Church Manager Accused Of Assaulting Priest
Rev. Joseph Bonafed Beaten At Immaculate Conception In Connellsville
UPDATED: 6:29 pm EST March 12, 2010
Email
Print
Comments
CONNELLSVILLE, Pa. -- The business manager of Connellsville's three partner Catholic parishes was arrested Friday in connection with the recent beating of a priest in the Immaculate Conception Church rectoryKevin M. Labuda, 46, was arraigned on charges of aggravated assault and burglary before District Judge Ronald Haggerty, who set bail at $500,000 straight.According to a police report, the Rev. Joseph Bonafed was attacked by a masked man dressed in black on March 3. Police said Bonafed was hit with "a hard object" and needed stitches.
Connellsville police said Labuda told them that he had feared losing his job."He was hoping to possibly scare Father Bonafed, more or less keep his job secure," Detective Lt. Steven Shaffer said.Bonafed was treated at the hospital and released. He returned to the church the day after he was attacked."He's doing OK. I mean, obviously, something like this, it's going to shake you up. He did not spend the night in the hospital," said Diocese of Greensburg spokesman Jerry Zufelt.A brief statement from the diocese on Friday afternoon said "we are saddened" by the news about Labuda and said Bonafed is not granting media interviews.Channel 4 Action News' Jennifer Miele reported Bonafed has been at Immaculate Conception since July 2009 after the diocese closed one Connellsville parish and assigned him there.Since then, parishioners told Miele that Bonafed canceled bingo and other small games of chance at the church summer festival, while continuing efforts to boost the parish's Lenten appeal."I think we just all have to work together. I think we all have to be together. The churches all have to help each other," said parishioner Joyce Vilella.Others who attended Mass the weekend after the attack told Miele they heard rumors about a baseball bat being used, but no details have been given.
|
- u local: Share Your Photos And Videos With The Pittsburgh Channel
- Mobile: Get WTAE Headlines On Your Phone, BlackBerry, PDA
- Facebook: Become A Fan Of Channel 4 Action News
- Your County: More County News Headlines
- E-Mail Headlines: We Send The Latest Pittsburgh News To You!
- RSS: Add Us To Your iGoogle Or My Yahoo Page
- Twitter: Follow PittsburghNews4 | More Accounts
Copyright 2010 by ThePittsburghChannel. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
