What Is the Legacy of Bishop Joseph Adamec?

By Crispin Havener
WJAC TV
March 22, 2019

https://wjactv.com/news/diocese-investigation/what-is-the-legacy-of-bishop-joseph-adamec

Some are praising the memory of the longest serving bishop in the region's history for transforming the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown. Many others Friday were remembering his record of hiding the child sex abuse scandal inside the church.

It all comes following the death of Bishop Emeritus Joseph Adamec on Wednesday. His “unexpected” death was announced Thursday by the diocese, though no cause was given.

“He was a man at times who would have a focus on something and he was going on it and there were times where he would sit back and say what do you folks think?” said Very Rev. James Crookston, Rector of St. John Gaulbert Cathedral in Johnstown. “He's been living the life of penance and prayer (since his retirement).”

The diocese's announcement of his death highlighted what he did to modernize the diocese, through mergers, ministry and bringing everyone together. But he was in charge in 1994 when the Francis Luddy case first cracked the child sex abuse scandal wide open, and has overtaken the diocese, the nation, and the world in the quarter century since.

"My sadness is for the hundreds of child sexual abuse victims of priests, teachers and employees the Diocese Of Altoona-Johnstown, and for their pain and despair, rather than someone in a position of power and respect that enabled and protected child predators," said Richard Serbin, the lawyer for the victim in the Luddy case who would later bring may cases against the diocese.

Crookston said, “A phrase that has come out of the Vatican that I think is very significant and that is traceability, how did each victim come forward how was their case handled and how did the church deal with the perpetrator. Our legacy is in this diocese is that we're not there, we're not there with traceability.”

Adamec said the grand jury was not given "a full and balanced set of facts" and that the criticism against him was "unfounded." Crookston said Adamec had not done any public services after his retirement, and does not know if that was by choice.

The diocese revealed last year that between July 1999 and December 2018, the scandal cost the diocese $21,491,052. $15,755,988 of that total being paid out in settlements and awards to more than 290 victims.

"People got hurt and he put money to that, serious money to that and good counseling," Crookston said.

The diocese announced Friday that a Reception of the Body will be held for Adamec on Monday, March 25 at 5:00 p.m. at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in Altoona followed by viewing at the Cathedral until 7:30 p.m. at which time Evening Prayer will commence. A viewing will also be held on Tuesday, March 26 from 10:00-10:45 a.m. followed by a funeral Mass at 11:00 a.m. at the Cathedral.