Monsignor Michael Matusak, a former pastor at an Indiana County Catholic church who was under investigation as part of a sexual abuse case, has passed away.
Monsignor Matusak died at the diocese’s residence for retired priests at the age of 69. He was ordained in 1975 and served as a parochial vicar for four parishes, including Saints Simon and Jude Parish in Blairsville, and was the pastor of three other parishes, including being the first pastor at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Kent.
Matusak was removed from pastoral duties and placed on administrative leave from his duties at a parish in Uniontown in August of 2018 after diocesan officials received what they called a credible allegation of abuse going back to his time at St. Pius X in Mount Pleasant between 1997 and 2008. This was following the release of the statewide grand jury report that same month. A second complaint that was deemed credible was referred by diocesan officials to Westmoreland County District Attorney John Peck, which centered on allegations that Matusak had sexual relations with a young woman who was a parishioner at the St. Hedwig Parish in Smock in Fayette County.
Matusak was allowed to retire on July 1st of this year after resigning his pastorates. In a news release, the diocese said that at the time of his death, the results of the investigation by law enforcement had not been shared with them.
