In 2015, when Bishop Edward Malesic was installed in the Diocese of Greensburg, he inherited a diocese still grappling with the enormity of the clergy abuse crisis. He committed to increasing transparency and outside oversight and established a Safe Environment Advisory Council. Unfortunately, since his 2020 departure, the diocese has increasingly pushed down the responsibilities and ownership of the Safe Environment mandate directly to the parishes and schools. These include many parishes with multiple churches but one pastor, who would ultimately be responsible.
If the diocese genuinely believes in Safe Environment implementation, why have they pushed away such great responsibility and why do they not have a full-time person(s) responsible for implementation? The most visible victim of the diocese’s laxity is a beloved pastor respected for his commitment to the welfare and safety of our youth.
At a hastily called diocesan meeting May 28, his parishioners were informed by Bishop Larry Kulick that he had the pastor resign. This pastor’s “sin”? Trusting the overworked people at his churches to find red flags in the security clearances of all clergy, staff and volunteers in the parishes of some 7,500 members. The bishop has since called for the review of all such clearances by a diocesan human resources person.
Many parishioners across the diocese are concerned what will happen to their beloved pastors should it be found that they, too, mistakenly signed off on such requests from the diocese. The bishop needs to lead proactively vs. reactively on diocesan implementation of such a critical responsibility. His flock deserves it.
Chris Peta
Penn Township, Westmoreland County