Joseph Robert Cistone (May 18, 1949 – October 16, 2018) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who served as the sixth bishop of the Diocese of Saginaw in Michigan from 2009 to until his death in 2018.
He was also named defender of the bond on the metropolitan tribunal in 1983, then in 1987 became parochial vicar at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Norristown, Pennsylvania.
[3] Cistone received his episcopal consecration on July 28, 2004, from Cardinal Justin Rigali, with Bishops Robert Maginnis and Michael Burbidge serving as co-consecrators, in Philadelphia at the Cathedral-Basilica of Sts.
[1] Cistone was appointed as the sixth bishop of the Diocese of Saginaw by Pope Benedict XVI on May 20, 2009.
[6] Joseph Cistone died of lung cancer at his home in Saginaw on October 16, 2018, at age 69.
In August 2012, Cistone was named in a lawsuit surrounding clergy sex abuse allegations at his former assignment in Philadelphia.
[13] In March 2018, Saginaw police searched Cistone's residence for evidence in unspecified sexual abuse case.
[12][14] On April 19, 2018, Cistone appointed Michigan Judge Michael J. Talbot as an independent delegate to take charge of all sexual abuse cases in the diocese.
[15] In September 2018, Deland pleaded no contest to reduced charges; he was sent to state prison, spending two years there.