Meisinger Center Sign Removed from I.C. Parish Center

Ron Wilshire

Ron Wilshire

Published April 9, 2018 4:40 am
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CLARION, Pa. (EYT) — “A credible allegation of direct physical sexual abuse or sexual assault of minors was made against a former pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish: Joseph F. Meisinger,” said Father Monty Sayers at the 11:00 a.m. Sunday Mass.

“For that reason, the sign outside the parish center has been removed, as have other articles, and the center will be renamed by summer’s end.”

The parish center also serves as the school gym.

Bishop Lawrence Persico of the Erie Catholic Diocese Friday released the names of 51 people who were “credibly accused” of sexual misconduct dating as far back as 1944, as well as a new policy regarding those who work with minors. The list includes 34 priests — 20 of who are deceased — as well as 17 laymen, two of who are deceased.

Meisinger served the parish from February 1955 to May 1971.  He was also born in Clarion and a graduate of I.C. School.

Bishop Persico said in the announcement that every person on the list is “credibly accused of actions that, in the diocese’s judgment, disqualify that person from working with children.  Such actions could include the use of child pornography, furnishing pornography to minors, corruption of minors, violating a child-protection policy, failure to prevent abuse that they knew to be happening, and – in some cases — direct physical sexual abuse or sexual assault of minors.”

For more information, including Explore’s Saturday morning story, click here.

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