Priest removed from West Newton, Herminie parishes following sex abuse allegation
The priest of parishes in West Newton and Herminie was removed from his place of ministry after the Greensburg diocese received a credible allegation of sexual abuse of a minor, the diocese announced Wednesday.
Father Joseph E. Bonafed was pastor of Holy Family Parish in West Newton and of St. Edward Parish in Herminie, according to diocese spokesman Jerry Zufelt.
His removal came about two weeks after the state Supreme Court released a grand jury report identifying 301 鈥減redator priests鈥� in Pennsylvania dioceses. The report found numerous cases of child abuse had been reported and covered up by church officials in six Roman Catholic dioceses over a 70-year-period. Bonafed was not named in the report.
鈥淭he Diocese did not become aware of the accusation until yesterday,鈥� Zufelt said.
The allegation dated back 28 years, Zufelt said. Per the diocese鈥檚 policy, the complaint was called into PA ChildLine, a mandated reporting line for child abuse claims. The diocese reported the allegation to the Westmoreland County district attorney and removed him from his roles within 24 hours, pending an investigation by law enforcement, Zufelt said.
鈥淭he investigation is now in the hands of law enforcement,鈥� Zufelt wrote in the announcement.
鈥淎 credible allegation does not mean it has been substantiated or proven,鈥� he added. 鈥淭his announcement in now way implies Fr. Bonafed is guilty.鈥�
Bonafed was ordained in 1992. Zufelt could not confirm the exact date the incident was alleged to have occurred, referring further information to District Attorney John Peck. The district attorney鈥檚 office did not immediately return a call seeking comment. It was unclear what role Bonafed served at the time of the alleged incident.
Bonafed, a Monessen native, served as parochial vicar of St. Therese, Little Flower of Jesus from 1995 to 1998, pastor of Immaculate Conception and administrator of St. John the Evangelist and St. Rita in Connellsville from 2009 to 2012. He became pastor of Holy Family and St. Edward July 6, 2017, along with residence in St. Edward rectory.
In 2010, Kevin Labuda, a former business manager for Immaculate Conception, was convicted for beating Bonafed with an axe handle at the East Crawford Avenue rectory. Labuda was sentenced to 2 to 4 years in prison. Labuda told police Bonafed made changes at the church that impacted his work.
The diocese also announced it is changing the name of Bishop William G. Connare Center in Unity Township to the Christ, Our Shepherd Center. The names of any credible and substantiated abusers will also be removed from any building in the diocese, Zufelt said.
鈥淢oving forward, nothing in the Diocese will be named after a bishop, priest or deacon,鈥� Zufelt said.
Last week, the Pittsburgh diocese announced it would drop Washington Cardinal Donald Wuerl鈥檚 name from North Catholic High School in Cranberry Township after he was cited in the grand jury report, accused of allowing accused priests to be reassigned or reinstated while he was Pittsburgh鈥檚 bishop.
The Greensburg diocese plans to hold a series of 鈥渓istening sessions鈥� in the fall to allow questions and interactions with Bishop Edward C. Malesic.
鈥淗e also wants to listen to the valuable insights parishioners may have and give them an opportunity to express their views about key issues of concern for the Church moving forward,鈥� Zufelt said.
Last week, Monsignor Michael W. Matusak was removed from his role as pastor of four Uniontown area parishes after the diocese received an allegation of sexual abuse against a minor from the 1990s at St. Pius X in Mount Pleasant. At the time of his removal, he was pastor of St. Joseph, St. John the Evangelist, St. Mary (Nativity) and St. Therese, Little Flower of Jesus, in Uniontown.
In late June, the diocese announced the Rev. James W. Clark was removed from his role as parochial vicar of the same four parishes. He was also a chaplain of Uniontown Hospital. The removal stemmed from an allegation dating back five decades, when he served as a janitor at the former St. James School in Apollo, and before he entered priesthood.
In November, StoneBridge Business Partners will conduct the diocese鈥檚 annual audit and examine its compliance with child protection guidelines, according to Zufelt.
The diocese plans to establish a Lay Leadership Council consisting of both Catholics and non-Catholics 鈥渢o make sure that the leadership of the Diocese of Greensburg never becomes complacent about the protection of children鈥� and to 鈥渕ake sure decisive action is being taken,鈥� Zufelt said. The council will oversee listening sessions, analyze recommended action items, develop and implement a project plan and issue a yearly compliance review.
鈥淲e know how important our actions and level of transparency are to survivors, parishioners and clergy,鈥� Zufelt said.
Anyone with information on sexual abuse within the Catholic Church can contact the state Clergy Abuse Hotline by calling 888-538-8541.