Robert Byrnes, a retired Catholic priest and former state police chaplain charged with sexual assault, has not been in active ministry in any parish or entity of the Diocese of Greensburg for the past eight years, the Diocese announced Saturday.
Pennsylvania State Police on Friday charged Byrnes, 84, with aggravated indecent assault without consent, two counts of official oppression and two counts of obstructing administration of law or other governmental function.
Prior to Byrnes’ arrest Friday, he resided at the Christ Our Shepherd Center in Unity. Byrnes is no longer living there, the Greensburg Diocese said Saturday. It’s unclear where Byrnes is living.
A state police spokesman was not immediately available for comment Saturday afternoon. Police plan a news conference Monday afternoon.
In a statement, the Greensburg Diocese said it received an allegation of improper conduct between an adult and Byrnes, an “inactive priest in the Diocese,” on March 23. The allegation was immediately turned over to police, the diocese’s statement said, and it fully cooperated with the investigation.
The Greensburg Diocese said Byrnes was removed from all ministry and placed on inactive status Aug. 3, 2018, as the result of a review and recommendation by the Diocesan Clergy Review Board.
“As always, the Diocese will continue its full cooperation with law enforcement and respects the legal process now underway,” the statement said. “As part of the Diocesan Higher Standards Policy, the safety and well-being of children, vulnerable individuals or any person, remains our highest priority. We take these charges with the utmost seriousness, and our concern is first and foremost for anyone who may have been harmed.”
The Greensburg Diocese encouraged people with information about the case, or anyone who has experienced abuse, to contact police or their district attorney’s office.
State police ask those with information about the case to call 724-832-3288.
Diocesan officials had no additional comment, citing the active criminal matter.
According to a criminal complaint filed against Byrnes, alleged assaults took place on various occassions.
The complaint said, on March 24, a man reported to police that Byrnes assaulted him in May 2014.
Throughout the investigation, police identified another alleged victim.
Both victims confronted Byrnes about his alleged abuse in recorded phone calls, police said. He reportedly told them to not report the incidents to police and asked the victims to forgive him and to ask God to forgive him.
Byrnes also served as chaplain for the Greensburg Police Department for a time starting in 2016, and as chaplain for other groups.
Byrnes was arraigned Friday before District Judge Mark Mansour. He posted a $250,000 unsecured bond.
An attorney for Byrnes was not listed in court records. A preliminary hearing is scheduled before Mansour on June 1.