Mark Bartchak

Bartchak has also served on the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, the highest court of the Vatican, since 2021 and is considered an authority on canon law.

Bartchak continued his preparation for the priesthood at Christ the King Seminary in East Aurora, New York, receiving a Master of Arts in theology in 1981.

[1] Bartchak was ordained as a transitional deacon at Christ the King Seminary on September 22, 1980, and was assigned to serve at St. Joseph Parish in Warren, Pennsylvania.

[1] In 1982, Bishop Michael Murphy appointed Bartchak as part-time defender of the bond for the diocese and in 1986 assigned him full-time to the diocesan tribunal.

That same year, Bartchak was appointed by Bishop Donald Trautman as judicial vicar and director of the Office of Conciliation & Arbitration of the diocese.

In 2007, he was appointed as a consultant for the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Committee on Canonical Affairs and Church Governance.

[1] A grand jury report published by Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro in August 2018 criticized Bartchak for his investigation of Reverend William Presley, a priest in the Diocese of Erie.

The Vatican in 2005 had assigned Bartchak, then a member of the diocesan tribunal, to investigate allegations of sexual abuse against minors by Presley.

Parts of the memo read "I was not surprised to learn from other witnesses from the Elk County area that there are likely to be other victims" ..."it is likely that there may be others who were also of the age for the offenses to be considered delicts, but to what end is it necessary to follow every lead?"