Roman Catholic Diocese of Greensburg

The Diocese of Greensburg is a Latin Church diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in Western Pennsylvania in the United States. It is a suffragan diocese of the metropolitan Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

Diocese of Greensburg

Dioecesis Greensburgensis
Blessed Sacrament Cathedral
Coat of arms
Flag
Location
Country United States
TerritoryArmstrong, Fayette, Indiana, and Westmoreland counties in Western Pennsylvania
Ecclesiastical provincePhiladelphia
Statistics
Area3,334 sq mi (8,640 km2)
Population
- Total
- Catholics		(as of 2017)
645,602
141,041 (21.8%)
Parishes78
Information
DenominationCatholic
Sui iuris churchLatin Church
RiteRoman Rite
EstablishedMarch 10, 1951
CathedralBlessed Sacrament Cathedral
Secular priests96
Current leadership
BishopLarry J. Kulick
Metropolitan ArchbishopNelson J. Perez
Bishops emeritusLawrence Eugene Brandt
Map
Website
dioceseofgreensburg.org
Diocesan Pastoral Center in Greensburg

The mother church of the Diocese of Greensburg is Blessed Sacrament Cathedral in Greensburg. The diocese was founded on March 10, 1951. As of 2023, its bishop is Larry J. Kulick.

Territory

The Diocese of Greensburg is centered in Greensburg, with 78 parishes in Armstrong, Fayette, Indiana, and Westmoreland counties.

History

1700 to 1800

Unlike the other British colonies in America, the Province of Pennsylvania did not ban Catholics from the colony or threaten priests with imprisonment. However, the colony did require any Catholics seeing public office to take an oath to Protestantism.

On November 26, 1784, a year after the end of the American Revolution, Pope Pius VI erected the Apostolic Prefecture of United States of America, including all of the new United States.[1] On November 6, 1789, Pius VI converted the prefecture to the Diocese of Baltimore., covering all of the United States.[2] With the passage of the US Bill of Rights in 1791, Catholics received full freedom of worship. That same year, a small group of Catholic families bought property in Greensburg for the first Catholic church in the city.[3]

In 1790, Reverend Theodore Brouwers purchased land near present day Latrobe to create the first parish in Pennsylvania west of the Allegheny Mountains. It was initially called Sportsman's Hall Parish after the name of the land tract, but was soon renamed as Saint Vincent parish.[4]

1800 to 1950

In 1808, Pope Pius VII erected the Diocese of Philadelphia, covering all of Pennsylvania.[5] As the Catholic population grew in Pennsylvania in the 19th century, the Vatican erected the Diocese of Pittsburgh in 1843 to cover the western part of the state. The Greenburg region would remain part of the Diocese of Pittsburgh for the next 108 years.

In 1846, Saint Vincent Archabbey was established in Latrobe, making it the first Benedictine monastery in the United States.[4] In 1847, the first Catholic Church in Greensburg was established by the missionary Reverend John Neumann. It was the forerunner of Blessed Sacrament Cathedral.[3] That same year, The Sisters of Mercy established St. Xavier Academy in Latrobe.[3]

1950 to 1980

On May 28, 1951, Pope Pius XII erected the Diocese of Greensburg, taking its territory from the Diocese of Pittsburgh. The pope named Auxiliary Bishop Hugh L. Lamb of Philadelphia as the first bishop of Greensburg.[6] Under Lamb's direction, the diocese spent nearly $6.5 million on construction or additions to existing facilities. Eight new schools, including Greensburg Central Catholic High School, were created and ten new parishes were established.[7] Lamb helped found Jeannette District Memorial Hospital in Greensburg, donating over $300,000 for its construction and securing the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill to staff it. Lamb died in 1959.

