Youngstown Diocese: Young knows reasons for firing; time to move on

YOUNGSTOWN

A statement from the Catholic Diocese of Youngstown says John Young, former principal at Cardinal Mooney High School, was informed of the reasons for his termination and while he doesn’t agree, both he and the school must move forward.

The statement was sent Wednesday afternoon to “members of the Cardinal Mooney Family” and members of the media.

“In recent days there has been a great deal of discussion, speculation and unfounded rumors about the separation” of Young from the school, it says.

It attributes much of the speculation to law it says prohibits an employer from divulging details of an employee’s personnel record to the public.

A private institution is unlike a public school, where personnel records, including performance evaluations, are public record.

The statement, which is signed by Young, Mary Fiala, interim schools superintendent; and the Rev. Gerald DeLucia, president of Mooney, says that despite “the impressions presented in the press and public statements attributed to Mr. Young, the reasons for this change were communicated to him.”

Young disagrees but acknowledges the issues have been discussed with him.

In interviews earlier this month with The Vindicator, Young, a Mooney alumnus, didn’t contend he wasn’t given reasons. He directed questions about the reasons for his termination to school and Diocese officials.

“The reasons are not in any way related to any alleged illegal, criminal or immoral conduct by Mr. Young,” the statement says. “Both parties regret the firestorm created in the press and hope that this matter is put to rest.”

Read more about the matter in Thursday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.