District attorney won’t pursue sex abuse case against local priest
A local priest who was removed from his parish in West Newton after allegations of sexual abuse were lodged against him will not face criminal charges.
Westmoreland County District Attorney John Peck said Thursday the statute of limitations on the allegations made against the Rev. Joseph E. Bonafed passed in 2002. Peck further said that the recollection of the alleged victim was 鈥渦nclear and inconsistent.鈥�
The district attorney蘑菇视频 office received a report of sexual abuse from the mother of Bonafed蘑菇视频 alleged victim through ChildLine, a mandatory reporting line, on Aug. 28. The woman reported one incident of inappropriate contact in about 1991 or 1992.
Bonafed, a Monessen native, was ordained in 1992. It was unclear what role Bonafed served at the time of the alleged incident.
鈥淭his office conducted an investigation and determined the alleged offense was barred by the statute of limitations in effect at the time of the alleged offense which required that a criminal complaint be filed within two years of the victim蘑菇视频 birthday or before 2002,鈥� the district attorney蘑菇视频 office said as a part of a written statement.
Since that time, the statute of limitations was extended for child victims of sexual assault. The current statute of limitations encompasses any time before the victim reaches age 50.
Bonafed蘑菇视频 removal as the pastor of Holy Family Parish in West Newton and St. Edward Parish in Herminie 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.
Although the criminal investigation is closed, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Greensburg is continuing its investigation into possible violations of church law.
鈥淭his is called a canonical investigation, which has already begun. We expect it to be completed quickly,鈥� said diocesan spokesman Jerry Zufelt.
Peck said in a statement that, even without an issue with the statute of limitations, a successful prosecution was 鈥渄oubtful.鈥�
鈥淚t is expected that the authority trusted to prosecutors not be used to pursue a case where it is concluded a conviction cannot be obtained. Since the prosecution is barred by the statute of limitations and since a successful prosecution is unlikely, I respectfully decline to prosecute the case,鈥� the statement said.
Bonafed previously served as parochial vicar of St. Therese, Little Flower of Jesus in Uniontown 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.
About one week before Bonafed蘑菇视频 removal, 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 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 October, diocesan officials announced Clark would not return to the priesthood after determining the allegations were both credible and substantiated.
Anyone with information on sexual abuse within the Catholic Church can contact the state Clergy Abuse Hotline by calling 888-538-8541.