Priest accused of past abuse

On Sunday, parishioners in Carlton and Sawyer heard that their pastor, Father David Tushar, is on administrative leave after the Diocese was notified of allegations of past sexual abuse involving a minor in 1978-79, when Tushar was serving as a Holy Cross Father in Niles, Illinois.

In a letter from Bishop Paul Sirba read aloud to parishioners, Sirba listed all the places Tushar has served in the Diocese of Duluth since he arrived here in 1985, and noted that no allegations have been made against Tushar in Minnesota at this time. Tushar, 70, is currently the priest in Carlton and Sawyer, but has served in the past in Hibbing, Grand Rapids, Cohasset, Bigfork, Warba, Duluth and Cloquet.

Tushar was born and raised in the Eveleth area.

Deacon Kyle Eller, communications director for the Diocese of Duluth, said Tushar has been placed on administrative leave as part of the Diocese’s safe environment process. He retains the title of pastor of St. Francis, Carlton, and Sts. Mary and Joseph, Sawyer, while that process unfolds, but he cannot exercise priestly ministry while the investigative process takes its course.

Sirba told parishioners the Duluth Diocese has had a sexual misconduct policy in place since 1992.

“The Diocese of Duluth is committed to helping identify sexual misconduct on the part of all those who work with children and youth, to offering help and healing to anyone who has been a victim of sexual misconduct on the part of clergy, and to preventing this terrible crime from happening in the future,” the Bishop wrote in his letter.

He urged people to report any such abuse by calling the diocese at 218-724-9111, coming to the office at 2830 E. Fourth Street in Duluth, and reporting it to civil authorities (local law enforcement). Contact information for diocesan assistance coordinators is listed online at http://www.dioceseduluth.org