The Rev. William A. Rosensteel, a veteran priest who once served in Gallitzin and Johnstown, killed himself Sunday on the eve of an announcement that sex abuse allegations against him would be referred to law enforcement.
The 64-year-old priest jumped from the McNally Bridge on Route 219 in Richland Township late Sunday afternoon.
He died of blunt force trauma, said Cambria County Coroner Dennis Kwiatkowski.
Rosensteel, an Ebensburg native who at various times during his 38-year career had served at the former St. Patrick parish in Gallitzin and St. Patrick’s in Johnstown, had been on administrative leave since March.
He was facing sex abuse allegations dating to 1972.
Events leading to the priest’s suicide had a rapid momentum, beginning late last week.
On Friday, Joseph Adamec, bishop of the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown, announced that – after conducting an initial diocese review – the 1971 claims against Rosensteel would be turned over to civil authorities.
The bishop’s statement was published in Monday’s edition of The Catholic Register, a newspaper that serves as the official publication of the eight-county diocese.
But before the publication hit the streets, Rosensteel jumped.
The suicide brought sudden reaction from Adamec, who Monday said he was “deeply saddened” by the tragic turn of events.
“It is difficult to comprehend a priest taking the action that he did. While Father Rosensteel was facing allegations from the past, those allegations were being processed through appropriate channels and in a way consistent with the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People,” Adamec said, referring to the procedures agreed to by bishops in 2002.
“There was hope that the final determination would allow him to retire with some type of ministry,” he said.
Rosensteel served in several parishes throughout the diocese.
He was at one time pastor of St. Patrick’s in Newry and parochial vicar at St. Mary’s in Altoona. He also taught at Bishop Guillfoyle High School in Altoona.
Most recently, he had served at Holy Rosary in Altoona, but had resigned his pastorate after being placed on administrative leave.
Rosensteel attended Holy Name Elementary School and Central Cambria High School in Ebensburg.
He earned a degree in philosophy from St. Francis College and attended St. Francis Seminary in Loretto. In the 1960s, he served as a deacon at St. Francis Xavier Church in Cresson and at St. Catherine of Siena in Duncansville.
Rosensteel was ordained to the priesthood on May 24, 1969.
The allegations were being handled under a procedure adopted nationwide in the wake of revelations of widespread sexual abuse of minors and cover-ups in many dioceses.
As part of that procedure, the individual making the claim met with the Diocesan Allegation Review Board, which recommended that further action be taken.
“Consequently, the case has been referred to the civil authorities,” the bishop said in his statement published in The Catholic Register.
As part of his published statement, before the suicide, Adamec asked people to “withhold judgment until the investigations are completed.”
“It is the nature of the church, as an Assembly of Believers, to strive for holiness, as sinners on the way to it,” he said.
The Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown has wrestled with child sex abuse by priests since the mid-1990s, when a lawsuit against the diocese and since-defrocked Francis Luddy drew national attention.
Since then, more than 12 additional priests have been investigated, court records show.
And while previous bishops may have turned a blind eye, including one who wrote to priests in 1985 warning them of police surveillance, Adamec has vowed to handle all such allegations under the tougher procedures.
Local News
Priest accused of sexual abuse jumps from bridge to his death
- Local News
-
-
$27.1B budget proposed
Gov. Tom Corbett on Tuesday proposed a budget of $27.1 billion, with no tax increases, deep cuts to higher education assistance and a range of cost-cutting in services for the poor, elderly and disabled.
-
Highlights of Gov. Corbett's state spending plan
Read on to see a bulleted list of Gov. Tom Corbett’s $27.1 billion state spending plan for the year that starts July 1.
-
Universities face steep cuts
State universities still trying to recover from deep cuts last year would have their public funding slashed even further under a budget plan unveiled Tuesday, leading some institutions to warn of a choice between maintaining buildings and offering academic programs students need to graduate.
-
Plan hurts middle class, local Democrats contend
While members of his own party praised Gov. Tom Corbett’s fiscal restraint, some local Democratic lawmakers said the Republican’s proposed budget panders to corporate interests while inflicting pain on the middle class.
-
Senate approves proposed fee on shale drilling
The state Senate voted today to impose a fee on natural-gas drilling in Pennsylvania and expand regulations for the booming industry, a milestone in a debate that has raged in the Capitol for several years.
Senators voted 31-19 to approve the 174-page bill that would fund road work and environmental clean-ups and give local governments the power to decide if the fee would be imposed on their local wells.
“Could we have done better? Supposedly, but it has taken three years to get this far,” said supporter Sen. John Wozniak, D-Johnstown, among a handful who crossed party lines. “It is time to turn the page.” -
Blogging with heart
I've got so much stuff for this Sunday's American Heart Month package, that some of the stories will spill over onto Monday. But I don't know what to leave out, or hold for the next week, so it looks like a double hit this week.
-
Pa. gas drilling fee bill debate ends without vote
Pennsylvania, the only major gas-producing state that does not tax the taking of natural gas from its soil, moved closer Tuesday to imposing a fee on the drilling in the vast Marcellus Shale reserves that have transformed the state in recent years.
-
Detour hurting some Portage businesses
Craig Mazzarese’s business depends heavily on drive-by customers, but since last week fewer drive-bys have been stopping
-
Local airport funding intact
Airport leaders here are breathing sighs of relief after Congress approved funding to support local commercial air service through 2015.
-
With state revenue tight, Westmont seeks school budget input
The Westmont Hilltop school board on Tuesday night held a public forum at the middle school to explain why the district, already one of the most efficient in the state, must raise taxes each year.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Worker Tells 911: Powell 'exploded the House'
Triple Win: Santorum Takes Minn., Mo., Colo.
Injured Marine Inspired by Homecoming
No Rape Charges Against Son of NYPD Commissioner
Romney Congratulates Santorum, Focuses on Obama
Paul Says Results Help Him Rack Up Delegates
Egypt's Ruling Generals Play Risky Game With US
Former Komen Exec Defends Funding Cut
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
Calif. Gay Marriage Ban Ruled Unconstitutional
Jury Selection for Ex-UVa Athlete Enters 2nd Day
Raw Video: Giants Celebrate Another Super Bowl
Cab Driver Helps Wis. Family Escape House Fire
Greek Leaders Seek Deal As Bankruptcy Looms
Bernanke: Recovery Depends on Consumer Spending
Staff Removed at LA School During Abuse Probe
Eastwood in Super Bowl Ad 'Compassionate'
Stranded Fishermen Rescued From Bay of Green Bay
Analyst: Outside Troops Won't Intervene in Syria
Police: Father Planned Deadly Fire for Some Time
