Father Andrew Kawecki Arrested for Child Sex Abuse

65-year-old Father Andrew Kawecki was arrested today on charges of indecent assault and involuntary deviate sexual intercourse after allegedly sexually assaulting an 11-year-old altar boy for three years inside a Fayette County church. The abuse began in 2004 and continued until the victim’s family left the parish in 2007, according to prosecutors.

Kawecki, who served as pastor at St. Cyril and Methodius Church in Fairchance at the time, reportedly used the church’s back preparation room to carry out repeated assaults before and after Sunday masses. The victim, now in his late 20s, told investigators that Kawecki manipulated him into isolation, exploiting his role as a spiritual guide to enforce silence and compliance.

Attorney General Josh Shapiro confirmed the arrest, stating, “Survivors experience a lifetime of anguish and trauma trying to overcome the impact of abuse, especially when it is committed by the hands of their own parish priest.” He emphasized that no institution is above the law, referencing the landmark 2018 Grand Jury Report on Clergy Sexual Abuse that exposed systemic cover-ups across Pennsylvania’s dioceses.

Kawecki, ordained in May 1980, cycled through 15 parishes in the Greensburg Diocese over nearly four decades. His last roles included pastor at St. John the Baptist in Scottdale and trust advisor at Conn-Area Catholic School. He has been on administrative leave since allegations surfaced. Authorities confirmed he surrendered his passport and was released on $50,000 bail after arraignment.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for September 9. Kawecki is under court order to have no contact with minors. The charges stem from a tip received through the Attorney General’s Clergy Abuse Hotline—1-888-538-8541—which has collected over 2,000 reports since the 2018 report’s release.

“Anyone struggling to come forward, know that my office is listening, we are here, and we won’t be afraid to take on tough fights to do what’s right,” Shapiro said. The Office of Attorney General continues to investigate historical clergy abuse across the state, urging additional victims and witnesses to contact authorities.