Pittsburgh Diocese Faces Wave of Abuse Litigation

Twenty-eight people initiated legal actions against the Diocese of Pittsburgh on Thursday, cresting a wave of recent claims filed across the state against Roman Catholic dioceses in advance of Friday’s two-year anniversary of a landmark grand jury report into sexual abuse by priests. Pittsburgh attorney Alan Perer said he was filing Thursday on behalf of … Read more

Pittsburgh’s Bishop Zubik Establishes an Exclusively Black Parish

Bishop David Zubik announced Friday that there will be a new parish in the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh, and it’s one that will specifically serve the black Catholic community. Following a listening session Feb. 23, the diocese started plans to develop a personal parish, which serves specific spiritual needs often related to a particular culture … Read more

Judge Denies Diocese Access to Needy Children’s Fund to Pay Abuse Claims

Judge shuts-down Bishop Zubik’s attempt to raid needy children’s fund to pay for sexual abuse A judge has denied a petition by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh to use an $8 million-plus fund for needy children to help pay compensation for victims of sexual abuse by priests. Allegheny County Orphans’ Court Judge Lawrence J. … Read more

Pittsburgh Diocese Wants to Use Needy Children Funds to Pay Sexual Abuse Claims

The office of state Attorney General Josh Shapiro is pressing its opposition to a bid by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh to draw money from a $8 million-plus trust fund, dedicated to needy children, to pay compensation to adult victims of sexual abuse. State law does not “allow a charitable trust to be terminated to … Read more

Facing Dire Financial Situation, Pittsburgh Diocese Looks To Make Changes

The Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh is evaluating options to respond to severe financial strains, exacerbated in the last year by the sex abuse crisis, a diocesan official said Wednesday. “The challenges that we’re facing are similar to that of many other churches, I think, throughout the country,” said Msgr. Ronald Lengwin, Vicar for Church Relations … Read more

Zubik, Wuerl and Pittsburgh Diocese Face New Lawsuit

Cardinal Donald Wuerl, Bishop David Zubik and the Pittsburgh Catholic Diocese are facing new accusations in the form of a newly-filed lawsuits. The two suits were filed last Friday against all three, according to our news partners at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The lawsuits allege that both Wuerl and Zubik knew about the abuse allegations against … Read more

Papal Foundation: The Company You Keep

Clerical Trustees Looks Like a Who’s Who List of Sexual Abuse Cover-Up Most of us learn early on in life that we are often judged by the company we keep. We can have the best intentions at doing the right thing, but our efforts can be thwarted if we collaborate with the wrong kind of … Read more