The second bishop of Greensburg was Monsignor William G. Connare of Pittsburgh, named by Pope John XXIII in 1960.[8] He founded the diocesan newspaper, The Catholic Accent, in 1961 and presided over the first diocesan synod that same year.[9] He also expanded educational programs in parishes and opened the diocesan office of Catholic Charities.[10] His self-proclaimed greatest accomplishment was the renovation of Blessed Sacrament Cathedral in 1972 to accommodate the liturgical reforms from the Second Vatican Council.[11]

1980 to present

Connare retired in 1987 after 27 years as bishop. His replacement was Auxiliary Bishop Anthony G. Bosco of Pittsburgh, named by Pope John Paul II in 1987. Bosco changed diocese policy on sacraments to combine the sacrament of confirmation and the first Eucharist for children on the same day. He created the Department of Education and Spiritual Formation for the diocese. Bosco retired in 2004.[12]

In 2004, John Paul II appointed Monsignor Lawrence Brandt from the Diocese of Erie as the fourth bishop of the Diocese of Greensburg.[12] In 2010, Brandt established the Diocesan Poverty Relief Fund for direct aid to the poor in the diocese.[12] In 2014, Brandt sued the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service over a provision in the Affordable Care Act that required certain religious institutions to provide contraceptive coverage in employer health insurance plans. The suit characterized this provision as an infringement on religious liberty.[13] Brandt retired in 2015.

Monsignor Edward C. Malesic was named as the next bishop of Greensburg by Pope Francis in 2015.[14] On July 1, 2020, Malesic announced the Saint Pope John Paul II Tuition Opportunity Partnership (TOP) to provided $4.1 million in scholarships and tuition assistance to Catholic schools in the diocese. The pope in 2020 appointed him as bishop of the Diocese of Cleveland.[15]

As of 2023, the current bishop of Greensburg is Larry J. Kulick, named by Francis in 2021.[16][17]

Bishops

Bishops of Greensburg
  1. Hugh L. Lamb (1951-1960)
  2. William G. Connare (1960-1987)
  3. Anthony G. Bosco (1987-2004)
  4. Lawrence E. Brandt (2004-2015)
  5. Edward C. Malesic (2015 – 2020), appointed Bishop of Cleveland.[18]
  6. Larry J. Kulick (2021–present)

Former auxiliary bishop

Other diocesan priests who became bishops

Parishes

As of 2017, there are 78 operating parishes within the Diocese of Greensburg; 38 of them are in a partnered configuration.[19] A diocesan strategic planning process began in 2006 resulted in closures of parishes and chapels, as well as partnering of parishes that have remained open, with the last of these changes occurring in 2013.[20][21]

Schools

The Diocese of Greensburg has two junior-senior high schools, 12 diocesan elementary schools and three non-diocesan Catholic schools[22]

High schools

Sex abuse
Main article: Grand jury investigation of Catholic Church sexual abuse in Pennsylvania

In early 2016, Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro convened a special grand jury investigation into sexual abuse of children by clergy in six Pennsylvania dioceses, including the Diocese of Greensburg.[23] According to The Philadelphia Inquirer, in 2017 the Dioceses of Harrisburg and Greensburg attempted to shut down the grand jury investigation.[24][25]

On July 31, 2018, Reverend John T. Sweeney, a diocesan priest, pleaded guilty to molesting a 4th grade boy between September 1991 and June 1992.[26] Immediately following Sweeney's plea, the diocese made a statement pledging future cooperation.[27] The diocese agreed to continue educating "both children and adults in parishes and schools of the Diocese of Greensburg on how to spot and report suspected abuse."[27] The diocese also agreed to report any alleged incident of sexual abuse to the "PA Childline and the appropriate district attorney."[27]

On August 9, 2018, Bishop Malesic acknowledged numerous reports of sex abuse of children between the 1950s and 1980s, and announced that the diocese would release the names of the accused clergy when the grand jury report was published.[28][29] The grand jury report was published on August 14, 2018. It showed that 20 diocesan clergy had credible accusations of sexual abuse.[30] The report mentioned one priest who impregnated a 17 year old girl.[30] The priest then covered up the pregnancy by marrying the girl after forging the head pastor's name on a marriage certificate. The priest then divorced the girl a few months later.[30] Despite fathering a child with a minor, being married and getting divorced, the priest still remained in the ministry.[30]

