By Cindy Kranz
Enquirer staff writer

FINNEYTOWN - Archbishop Daniel Pilarczyk has accepted the resignation of the pastor of St. Vivian Church.

The Rev. John Kroeger sent a letter to the archbishop in June, offering to resign after a group of parish members petitioned the archdiocese to remove him, claiming he verbally abused children.

Pilarczyk met with Kroeger last week and accepted his resignation, effective Aug. 1, said Dan Andriacco, spokesman. The resignation was announced to households in Sunday's bulletin.

"As of Aug. 1, there will either be an interim administrator or a new pastor. That's not been decided yet," Andriacco said.

The archdiocese had investigated complaints of alleged verbal abuse by Kroeger, which were forwarded to the Archdiocese Review Board. The board is in place to advise the archbishop whether the decree on child protection has been violated, and makes recommendations.

The board's work has been completed, Andriacco said. "They've already made a recommendation to the archbishop. That recommendation is confidential."

A future assignment for Kroeger has not been determined. Pilarczyk had informed the parish that he had required Kroeger to seek counseling, he said, and that will continue, Andriacco said.

"Beyond that, nothing else has been decided," he said.

A new pastor will assess the situation, Andriacco said, and will determine what the archdiocese can do to help the parish, he said.