The local Roman Catholic Diocese recently made a statement addressing the April suspension of former St. Mark parish music minister Matthew Paul Getsi, who pleaded guilty in 1998 to second-degree sexual abuse.
Before being involved in music ministry, Getsi, 44, of Mt. Vernon, was employed as a youth counselor on a state contract through Eastern Kentucky University, according to a Lexington Herald-Leader article dated Oct. 18, 1997.
After testifying in Rockcastle Circuit Court to get three boys, ages 9,10 and 13, taken away from their mother, he later tried to adopt them, according to the article.
Getsi’s case resulted in a change of state policy prohibiting youth counselors and social workers from being able to adopt the children they are serving.
The Herald-Leader reported that the boys’ foster mother had complained to the state Cabinet for Families and Children about Getsi’s behavior during his visits with the boys, saying it was inappropriate in nature, and even tried to adopt the three boys herself to protect them, the article reads.
“Getsi’s past has been known to his local parish, Our Lady of Mount Vernon, and to the diocese for a number of years,” said Thomas F. Shaughnessy, director of communications for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lexington, in a statement.
Getsi was given the position to volunteer as a music minister at his local parish, Our Lady of Mount Vernon, with the understanding that he would be supervised and not allowed to participate in any ministries involving youth, Shaughnessy said.
In July, 2008, Richmond’s St. Mark parish contracted him to play music at the 11 a.m. worship services, then in August, 2008, for the 5 p.m. services at EKU’s Newman Center, Shaughnessy said.
“Again, (Getsi’s) music ministry was performed under the supervision of the pastor and involved no ministerial contact with minors, other than his public performance during the Masses,” he said.
Getsi’s contractual agreement was suspended in April “… following several anonymous complaints and concerns from (St. Mark) parishioners about Mr. Getsi’s presence,” Shaughnessy said.
Afterwards, representatives from both Our Lady of Mount Vernon and St. Mark requested that his music ministry be examined and possible reinstated, by appealing to the Diocesan Review Board and the Bishop of Lexington, the Most Rev. Ronald W. Gainer,” Shaughnessy said.
Gainer denied their request that Getsi be reinstated to his music ministry duties.
“This situation shows that any system of (background) checks can have gaps in it, and that church personnel, however misguided by compassion for Mr. Getsi, made incorrect choices in this matter,” Gainer said. “I regret any pain this may have caused persons who have been victims of sexual abuse and the members of these two parishes.”
Ronica Shannon can be reached at rshannon@ richmondregister.com or 624-6608.
Local News
Minister suspended
Pleaded guilty to sex abuse charges
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