Accused priest dies in Las Vegas

David Tushar, a former Carlton County priest who was placed on leave in July 2019 due to allegations of sexual abuse of a minor over 40 years ago, died Dec. 23 in Las Vegas.

Tushar had served as a priest in the Diocese of Duluth since 1985, serving in Carlton, Sawyer and Cloquet at various times during the last 16 years of his career. Tushar was added to a list of “credibly accused” priests by the Duluth Diocese in January 2021.

The allegations stemmed from his earlier service while he was serving as a Holy Cross Father in Niles, Illinois in 1978-79, according to the 2019 letter to parishioners by the Bishop Paul Sirba. No allegations were made in Minnesota.