"Walnutport priest removed from ministry after taking ‘disturbing’ photos of wrestlers, diocese says"

"A Catholic priest in Walnutport was removed from ministry after he was seen taking 'disturbing' photographs of wrestlers at a high school tournament last month, the Diocese of Allentown announced Sunday.

The Rev. Thomas A. Derzack, 70, pastor of St. Nicholas Parish, took the photos Dec. 27 without the wrestlers’ knowledge during the event at the Bethlehem Catholic High School gym, the diocese said. Using his phone, Derzack photographed the wrestlers from behind as they were waiting to compete, leading to a complaint by a concerned spectator, the diocese said.

In a prepared statement, Bishop Alfred Schlert said Derzack’s actions violated church standards for acceptable behavior. Derzack was suspended as a precaution while the diocese investigates, and he is also barred from school events and property, the statement said.

'The behavior is disturbing, especially for a priest,' Paul Wirth, a spokesman for the diocese, said in an email. 'But the response to it shows our child protection protocols at work. A vigilant adult saw something suspicious and reported it, the authorities addressed it immediately, and the Bishop removed the priest from ministry.'

Attempts to reach Derzack were not returned Sunday.

Derzack was ordained in 1976...

Northampton County District Attorney Terence Houck said the photos included zoomed-in pictures of the boys’ buttocks, but were taken in a public place and did not capture nudity. As such, they did not amount to a criminal act, he said.

'Disturbing, I guess is the word you would use without it being criminal,' Houck said. 'It seemed to be disturbing a little bit.'...

Derzack joins three diocese priests who face pending misconduct allegations..."