Former North Huntingdon Priest Receives Reassignment

Note: In an effort to underscore the commitment of the Diocese of Greensburg to the protection of children, a complete canonical investigation was conducted following the commencement of the criminal investigation. Everything in the report below is related to Bishop Kulick’s commitment to higher standards.

GREENSBURG – Oct. 7 – The Diocese of Greensburg announced today that Father John Moineau will return to public ministry as a priest at St. Margaret Mary Parish in Lower Burrell, as well as Mount St. Peter Parish, St. Joseph Parish and St. Mary of Czestochowa Parish in New Kensington, with residence at St. Mary of Czestochowa Rectory. Father Moineau is a Lower Burrell native, and this assignment will enable him to be near family and in a community that first nurtured his priesthood. He will also be able to conveniently access his cancer treatments. He will be assigned as pastoral supply to the parishes, under the supervision of the pastor, Father Kenneth Zaccagnini, effective October 23, 2024.

This assignment was given to Father Moineau after consulting with his physicians, who advised that he is able to perform all priestly duties other than ministering to the infirmed.

Father Moineau resigned as pastor of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, North Huntingdon, and Immaculate Conception Parish, Irwin, after he transferred an employee with a lengthy criminal record to Immaculate Conception Cemetery. That employee then admitted to sexually abusing a child for more than two years.

Former Immaculate Conception Parish cemetery worker Shon Harrity has a history of criminal sexual activity dating back two decades. Over the years, he has had at least four separate victims, many of his crimes occurred in the parking lots of local grocery stores. Harrity was caught, confessed, convicted and jailed for exposing himself to multiple women, asking for sexual favors and perpetrating vile acts upon himself in public.

Harrity was arrested again, on May 8, 2024, on the even more serious charges of rape, threat of forcible compulsion and statutory sexual assault of a girl under the age of 16. The charges are not related to his previous parish employment.

Harrity worked for two parishes over the course of a decade, and three times failed criminal background checks, the latest in 2020 while working for Father Moineau. Police determined that at least two parish employees were aware of his criminal record. Another employee, who held the position of Safe Environment Coordinator, admitted she did not review the file. While police determined there was no criminal activity involved in this case, the canonical investigation determined Father Moineau and the three parish employees did violate Church policy. Father Moineau will not be given another an appointment as administrator, pastor or parochial vicar and the three employees have been terminated. The Diocese has and will continue to provide support to Father Michael J. Crookston, who was assigned to the parishes in June, and the remaining parish staff during this time of personnel transition.

A yearly clearance file review and subsequent letter from each pastor is required by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) as part of its Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. Because these requirements were not met at Immaculate Conception Parish, the Diocese commenced a canonical investigation pertaining to Church law. That investigation was led by a canonical investigator who utilized the services of private firm comprised of former police officers and prosecutors. The results of the investigation were then sent to two independent canonical assessors from outside the Diocese of Greensburg who made recommendations to the Bishop about the status of Father Moineau’s future ministry. Those recommendations were also presented to the Diocesan Review Board and Clergy Personnel Board who advise the Bishop in such matters.

While Father Moineau’s failures may not have been criminal in nature, the canonical investigation determined they were serious violations of Church law and Diocesan policies. The legal term is called culpable negligence. Failure to review the employee criminal records occurred even prior to Father Moineau’s cancer diagnosis and treatments. Furthermore, Father Moineau declined additional assistance from the Diocese during his treatments and requested to remain in the office of pastor.

On three separate occasions, Bishop Kulick personally offered Father Moineau assistance; once at the time of diagnosis, once during treatment and the final time in January 2024. Each time Father Moineau refused, saying he needed no assistance in the administration or pastoral care of the parishes.

He did, however, pen and sign a letter saying he checked the clearances and that they were compliant. He submitted that letter to the Bishop’s office as part of the USCCB’s national charter requirement for the protection of children.

Father Moineau resigned his pastorate after admitting his failure to uphold the Diocesan higher standards policy. He was then granted medical leave, which enabled him to keep his full pay and benefits.

Following this incident, Bishop Kulick immediately called for a comprehensive review of nearly 8,000 employee and volunteer files in every parish and school across the four counties of the Diocese of Greensburg. That effort, which was done in an expedient manner and accomplished within three months, was led by the Diocesan Director of Human Resources. There were no other instances of an employee or volunteer who should not have been employed or allowed to volunteer based on their clearance records. This clearly demonstrates that the situation in the Norwin community was unique.

