Pittsburgh Catholic priest is facing criminal charges; SNAP reacts
Fr. Robert Joseph Cedolia was placed on administrative leave in 2019 after an allegation was made against him through the Reconciliation and Compensation Program for the Diocese of Pittsburgh. Diocesan officials claimed that was the first complaint they had against the clergyman. The accusation dated back to the 1990s when Fr. Cedolia worked as pastor of Our Lady of Joy in Plum, Pennsylvania.
Fr. Cedolia is now facing criminal charges. He is accused of molesting an eight year old boy at the Plum parish. The cleric is charged with aggravated indecent assault of a person under the age of 13, committing a sexual offense against a minor, and corruption of minors. An arraignment is scheduled for July 8, 2021.
These recent charges stem from sexual assaults on two different occasions in 1998. Sadly, one incident is alleged to have occurred when the young child attended training for his first communion. To us, using the sacraments as a weapon adds to the horrific trauma for this victim.
We are concerned about the current whereabouts of Fr. Cedolia, as the bail is listed as non-monetary and there is no indication that he is incarcerated. We worry that the priest may have access to other children.
We would also like to understand why there was a delay of almost a month between when the criminal complaint was filed on May 24 and when the priest was arrested on June 23, 2021. It seems to us that a lengthy delay on such serious charges may have put additional young lives in danger.
Finally, we would like to know why the Diocese of Pittsburgh does not share Fr. Cedolia's assignment history on their website. This is important information for victims, parents, and the public.
Our thoughts are with this victim, and his strength inspires us. We encourage anyone who may have experienced, witnessed or suspected sexual abuse by Fr. Cedolia to report immediately to law enforcement.
CONTACT: Michael McDonnell, SNAP Communications Manager ([email protected], 267.261.0578), Zach Hiner, SNAP Executive Director ([email protected], 517.974.9009) Judy Block-Jones, SNAP Leader, ([email protected], 314-974-5003
Winter Appeal 2023
To our friends,
2023 has been a long year with many ups and downs for us all. As we close out the year, we at SNAP hope that you are feeling like you are on your way to being healthy, fulfilled, and happy. This past year has brought both successes and challenges. Thanks to the support you have shown in the past, we’ve been able to celebrate the good days and weather the stormy ones. Now, we are once again asking for your support as we work to support survivors new and old as we ‘Move SNAP Forward.’
At SNAP we are proud to have hosted a very well-attended conference in August 2023. This event allowed us to gather friends, survivors, advocates, and allies for a weekend of camaraderie and connection. We were so happy to be able to welcome many first-time attendees to gather in person and are already looking forward to the next conference.
To strengthen our movement for justice, healing, and prevention, SNAP will be expanding our peer support and providing more volunteer opportunities in the coming year. Through this great work, we are ensuring survivor voices are represented as we work for significant change that will benefit children and survivors.
Right now, survivors worldwide are getting the help they need from SNAP, and more and more reach out to us daily, but we need your help to keep those programs going and get our volunteers the training they need to thrive.
Your tax-deductible gift to SNAP can help offset the cost of our important mission. If you are not in a position to contribute, you can still support us by sharing this letter with those who can. As we continue to fight for survivors across the globe, your donation or sharing the great work SNAP does will help us continue our work to protect the vulnerable, heal the wounded, and prevent abuse.
Your donation ensures SNAP will be there for those who need us more than ever!
Warmly,
Michael W. McDonnell, C.P.S.
Interim Executive Director
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