Local Priest Placed on Leave after Sexual Misconduct Allegations

By Kerri Corrado
The Wjac
March 25, 2013

http://www.wjactv.com/news/news/local-priest-placed-leave-after-sexual-misconduct-/nW3RM/

[with video]

Newry, PA. —

"It’s almost like someone dropping a bomb. I mean the people are in shock. They loved this priest very much," Raymond Crosser said.

Words from Reverend Raymond Crosser after he was asked by the Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Altoona and Johnstown to fill in for Monseigneur Anthony Little, a local Blair County pastor placed on leave.

The Bishop, Mark Bartchak made this decision quickly after allegations that little molested a young boy in the 1990s.

Little had been a priest in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Altoona and Johnstown for years. He was recently on active ministry at St. Patrick’s Parrish in Newry. He was forced to relocate to a location where he will have no contact with kids.

Crosser explains the moment he heard the news.

"The bishop called me the first time and said it was in the Altoona area and then he called me the next day and I started to cry," he said.

At mass, Crosser read a letter from the bishop explaining his decision to remove little. The letter read in part “These accusations are very painful. I pledge to continue taking whatever action is necessary to protect all of god's precious children in our church."

Crosser said the bishop is humble man and has been faced with these allegations as well as allegations at Bishop McCort, all in a matter of months.

"The only way you can get through this is by praying and hold onto your faith...becomes a lot stronger with things like this, it really does."