A priest who was placed on leave last year over a sexual abuse accusation has been approved for retirement, the Diocese of Greensburg said.
Monsignor Michael W. Matusak’s retirement, effective July 1, was one of five priest retirements approved by Greensburg Bishop Edward C. Malesic. He is retiring because he reached the retirement age of 70 this year, diocesan spokesman Jerry Zufelt said.
Matusak of Latrobe will live at the priests’ retirement facility in Greensburg.
Matusak had been serving as pastor of St. Therese, Little Flower of Jesus Parish, St. John the Evangelist Parish, St. Joseph Parish and St. Mary (Nativity) Parish, all in Uniontown, at the time of his suspension in August 2018.
He previously served at St. Pius X Parish in Mt. Pleasant. The allegation against Matusak stemmed from his time at St. Pius X (1997-2008). Following the release of a statewide grand jury report in August, a woman who had been a parishioner at St. Pius X emailed the diocese to say that Matusak molested her when she was a teenager.
The diocese placed Matusak on leave and referred the matter to Westmoreland County District Attorney John Peck.
“The civil investigation into the allegation against Monsignor Matusak is still ongoing,” Zufelt said. “The diocese will begin its canonical investigation after being informed of the results of the civil investigation.”
Matusak was one of three Greensburg priests removed from ministry over sexual abuse allegations following the grand jury report.