The canonical investigation also determined that Shon Harrity was hired by then St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish Pastor Father Leonard Stoviak in 2012. Father Stoviak told investigators he was aware that Harrity had some sort of criminal record. Former finance council members stated that they, too, warned Father Stoviak about Harrity’s background. Father Stoviak proceeded to hire Harrity anyway. Father Stoviak, now retired, will not be given another an appointment as administrator, pastor or parochial vicar. Additionally, he will not be permitted to use social, broadcast and mass media communications for one year.

The canonical investigation found no evidence that former Diocesan Human Resources Director Charles Quiggle authorized the hiring of Shon Harrity. And at no time was any information about Harrity’s criminal record relayed to then Vicar General Larry Kulick or any other member of Diocesan administration. Quiggle retired from the Diocese of Greensburg in 2018. He was jailed in Florida in 2022 for child abuse unrelated to his employment at the Diocese of Greensburg. During his tenure at the Diocese, there were no allegations of abuse against him. All of his background checks were current and clear.

As a matter of clarification: No one ordered that the “Pray for Father John” message on a local Catholic school sign be removed. It simply cycled off weeks before this situation occurred, as did messages about prayers for two other priests. The sign now says “Pray for Our Priests,” as multiple priests that have served the Norwin community are afflicted with life-threatening illnesses.

Additionally, the online petition to reinstate Father Moineau to his former parishes has had no bearing on the canonical process. Bishop Kulick does, however, offer this message to the faithful of the Norwin Community:

I know many people are hurting about the sudden departure of Father John Moineau from the Norwin community. I pray for each of you daily.

Some people have said they will not return to their parish, or continue practicing their Catholic faith, because Father John is no longer there. After all Father John built in that community, I have no doubt that pains him deeply, as it does me.

I would ask that those who are making these statements or pondering these decisions reconsider. Do not separate yourself from unity with the Church and the Sacraments.

Our faith is not about one priest or even one Bishop. It is about a loving God who sent His only son to die for our sins, and who will provide us everlasting life.

I know many of you love and miss Father John. I have received dozens of letters stating that what occurred was simply a clerical error. This was much more than a clerical error. This was negligent supervision, which was an egregious failure to uphold our higher standards related to the safety of children. This is the reason Father will no longer be able to hold an office of pastoral administration.  

On several occasions I offered to provide assistance to Father John during his illness, and each time, he refused. Later, he sent me a letter assuring me that he checked all the clearance files at his parish. He did not.

I want to give you some perspective about the opinions of individuals from outside the Norwin community. I have received many letters of support from individuals from other parts of the Diocese, the state and even internationally about this incident. Many of them are survivors of child sexual abuse at the hands of people who were representatives of the Catholic Church. They are outraged, in particular, that a man convicted of sex crimes was permitted to work for the Church for more than a decade.

I am trying to be as pastorally sensitive as possible to the Norwin community, and that includes the victim of child sexual abuse who suffered in that community. The restrictions of these two priests are to be viewed as an acknowledgement of the Church’s ongoing concern not only for this victim, but as a sign of my commitment to higher standards, and the necessary consequences that result from this type of a failure.

The Church had a history of failing to protect children. The protection of children and vulnerable adults is a top priority for me. I am committed to higher standards, a promise I made on the day I was appointed Bishop. I will never apologize for sanctioning people who harbored a confessed child molester.

I also want to share with you a little more about the canonical process. I asked two independent canon lawyers from outside the Diocese of Greensburg, as well as two separate Diocesan advisory boards, to hear the evidence collected during the canonical investigation. I instructed the investigation to proceed and I myself remained outside the investigative process. In fact, I put it into the hands of nearly 30 other individuals to ensure objectivity, canonical accuracy and undue influence on my part. I received consultation from them regarding applicable Church law violations, which has greatly assisted me in making my final determination.

I am personally asking each of you to allow Father John to peacefully begin his new ministry in the Lower Burrell and New Kensington communities. And I ask for your full support of Father Michael Crookston, as he has dedicated his life to priestly ministry, and now has also returned to his hometown.

I sincerely ask you to be careful about getting caught up in spreading false narratives or creating emotional whirlwinds, or participating in actions that can do great harm to the faith and your Church community.

And please, pray for the child in question here. Pray that she may recover from the deep scars of sexual abuse inflicted by a man who worked for the parish.

I want you to know that I pray daily and offer Mass frequently for the intentions of the Norwin community. I pray for each of you, this young victim, and for Father John and Father Michael.

As a Church, we continue to direct our hearts, minds and actions toward Eucharistic Revival. I ask you in faith to help strengthen the parish and our local Diocesan Church with a recommitment to Christ, his Church and the Sacraments, especially the Eucharist.