Paul Schlear, 26, of Northeast Philadelphia was charged last night with false impersonating and criminal trespassing, police said today.
Bail was set at $500 cash at his hearing this morning.
Schlear dressed as a priest and entered the intensive-care unit at Aria Health-Torresdale Campus to visit the family of Officer Richard Hayes who was injured during a car stop in June, police spokesman Lt. Frank Vanore said yesterday.
Schlear also appeared dressed in white clergy garb - an alb - at the funerals of two officers, Sgt. Patrick McDonald in September and Officer John Pawlowski in February, Vanore said. Both were killed in the line of duty. An alb is a white vestment, floor length with long sleeves.
On his Facebook page, Schlear listed himself as a Roman Catholic, a 2001 graduate of Father Judge High School, and a Republican committeeman in the 57th Ward. Republican City Committee chairman Vito F. Canuso said last night that he could not confirm that.
In a statement, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia called the deception a "deeply disturbing matter."
At the funerals, Schlear "presented himself as associated with a religious community, but not as a priest," the archdiocese said.
Schlear "asked if he could be an altar server or assist in distributing Holy Communion. His request was denied. His participation was limited to walking in procession in the place designated for lay persons," the archdiocese said, citing the Rev. Dennis Gill, director of the Office of Worship.
The archdiocese told police that Schlear was never a priest but he was a student at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary from 2002 to 2003.
"Our prayers and concern go out for Officer Hayes and his family at this time," the archdiocese said. "It is tragic to think that someone would present himself as a member of the clergy, violating the sacred trust that a family places in a priest at a time of crisis."
Hayes, 28, remains hospitalized. He suffered a severe head injury June 28 in Bridesburg when a car he and another officer had stopped on suspicion of drag racing was struck by an SUV driven by a Bucks County man who was allegedly drunk.
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