A Catholic priest who taught at Bradford Central Christian High School in the late 1970s has been placed on leave after a lawsuit was filed saying he touched himself inappropriately during work meetings with a woman.
60-year-old Kathleen Clement filed the suit against the Erie Diocese, but not Father Daniel Kresinski, who is the pastor of St. Michael and St. Joseph parishes in DuBois.
The diocese is not commenting, other than to say this is a sexual harassment lawsuit, not clergy abuse. It is their policy not to comment on pending litigation. A letter from Bishop Lawrence Persico will be read during Masses at St. Michael and St. Joseph parishes this weekend.
The woman claims in her lawsuit that she was asked to resign in 2013 after complaining that Kresinski would touch himself during meetings with her. She claims diocesan officials did nothing after she complained although, according to the lawsuit, Kresinski admitted to doing what she described.
She’s seeking lost wages and unspecified damages for emotional distress and other suffering.
Kresinski had also been pastor of St. Raphael Church in Eldred and its missions of St. Mary Church in Sartwell, and St. Theresa Church in Shinglehouse.