The civil lawsuit between two local DuBois parishes, the Roman Catholic Erie Diocese, and DuBois women will now head to mediation.   The woman, Kathleen A. Clement, filed a lawsuit in May 2016, claiming Reverend Daniel Kresinski had touched himself inappropriately during meetings.   Clement further claims she reported the actions to the director of Religious Education, but nothing was done to end the harassment, and she was asked to resign.   Kresinski was not put on administrative leave until Clement had filed her lawsuit. 

Kresinski’s suspension is a matter of policy, and was not considered by the church as discipline – meaning no wrongdoing was acknowledged by the suspension. 

According to the complaint, Kresinski had created “an offensive, sexually hostile work environment”.   The report claims the harassment lasted from March 2013 to October of that year when Clement chose to resign.   She had served as facilitator of religious programs for three parishes. 

Kresinski has been working at the parishes since March 2013 – the same time Clement claims in her suit the harassment began.  

The suit also claims Clement was told by church officials to not contact the press with information about her complaint, and she was asked to sign a non-disclosure agreement, but she refused to do so. 

The lawsuit is asking that Clement be re-instated to her job and be given back pay and benefits.   It also asks that she receive unspecified compensatory damages.   She requested a jury trial in her complaint, but a judge has ordered a mediation attempt.   The mediation is scheduled to begin in late July in Pittsburgh.