Hi Everyone --
Below is the communications directly with the Bishop this week. Please read and feel free to comment on this change.org site, or, to my email address shown below.
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Sent Jan. 14, 2025, 5:30PM
Dear Bishop Larry,
Those of us on distribution to this email are a subset of the many people in the Immaculate Conception and Elizabeth Ann Seton parishes, the surrounding Irwin and North Huntingdon communities, and from across the country, who signed a petition appealing to you for answers as to why you chose to punish Fr. John Moineau and our parishes (https://www.change.org/prayforfrjohn
When you announced your conspiracy accusations on May 28, 2024, in front of a packed auditorium in our Queen of Angels School auditorium, in the newspapers, on Facebook, on YouTube, and in other media, you promised transparency.
You have provided no opportunities for us to ask you the multitude of questions that we have surrounding your actions and Fr. Moineau’s forced resignation.
We request that a date be selected where you can address these questions. Honest, faithful answers are needed to begin a sorely needed healing process in our parishes, a process which has to date been ignored.
It is our very faith that demands of us that we ask these questions and seek answers from you, and it’s our faith that reminds us that we are all accountable to our Maker.
You know who we are. We are one of the Diocese’s oldest parishes, established in 1868, and the parent church of the St. Agnes and Elizabeth Ann Seton parishes. We are the flock that has seen many priests, to include yourself, celebrate the Eucharist in our 100-years-old church. And we are the flock who have been lovingly shepherded by Fr. Moineau, through our joyous and painful times.
We will gladly provide you our questions in advance of a meeting, preferably on an evening in the Queen of Angels auditorium, and we will respectfully listen to you address them in person.
Finally, we're addressing this message soley to you because, though you may have received counsel from those closest to you, it was soley your decision to take the actions that have resulted in the unnecessary damages to Fr. Moineau and our parishes.
We respectfully look forward to personally meeting with you and to you helping heal our parishes.
May God bless us all,
Chris Peta
412-916-8030
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Received Jan. 15, 2025 2:21PM
Dear Mr. Peta:
Thank you for your message.
As Bishop, I recognize that this is an extremely difficult time for you and members of the parishes. Since May, I have visited both parishes several times. I have had many discussions with parishioners at those Masses and celebrations and I remain committed to meet with anyone who would like to discuss the matter further, including you. My offer still stands.
You may call or email Mrs. Kate Parkinson, my assistant, as individuals or families to set up appointments to meet with me. She may be reached at:
Kparkinson@dioceseofgreensburg.org or 724-837-0901 ext.: 1118.
Regarding transparency, I do want to mention that I issued a comprehensive report at the conclusion of the investigation into the hiring and then subsequent transfer of a convicted sexual deviant at two Norwin parishes. At least three different advisory boards comprised of nearly 30 people made unanimous recommendations to me concerning Fr. John’s removal from his pastorate, and eventual reassignment. As you know, Father is a Lower Burrell native, and this new assignment enables him to be near family and close to his cancer treatment.
If you would like to review that report, it is readily accessible at https://theaccentonline.org/former-north-huntingdon-priest-receives-reassignment/
Mr. Peta, I agree with you. It is a time for healing and acceptance. As we celebrate this Jubilee Year of Hope, it is my hope that our discussion can center on the future and the continued vibrancy and vitality of Immaculate Conception Parish and Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish.
Mrs. Parkinson is aware that each of you may be in touch regarding individual meetings. I look forward to seeing you.
Thank you,
Bishop Larry J. Kulick
725 E. Pittsburgh Street
Greensburg, Pa. 15601
OFFICE: 724-837-0901
DioceseofGreensburg.org
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Sent Jan. 16, 2025 8:00AM
Dear Bishop Larry, thank you for your response.
In the times that you have visited the Immaculate Conception and Elizabeth Ann Seton Parishes since Fr. John’s forced resignation, what have you heard from the many discussions that you say that you have had?
How have you responded to what you have heard? With all due respect, the link that you provide is not to a comprehensive report, but merely a link to your summary with excerpts that you have chosen to highlight.
When you chose the action that you did to punish Fr. John on May 28th – publicly announcing it in front of a full auditorium at Queen of Angels School, rather than privately working through the matter in a professional manner – it struck us as overly harsh, a rushed judgement based on fear of a scandal.
If Fr. John’s punishment for an error that occurred on his watch -- but that he knew nothing about –- was his forced resignation, how is it reconciled that Charles Quiggle, the former Diocesan HR Director on your watch when you were the Vicar General and when Shon Harrity was knowingly hired, is also a convicted “sexual deviant”?
How does that make you and the Diocese any less culpable -- claiming that you knew nothing about Mr. Quiggle’s deviancy -- than Fr. John, who has been proven to have not committed the conspiracy that you accused him of? Can you see the hypocrisy in these actions that the thousands of us see very clearly?
If healing your flocks at Immaculate Conception and Elizabeth Ann Seton that have been damaged and dispersed is genuinely cared about, will you please humbly appear in front of us to answer the many unanswered questions surrounding these actions?
Please, as Christ our shepherd would do, come to your people, do not wait for your people to come to you.
Thank you,
Chris Peta
“As we celebrate the Jubilee Year of Hope, it is my hope that it starts with time for healing, of restoring what was broken and lost. Only then can there be any truthful thoughts of the future.” -- Bishop Larry Kulick, The Accent
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Thank you friends for reading the above in its entirety. It's important that we all understand how the Bishop and Diocese view what was done to Fr. John, and to our parishes as a result. It is also critical that people in other parishes in the Greensburg Diocese who do not understand what has happened, realize that this very thing could happen to their beloved pastors and their parishes.
In the Bishop's response, he gives the contact information of his executive assistant and suggests anyone to call and set up a meeting with him. If you feel strongly about sitting with the Bishop and his attending staff at the Pastoral Center in Greensburg, I encourage you to set up a meeting through this person.
If you feel just as strongly that the multitude of questions regarding the Bishop's actions will only be honestly answered in the same forum that he announced Fr. John's forced resignation and conspiracy accusations, then please support our efforts to make the Bishop accountable to begin healing our parishes and to agree to another public meeting.
Finally, let us always continue to keep Fr. John in our prayers!
Thank you,
Chris Peta
412-916-8030
chris@syncrous.com