A letter from Bishop Thomas

08-26-2018Pastor's LetterMost Reverend George Leo Thomas, PhD

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

This past week the Grand Jury in Pennsylvania issued a sweeping report regarding allegations of sexual misconduct involving some 300 priests in the state of Pennsylvania. The reports date back to as early as 1940.

Among the priests listed was Fr. Ernest Paone, a Pittsburgh priest, who 26 years ago, served in the Diocese of Reno Las Vegas for six weeks. Archival records indicate Fr. Paone’s only placement in Nevada was at St. Anne Catholic Church in Las Vegas, where he served from February 3, 1992 until March 16, 1992 when he requested to return to Oceanside, CA for reasons of health.

When Fr. Paone came to the Diocese of Reno-Las Vegas there was no information provided by the Diocese of Pittsburgh regarding any past allegations of sexual misconduct. In 1994, two years after Paone left the Diocese of Reno-Las Vegas, the Diocese of Pittsburgh notified our Chancery that Fr. Paone had a history of sexual misconduct. There are no records of misconduct in his brief time in the Diocese of Reno-Las Vegas.

Out of an abundance of caution, I want to make this information known to the Parish of St. Anne and the wider public. It is important that anyone who may have additional information or who may have been affected while Fr. Paone was here contact our Victim’s Assistance Minister, Ron Vallance at 702-235-7723.

The Diocese of Pittsburgh reports that Fr. Paone died in 2012.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Most Reverend George Leo Thomas, PhD
Bishop of Las Vegas

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