Peter Anthony Libasci

{{Infobox Christian leader

| honorific-prefix = His Excellency, The Most Reverend

| name = Peter Anthony Libasci

| title = Bishop of Manchester

| image = BISHOP PETER ANTHONY LIBASCI.jpg

| image_size = 150

| archdiocese =

| diocese = Diocese of Manchester

| appointed = September 19, 2011

| enthroned = December 8, 2011

| retired =

| predecessor = John Brendan McCormack

| previous_post = {{bulleted list | Auxiliary Bishop of Rockville Centre and Titular Bishop of Satafis (2007-2011) }}

| other_post =

| ordination = April 1, 1978

| ordained_by = John R. McGann

| consecration = June 1, 2007

| consecrated_by = William Murphy, Emil Aloysius Wcela, Paul Henry Walsh and John Charles Dunne

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1951|11|09}}

| birth_place = Jackson Heights, Queens, New York, US

| death_date =

| death_place =

| motto = Arise and walk

| education = St. John's University
Saint Meinrad School of Theology

}}

{{Infobox bishopstyles

| name =Peter Anthony Libasci

| dipstyle=

| offstyle=Your Excellency

| relstyle=Bishop

| image = Coat of arms of Peter Anthony Libasci.svg

| image_size = 200px

}}

Peter Anthony Libasci (born November 9, 1951) is an American Catholic prelate who has served as Bishop of Manchester since 2011. Libasci previously served as an auxiliary bishop in the Diocese of Rockville Centre from 2007 to 2011.

Libasci is a bi-ritual priest, allowed to celebrate liturgy and administer the sacraments in both the Latin Church and the Ruthenian Greek Catholic Church.{{cite web|url=http://www.unionleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20111211/NEWS08/712119978/0/news07|title=New bishop is 'bi-ritual', a rare practice in church|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170821210929/http://www.unionleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20111211/NEWS08/712119978/0/news07|archive-date=21 August 2017|accessdate=21 August 2017}}

Biography

=Early life and education=

Peter A. Libasci was born on November 9, 1951, in Jackson Heights, Queens, New York. Libasci is of Italian (Sicilian) heritage on his paternal side and of Slovak heritage on his maternal side.{{cite web|title=The Most Reverend Peter A. Libasci|url=http://www.drvc.org/auxiliary-bishops/the-most-reverend-peter-a.-libasci.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161231053245/http://www.drvc.org/auxiliary-bishops/the-most-reverend-peter-a.-libasci.html|archive-date=31 December 2016|accessdate=17 September 2020}} He attended St. Margaret School in Middle Village, New York. Deciding to become a priest, Libasci then entered Cathedral Preparatory Seminary in Elmhurst, Queens.{{Cite web |title=Bishop - Diocese of Manchester |url=https://www.catholicnh.org/about/who-we-are/bishop/ |access-date=2024-01-18 |website=www.catholicnh.org}}

Libasci obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy degree from St. John's University in Queens and a Master of Divinity degree from Saint Meinrad School of Theology in Saint Meinrad, Indiana. After his ordination, Libasci received a Master of Theology-Catechetical Ministry degree from St. John's.

=Ordination and ministry=

On April 1, 1978, Libasci was ordained a priest by Bishop John Raymond McGann for the Diocese of Rockville Centre at Saint Agnes Cathedral in Rockville Centre, New York. After his ordination, the diocese assigned Libasci to the following parish assignments in New York:

Parochial vicar at Saint Raymond's in East Rockaway (1978 – 1982),
Parochial vicar at Saints Cyril and Methodius in Deer Park (1982 – 1988);
Parish administrator and then pastor at Our Lady of Good Counsel in Inwood (1988 – 2000)
Pastor at Saint Therese of Lisieux in Montauk (2000 – 2007)

On December 10, 2004, Libasci was named honorary prelate by Pope John Paul II with the title of monsignor.

=Auxiliary Bishop of Rockville Centre=

Libasci was named titular bishop of Satafis and auxiliary bishop of Rockville Centre on April 3, 2007, by Pope Benedict XVI. Libasci received his episcopal consecration on June 1, 2007, from Bishop William Murphy, with Auxiliary Bishops Emil Wcela, Paul Walsh and John Dunne serving as co-consecrators.{{cite web|url=http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/blibasci.html|title=Bishop Peter Anthony Libasci (Catholic Hierarchy)|accessdate=19 September 2011}}

As auxiliary bishop, Libasci served as episcopal vicar for the Vicariate East (Suffolk County) of the diocese. He also celebrated the liturgy for the Ruthenian Catholic community, which celebrates liturgy in the Byzantine rite.

