Saint Vincent removes priest’s name from building

‘Credible allegations’ received against him

For decades, the name of a student activity hall on the campus of Saint Vincent College near Latrobe has honored a former priest, the Rev. Alcuin Tasch, who was a campus dean and died in 1982.

But amid allegations of sexual abuse that have rocked Catholic dioceses in Pennsylvania this summer, the building has been renamed.

Saint Vincent officials confirmed the decision Tuesday, a month after a report by the Saint Vincent Archabbey included Father Tasch among a dozen Benedictines against whom it “has received credible allegations.”

The incidents including the individuals — 11 priests and one brother — occurred 30 to 75 years ago, the Archabbey’s report said.

Father Tasch “was alleged to have abused multiple individuals between 1950 and 1963,” according to the report. “The allegations were reported to the Archabbey in 1995.”

The student activity building on the 200-acre campus in Unity is between Gerard and Bonaventure halls near the baseball field. According to a history of Saint Vincent, Father Tasch arrived there in 1907.

“After researching the origin of the naming of Alcuin Hall, the Hall has been renamed the Student Activity Center,” said a statement released by spokeswoman Kimberley Metzgar.

Archabbot Douglas R. Nowicki, chancellor of the college, signed off on the decision on Monday, officials said.

The building was constructed in 1964 as a student activities center, according to officials with the college of 1,800 students. Today, the upper level is a multipurpose

student activities area, and the ground floor holds a varsity athletics weight room and some coaches’ athletic offices.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro released a grand jury report on Aug. 14 regarding abuse allegations by priests in Catholic dioceses.

The Archabbey’s report days later noted that three of its now-deceased members were named in the grand jury report as facing credible allegations more than four decades old.

It identified them as Father Giles Nealen, Father Fidelis Lazar and Father Charles Weber.

None were in active ministry at the time the allegations were received by the Archabbey, it said.

“The Archabbey Community is saddened by the behavior of those accused and extends its deep apology to any person who has been victimized by any member of the Archabbey Community,” the Archabbey’s statement said.

In addition to the three who were named in the grand jury report, the Archabbey identified 12 others facing credible complaints, including Father Tasch.

“The decision to rename the building the Student Activities Center, for its original and current purpose, came on Monday after we realized it was possible the building was named after someone who had been credibly accused,” said Suzanne Wilcox English, vice president for marketing and communications at the college.