A Catholic diocese near Pittsburgh removed a monsignor after reportedly receiving a credible allegation of his sexual abuse of a teenage girl in the 1990s.
The Herald Standard reported the Diocese of Greensburg removed Monsignor Michael Matusak — the pastor of four parishes — after a woman alleged he had touched her inappropriately when she was a teenager, and he told her to lie to her parents about it.
"If others have been in similar situations, I hope my story helps them in some way," the woman wrote, the news outlet reported.
"What I don't want, and what is truly compelling me to write this, is for something to happen to a child that could have been prevented if I had spoken up."
The allegations against Mutasak come after release of a grand jury report detailing more than 1,000 instances of sexual abuse allegedly committed by hundreds of Catholic priests in Pennsylvania.
"As per Diocesan policy, Msgr. Matusak was removed from his place of ministry and relieved of all parish duties within 24 hours of the allegation and will remain on leave until authorities complete their investigation," a statement from the diocese read, CBS affiliate KDKA-TV reported.
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