Priest admits sex with Mooney student

YOUNGSTOWN — A priest has admitted sexual misconduct with a student at Cardinal Mooney High School while the priest was on the faculty there in 1975 and 1976.

Bishop George V. Murry said today he has promised anonymity to the victim of sexual misconduct by the Rev. Thomas Crum. The victim’s name, age and gender is not being made public.

Bishop Murry said he was contacted May 22 by the victim, who made the allegation of sexual misconduct against Father Crum. The victim was a teenager at the time of the abuse and a student at Cardinal Mooney High School, where Father Crum was on the faculty from 1975-77. Bishop Murry said the victim told him that the abuse did not occur on school or church grounds and more than one incident took place between 1975 and 1976.

Father Crum, pastor of Our Lady of Peace Church in Canton, has been removed from his position and placed on administrative leave. When confronted with the information, Father Crum admitted the offense to church authorities.

The bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Youngstown addressed a news conference this afternoon at the chancery offices, 144 W. Wood St. He read a statement before answering questions from the media.

For more on this story, see Wednesday’s Vindicator or vindy.com