A bishop has put a central Pennsylvania priest on leave while allegations of unspecified “misconduct involving adults” are investigated.
Tony DeGol, a spokesman for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown, wouldn’t detail the accusations, except to say they occurred years ago.
Bishop Mark Bartchak announced the Rev. Chinemere Onyeocha (SHIN’-eh-meer awn-YOH’-shah) is on leave and cannot function publicly as a priest.
The 42-year-old priest had been assigned to St. Catherine of Siena parish in Mount Union, Huntingdon County.
Weekend Masses at the church will continue with other priests, but weekday Masses have been suspended indefinitely.
DeGol says the bishop put the priest on leave because the allegations were credible enough to warrant further investigation. DeGol says that could take weeks or months.
