Former Holy Sepulcher priest accused of sexual abuse
The Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh placed a former Middlesex Township priest on administrative leave Friday.
Father Robert Cedolia served at Holy Sepulcher Catholic Church from July 2014 through October 2018.
He left that post during a mass reorganization of the church and was reassigned to a position as priest administrator of parishes in Clairton, West Mifflin, Jefferson Hills and Pleasant Hills, where he remained until his administrative leave.
Cedolia is accused of “sexually abusing a minor in the 1990s” while serving as pastor of Our Lady of Joy Parish in Holiday Park, according to a news release from the diocese.
Diocese administrators said this is the first allegation against Cedolia in his 41 years as a priest.
Cedolia denies the accusation, according to the diocese.
While investigations commence, he is banned from priestly activity, including administering sacraments, dressing as a priest or identifying himself as a priest.
The diocese reports that Cedolia's restrictions would be permanent if their third-party investigator or police found the accusation to be true. If the allegation was unfounded, “all that is possible will be done to restore Father Cedolia's reputation and return him to ministry.”
Ellen Mady, a spokeswoman for the diocese, clarified what would happen if such a determination couldn't be reached.
“In times when an allegation cannot be definitively proven or disproven, a determination of suitability for ministry would still be made based on all the information brought forward,” Mady said.
Sexual abuse can be reported to the Diocese by calling 1-888-808-1235. The Pennsylvania ChildLine hot line, used to report abuse of current minors, is 1-800-932-0313.