=Bishop of Manchester=

On September 19, 2011, Benedict XVI named Libasci as the tenth bishop of Manchester.{{cite web|url=http://press.catholica.va/news_services/bulletin/news/28032.php?index=28032&lang=en|title=RINUNCIA DEL VESCOVO DI MANCHESTER (U.S.A.) E NOMINA DEL SUCCESSORE|accessdate=19 September 2011|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120716115327/http://press.catholica.va/news_services/bulletin/news/28032.php?index=28032&lang=en|archive-date=16 July 2012|url-status=dead}} He was installed on December 8, 2011.

Libasci on May 30, 2019, expressed his approval of the override vote in the New Hampshire Senate to eliminate capital punishment in the state.{{Cite web |last= |title=Manchester bishop welcomes repeal of death penalty in NH |url=https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/41422/manchester-bishop-welcomes-repeal-of-death-penalty-in-nh |access-date=2024-01-18 |website=Catholic News Agency |language=en}}

As bishop, Libasci has been sympathetic to Traditional Catholic groups. In 2016 Libasci invited the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter, who exclusively celebrate the Tridentine Mass, to establish St. Stanislaus Parish in Nashua.{{Cite web | title = Saint Stanislaus Parish in Nashua to reopen | publisher = Diocese of Manchester | date = May 20, 2016 | url = http://www.catholicnh.org/about/news/news-releases/st-stanislaus/ | accessdate = May 20, 2016}} In 2021 Libasci invited the Institute of the Good Shepherd, which also solely celebrates the Tridentine Mass, to establish a parish in Winchester.[https://www.catholicnh.org/assets/Documents/Parishes/Decrees/Decree-StStanislaus-Winchester.pdf Decree of erection of the Saint Stanislaus Parish]

=Sexual abuse allegations=

On July 22, 2021, Libasci was named in a lawsuit accusing him of child molestation. The crimes allegedly occurred between 1983 and 1984 when he was serving as parochial vicar at Saints Cyril and Methodius Parish School in New York.{{Cite web|last=Downey|first=K. C.|date=2021-07-22|title=Bishop of Diocese of Manchester accused in lawsuit of sexually abusing minor|url=https://www.wmur.com/article/manchester-bishop-sexual-abuse-lawsuit/37101537|access-date=2021-07-22|website=WMUR|language=en}} The accuser was Charles O’Connor, then 12 or 13 years old. O'Connor said that Libasci fondled his genitals on "numerous occasions", including one instance when the boy was setting up the altar for mass.{{Cite web|last=Crompton|first=Jennifer|date=2021-07-24|title=Diocese of Manchester bishop accused in lawsuit of sexually abusing minor|url=https://www.wmur.com/article/manchester-bishop-sexual-abuse-lawsuit/37101537|access-date=2021-09-15|website=WMUR|language=en}} The lawsuit also named the Sisters of St. Joseph, the religious order running the school at the time, of neglecting to prevent the abuse.{{cite web|title=Lawsuit brings sex abuse allegations against New Hampshire bishop|url=https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/248482/lawsuit-brings-sex-abuse-allegations-against-new-hampshire-bishop|publisher=Catholic News Agency|date=July 23, 2021|accessdate=July 23, 2021|first=Jonah|last=McKeown}} Libasci denied the accusations.{{Cite web|last=Callery|first=Tim|date=2021-07-24|title=Manchester Bishop Libasci 'categorically denies' sex abuse accusations, attorney says|url=https://www.wmur.com/article/manchester-bishop-libasci-categorically-denies-sex-abuse-accusations-attorney-says/37116937|access-date=2021-09-15|website=WMUR|language=en}}

On August 29, 2021, the Archdiocese of Boston announced a formal investigation into the accusations against Libasci.{{Cite web|title=Church investigation into Libasci allegations underway|url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/church-investigation-libasci-allegations-underway-080300605.html|access-date=2021-09-15|website=www.yahoo.com|date=29 August 2021 |language=en-US}} However, the archdiocese decided to delay the investigation until the O'Connor lawsuit was settled. O'Connor died in July 2024, leaving the lawsuit in temporary limbo.{{Cite web |last=Fisher |first=Damien |date=2024-07-24 |title=Bishop Libasci Accuser Dies, Lawsuit in Limbo |url=https://indepthnh.org/2024/07/24/bishop-libasci-accuser-dies-lawsuit-in-limbo/ |access-date=2024-09-17 |website=InDepthNH.org |language=en-US}}