish in West Newton and St. Edward Parish in Herminie within 24 hours, per diocesan policy.

“We immediately removed him from his place of ministry, and we reported it to PA ChildLine and to the appropriate district attorney,” said Bishop Malesic.

Parishioners will be notified this weekend.

The allegation was made through PA ChildLine and the investigation has been turned over to police.

In addition to removing Fr. Bonafed from the active ministry, Bishop Malesic decided to remove former Greensburg Bishop William C. Connare’s name from the diocese facility in Unity Township.

“I’ve received several request from survivors, over the past week and a half, saying it would be helpful to them if I could change the name of the Connare Center,” he said.

The Attorney General’s landmark report on child sexual abuse in the Catholic Church in Pennsylvania accused Connare of clandestinely hiding allegations of child sexual abuse and shifting alleged predatory priests from parish to parish, and then okaying the transfer of alleged pedophile priests from out of state as well.

“It was the Connare Center it will become Christ our Shepard,” Bishop Malesic said.