Erie Diocese Priest Reinstated after Abuse Probe Ends

Times-News
June 1, 2020

https://www.goerie.com/news/20200601/erie-diocese-priest-reinstated-after-abuse-probe-ends

Bishop says abuse allegations unsubstantiated against Monsignor Charles Kaza, of Brockway, who had been on leave.

A priest in the Catholic Diocese of Erie is returning to active ministry after Bishop Lawrence Persico said the diocese could not substantiate allegations of child sexual abuse made against the priest a year ago.

The priest, Monsignor Charles Kaza, has been reinstated as pastor of St. Tobias Parish, in Brockway, Jefferson County, Persico announced on Monday.

Following diocesan policy, Persico on May 13, 2019, removed Kaza from active ministry and placed him on administrative leave pending an investigation into allegations Kaza sexually abused a minor while Kaza was serving at St. John the Baptist Parish in Erie in the 1980s.

Kaza, 73, cooperated with the investigation, Persico said in a statement on Monday.

“We take all allegations very seriously, and this was no exception,” Persico said. “This allegation, specifically the identity of the perpetrator, could not be sufficiently substantiated and remains unknown.”