Letter to the editor: Greensburg bishop owes priest an apology

On May 28, Bishop Larry Kulick of the Diocese of Greensburg announced the forced resignation of Father John Moineau, pastor of Immaculate Conception and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton parishes, because he believed there was a “conspiracy” to hide the prior criminal record of a worker who had been hired by the previous pastor at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in 2012. The bishop asked the district attorney’s office to investigate and then promised the parishioners there would be transparency throughout.

The DA’s office determined over six weeks ago that there was absolutely nothing that suggested a conspiracy by either Moineau or parish staffs, but only now is the diocese releasing the information that confirms their rush to judgment.

After publicly excoriating Moineau — in an auditorium in front of hundreds of parishioners, in the Tribune-Review, on Facebook and YouTube, and in diocesan bulletins and media — will the bishop now publicly apologize to Moineau and make immediate amends to rectify the unjust situation of the bishop’s doing?

With all due respect, this is necessary to begin the healing process in our parishes harmed by this unjust rush to judgment, hopefully done before any more departures from our parishes and the diocese.

Chris Peta

Irwin