Mark T. Rossetti

Ordained:
Diocese: Diocese of Scranton

From Report I of the 40th Statewide Investigating Grand Jury for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania:

On November 1, 1995, the Diocese of Scranton was made aware of an incident between Father Mark T. Rossetti and a 13-year-old boy that occurred when the boy was in eighth grade. It involving hugging, french-kissing and inappropriate conversations about how far they should go.  The incident was immediately reported to the police.  Rossetti was removed from ministry and sent for psychological evaluation and rehabilitation.

On November 21, 1995, the victim and his family signed a waiver of prosecution to end the investigation.

On October 17, 1997, Bishop James C. Timlin sent a letter to the Archbishop of New York. Although the Review Board for the Diocese of Scranton had reacted negatively to giving Rossetti an assignment in Scranton, it was Timlin’s personal opinion that Rossetti was not a risk and that he should be allowed to perform some priestly work. In his letter, Timlin stated that he would be deeply grateful if the Archbishop could allow Rossetti to work in New York, at least temporarily.  The Archdiocese of New York released Rossetti back to the Diocese of Scranton in 2002.

On November 11, 2014, Bishop Martino notified Rossetti that he was disturbed to find that his case had not yet been handled so as to comply with the requirements of the Code of Canon Law. He noted, “Bishop Timlin, I believe, felt that he had looked into the matter but was unable to decide on the truthfulness of the claims made by you and [the victim].”

Rossetti was withdrawn from the sacred ministry.  He was laicized in 2007.

Additional information regarding the widespread sexual abuse of children within the Catholic Dioceses of Pennsylvania and the systemic cover up by senior church officials is compiled in the Pennsylvania Diocese Victim’s Report published by the Pennsylvania Attorney General following a two-year grand jury investigation.  A complete copy of the Report is available on the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s website.