Bishop Gainer Urges Pope Francis to Defrock Predator Priest in Pennsylvania

d the remaining years of his life in “prayer and penance. At the time, Pease was 83 years old and already suffering from dementia.  The bishop believed that Pease cannot himself during the disciplinary process of the church because of his mental state.

Gainer changed his decision after the York Daily Record reported that Pease was the only priest accused of child sexual abuse in Harrisburg diocese, still in the church payroll.

In his letter to Pope Francis, Gainer wrote, “While I do not believe Joseph Pease is of sound mind, his dismissal from the clerical state is the appropriate sentence for his actions. I humbly ask you to reconsider the case of Joseph Pease and remove him from the clerical state,” according to Mike Barley, spokesman for the diocese.

Grand jury report prompted Gainer to recommend laicization

Barley said Gainer made the request after learning more about the allegations against Pease from the grand jury report on clergy sexual abuse. The bishop believes that laicization is necessary even if Pease has dementia because of the severity of his crimes against children.