Oct 15, 2019 2 min read

The recently retired priest of four Uniontown parishes died at age 69 Sunday at the Greensburg Diocese home for retired priests, the diocese announced Monday.

Monsignor Michael W. Matusak was pastor of St. Joseph, St. John the Evangelist, St. Mary (Nativity) and St. Therese, Little Flower of Jesus, in Uniontown.

“We have no reason to believe his death was due to anything other than natural causes,” said Jerry Zufelt, spokesperson for the Diocese of Greensburg.

Matusak was placed on administrative leave last year following allegations of sexual misconduct. In 2018, a woman reported he had inappropriate contact with her when she was a teenager at St. Pius X Church in Mount Pleasant, Westmoreland County. A second woman later reported Matusak sexually abused her between 1973 and 1976 when he was a deacon preparing for his ordination at St. Hedwig in Smock and following his ordination. She said he then stalked and harassed her for nearly 20 years.

The allegations were still under investigation when Matusak died.

“Msgr. Matusak was removed from his pastorates and placed on administrative leave, as is diocesan policy, pending the investigation of credible allegations of sexual abuse of a minor. At that same time, the allegations were immediately forwarded to PA ChildLine and the appropriate district attorney,” the diocese said in the statement. “At the time of his death, the results of the investigation by law enforcement had not been shared with the diocese.”