Bishop of Greensburg recovering after Thanksgiving weekend heart attack

Greensburg, Pa., Nov 30, 2018 / 14:40 pm

The Bishop of Greensburg, Pennsylvania is in recovery after suffering a mild heart attack over the Thanksgiving weekend.

Bishop Edward C. Malesic, 58, underwent a cardiac catheterization Friday, a procedure that aims to diagnose cardiac conditions and arterial blockages.  

"After Bishop Malesic's cardiac catheterization, doctors believe his heart attack was an isolated event. He is being admitted for observation and further testing to confirm that diagnosis," the Diocese of Greensburg said in a statement Nov. 30.

Malesic, originally a priest of the Diocese of Harrisburg, was appointed Bishop of Greensburg by Pope Francis in 2015. His diocese was among those examined in a grand jury report released Aug. 14, examining seven decades of sexual abuse allegations in six Pennsylvania dioceses.

In a homily played at all diocesan Masses subsequent to the report's publication, Malesic, said that "the Church in the Diocese of Greensburg today has evolved far beyond the Church described in the Grand Jury report. One of the safest places to be as a young person today is the Catholic Church. This is not just a convenient saying; current statistics bear this out as a fact. The Grand Jury report describes the Church of thirty, fifty, even more than seventy years ago. It falls far short of describing the Church we love and support. It does not paint an accurate picture of the Church in which we pray and find comfort today."

"Today's Catholic Church is the center of prayer. In it, we celebrate the sacraments, raise our families and grow in holiness. Today's church provides a place of spiritual comfort for those who are looking for deeper meaning and a personal relationship with God," he added.

"Today's Catholic Church does good work. God's work."