Demised American priest of Pennsylvania under investigation for sexual abuse 

John Hagerty, who has been deceased since 2013 is one of four priests under investigation for sexual abuse.

By Edward Era Barbacena 

Another former priest in the Shenango Valley is currently under investigation for alleged abuse, according to the Catholic Diocese of Erie.

The Catholic Diocese of Erie is investigating allegations of sexual abuse made against the late Monsignor John Hagerty, who was the headmaster of Cathedral Preparatory School in Erie from 1984-89 and held other positions in the diocese before he died at 83 in April 2013.

According to the Diocese's public disclosure list, Msgr. John Hagerty, who has been deceased since 2013, is one of four priests under investigation for sexual abuse 

The diocese announced on Thursday that it has placed Hagerty's name on its publicly disclosed list of priests and laypeople who are "under investigation" for sexual abuse, including child sexual abuse. The list also includes priests and laypeople who the diocese said have been "credibly accused" of abuse.

According to his obituary, Hagerty served as a pastor at many churches in northwest PA, including Saint Joseph Parish in Sharon between 1977 and 1984 and Notre Dame Parish in Hermitage between 1997 and 2005, when he retired.

Msgr. Hagerty is one of two priests from the Shenango Valley under investigation by the Diocese.

Father Michael Allison, who served as pastor at Beloved Disciple Parish in Grove City and held positions at Kennedy Catholic High School and the Shenango Valley Catholic School System, is also under investigation. He's been deceased since 2020.

The diocese also announced the addition of two other names to the list.

They are the late Rev. Michael Allison, who held positions at Mercyhurst Preparatory School in Erie and with the Shenango Valley Catholic School System in Mercer County; and Michael O'Brien, who the diocese said worked at St. Stephen School in Oil City and is incarcerated in a case not related to his work at the school. Allison died at 60 in 2020.

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