On December 21, 2018, Sweeney received an 11 1/2 month to 5 year prison sentence.[31] In October 2019, one of Sweeney's victims filed a lawsuit against the diocese.[32] The victim sought a $1,000,000 settlement.[32]

In 2019, Roger Sinclair, originally from the Diocese of Greensburg was convicted of sexually abusing disabled boys in the state of Oregon.[33] He had been laicized in 2002 after being accused of sexually abusing children in the diocese.[33]

On August 13, 2020, two sexual misconduct lawsuits were filed against the diocese.[34] One of the new lawsuits was filed on behalf of a former Blairsville man who claimed at age 11 he was molested by Rev. Giles Nealen, who died in 1996, at the St. Benedict Parish in Marguerite during the summer of 1968. The other lawsuit claimed the Rev. Leonard Bealko molested a 12-year-old altar boy more than 200 times over four years that ended in 1978 at Transfiguration Church in Mt. Pleasant, his home and a church-owned rectory in Clymer.[34]

On October 10, 2019, Bishop Brandt and the diocese were sued by a woman who had alleged that she had been raped beginning at age 12 by George Pierce, her parish priest, in 1972. The suit claimed that Brandt and the diocese engaged in a conspiracy to protect Pierce. In 2004, Brandt had sent a request to Cardinal Josef Ratzinger, head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in Rome, to defrock Pierce.[35]

On August 26, 2020, police arrested Fayette County priest Andrew Kawecki for sexually abusing an altar boy on multiple occasions from 2004 to 2007, beginning when the alleged victim was 11.[36][37] The same day, Malesic announced that the diocese found sex abuse allegations against Reverend Emil Payer, previously convicted of stealing money his South Huntingdon church, to be "credible."[38] On June 22, 2020, Malesic and the diocese were both named as defendants in a new sex abuse lawsuit.[39] The lawsuit was filed by a man alleging that both parties covered up reports that former diocesan priest Reverend . Joseph L. Sredzinski from Fayette County started sexually abusing him in 1991, when he was 11 years old, and continued to do so until he was 17 years old.[39]

On November 20, 2020, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court denied a petition filed by the diocese to grant a stay which would've delayed an ongoing lawsuits against it.[40]

