Charles Weber

Ordained:
Diocese: Diocese of Greensburg

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

On May 11, 2015, the Diocese of Greensburg received an allegation regarding child sexual abuse against Father Charles Weber. The victim claimed that in the early 1980’s, Weber gave a lecture to children about the meaning of impure thoughts and actions at St. Gertrude Church in Vandergrift. After the lecture, the victim, who was between 11 and 13 years old at the time, was alone with Weber when asked if he was fully aware of what the lecture meant. At this point, Weber began to fondle the boy’s genitals. The victim reported, “the inappropriate contact was limited to fondling and not any penetration or sexual intercourse.”

According to a document titled “Bishops Delegate Report” by Monsignor Raymond Riffle, the victim requested “counseling with somebody who, in his words “knows about this stuff.”” Riffle put the victim in contact with the Diocese’s Victim’s Assistance Coordinator one week later. The file does not contain any further information regarding counseling for the victim.

The Diocese encouraged the victim to contact ChildLine regarding the abuse. While he was initially reluctant to do so, he contacted ChildLine, who reportedly stated that since the perpetrator was deceased, they would not be able to conduct a full investigation. Riffle then forwarded the information to Westmoreland County District Attorney’s Office.

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.