– Authorities in Lehigh County have arrested and charged a priest with sexual abuse of children following a child pornography investigation.
Advertisement
The diocese says it’s removed Mraz from ministry. Mraz, who now lives at a retirement home for priests in Bethlehem, was arrested Tuesday and charged with Sexual Abuse of Children and Criminal Use of Communication Facility, both third degree felonies; and Obscene and Other Sexual Materials and Performances, a first degree misdemeanor.
Criminal charges have been filed today against Monsignor John Mraz, a priest of the Diocese of Allentown. While working on the computer the parishioner discovered files in the computer’s recycle bin depicting images of nude males. On July 25, Mraz asked a parishioner at St. Ann’s, only identified as D.M., to help upgrade his laptop, prosecutors said.
The tipster informed the diocese, District Attorney Jim Martin said.
The friend returned the laptop to Mraz and then notified the Diocese of Allentown of the discovery.
Investigators searched Mraz’s home in the 400 block of South Sixth Street on August 18 and seized the computers, both of which were used to search for images and videos of boys engaged in sexual acts, officials said, adding that numerous image files of child pornography were also found on the laptops. He previously held the titles of vice principal and director of spiritual activities at Marian High School in Tamaqua, chaplain at the Neman Center at Lehigh University, assistant superintendent at the Diocesan Office of Education and pastor of the former St. Bertha Parish in Tuscarora.
He was arraigned and released on unsecured bail.
Mraz was ordained in 1975 and formerly worked as a professor at a pair of Catholic high schools.
Advertisement
Because this matter is now in the hands of the judicial system, the Diocese will withhold further comment.