See also

References
  1. Frederick Lewis Weis (1978). The Colonial Clergy of the Middle Colonies: New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, 1628-1776. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Com. p. 121. ISBN 978-0-8063-0799-2. Terry Carden (2005). Coming of Age In Scranton: Memories of a Puer Aeternus. Lincoln NE: iUniverse. p. 5. ISBN 978-0-595-80765-9.
  2. "Catholic Encyclopeida: Archdiocese of New York". New Advent. Archived from the original on 2020-01-21. Retrieved 2006-01-21.
  3. "Roman Catholic Diocese of Greensburg". www.dioceseofgreensburg.org. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  4. "The Beginning". Saint Vincent Archabbey. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  5. "A Brief History of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia". Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Retrieved 2016-02-26.
  6. "Bishop Hugh Louis Lamb". Catholic-Hierarchy.org.
  7. "Bishop Hugh. L Lamb, First Bishop of Greensburg (1952-59)". Roman Catholic Diocese of Greensburg. Archived from the original on 2011-07-25.
  8. "Bishop William Graham Connare". Catholic-Hierarchy.org.
  9. "Bishop William G. Connare, Second Bishop of Greensburg (1960-87)". Roman Catholic Diocese of Greensburg.
  10. Vercellotti, Tim (1986-06-19). "Golden leader: 'Parish priest' Connare marks 50th year". Pittsburgh Press.
  11. "Bishop William G. Connare, Second Bishop of Greensburg (1960-87)". Roman Catholic Diocese of Greensburg.
  12. "Previous Bishops". www.dioceseofgreensburg.org. Retrieved 2021-11-08.
  13. "Diocese, bishop sue over HHS rule for violating 'core Catholic beliefs'". National Catholic Reporter. 2014-06-03. Retrieved 2021-11-08.
  14. Hill, William (July 16, 2015). "New Greensburg, Pa., bishop ready 'to serve the Lord with gladness'". Catholic Philly. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
  15. "Previous Bishops". www.dioceseofgreensburg.org. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  16. "Pope Francis Names Monsignor Larry Kulick of Diocese of Greensburg as Bishop of Greensburg". Retrieved December 18, 2020.
  17. "Monsignor Kulick appointed new bishop of the Greensburg Diocese". Retrieved December 18, 2020.
  18. Pinckard, Cliff (16 July 2020). "Pope names Pa. bishop head of Catholic Diocese of Cleveland". Cleveland.com.
  19. "Quick facts". Archived from the original on 2015-07-23. Retrieved 2015-07-23.
  20. "Parish Restructuring". Archived from the original on 2015-07-23. Retrieved 2015-07-23.
  21. "Parish Information Directory". Archived from the original on 2010-12-23. Retrieved 2010-12-10.
  22. Schools Retrieved 07-23-2015
  23. Couloumbis, Angela (June 17, 2018). "Pa. report to document child sexual abuse, cover-ups in six Catholic dioceses". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved August 2, 2018.
  24. Smith, Peter; Navratil, Liz; Couloumbis, Angela (June 29, 2018). "Two Pa. dioceses tried to block grand jury probe into clergy sex abuse, documents show". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
  25. Navratil, Liz; Smith, Peter (August 1, 2018). "Harrisburg Diocese releases names of accused priests, removes bishops' names from buildings". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
  26. "Retired Greensburg Priest Pleads Guilty In Child Sex Assault Case". Jul 31, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  27. "Greensburg Diocese stands ready help to abuse survivors 'in their healing&#039". Archived from the original on 2018-08-05. Retrieved 2018-08-06.
  28. "'It wasn't your fault': Greensburg Catholic diocese apologizes to child sex abuse victims and releases its own report". WTAE. Aug 9, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  29. "Greensburg diocese issues apology; to release names of accused clerics". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  30. "20 offenders revealed in grand jury report in Greensburg Diocese". pennlive. Aug 14, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  31. "Retired priest sentenced to prison for abusing 10-year-old boy". WPXI. 21 December 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  32. "'I Am Not Going To Take Their Hush Money': Clergy Sexual Abuse Victim Calls For Statute Of Limitations Reform". KDKA. October 29, 2019. Retrieved November 28, 2020.
  33. "Former Pennsylvania priest escapes sex abuse charges, moves to Oregon, preys on disabled young man". oregonlive. Associated Press. 2019-10-05. Retrieved 2020-02-20.
  34. Cholodofsky, Rich (August 13, 2020). "Dozens of clergy sex abuse lawsuits filed in Allegheny, Westmoreland courts as possible deadline looms 2 years after report". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  35. Sutor, Dave. "Lawsuit by woman alleging rape cover-up filed against Greensburg Roman Catholic Diocese". The Tribune-Democrat. Retrieved 2021-11-08.
  36. Smith, Peter (August 26, 2020). "Fayette County priest charged with sexual assault". Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Retrieved November 28, 2020.
  37. "AG Shapiro Arrests Father Andrew Kawecki for Sexual Assault of 11 year old altar boy". AttorneyGeneral.gov. August 26, 2020. Retrieved November 28, 2020.
  38. "Greensburg Diocese reveals 'credible' sex abuse claims against priest convicted of theft". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. August 26, 2020. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
  39. LaRussa, Tony (June 30, 2020). "Lawsuit alleges sex abuse by priest in Greensburg diocese in 1990s". Pittsburgh Tribune Review. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
  40. "State's top court says sex abuse lawsuits against dioceses can proceed". Pittsburgh Post Gazette. November 20, 2020. Retrieved November 28, 2020.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.