A clergyman awaiting trial on charges he molested four students some 30 years ago at a school in Australia is the subject of a credible allegation of abuse from when he taught at Pittsburgh's North Catholic High School, according to a spokesman for the city's Roman Catholic diocese, AP reported. That complaint against Marianist Brother Bernard Hartman, 74, has been turned over to authorities, according to the Rev. Ronald Lengwin. A former student at the school, since renamed Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic High School, came forward as the diocese was preparing a letter sent to North Catholic alumni last month about the Australian charges. Hartman is accused of molesting two boys and two girls at St. Paul's College in Melbourne, in the 1970s and early 1980s. One of Hartman's Australian accusers went public three years ago and authorities there charged him last year. An Australian court has since determined there's enough probable cause for Hartman to stand trial there next year. What has alarmed Pittsburgh church officials is that they didn't learn of Hartman's past until last month, even though his St. Louis-based religious order knew of the Australian allegations in 1997 - which is why the Marianists pulled Hartman out of North Catholic. Hartman taught science classes at the school briefly in 1961 and 1970, and then from 1986-97. -- SPA 22:24 LOCAL TIME 19:24 GMT تغريد
