The Diocese of Allentown has issued a statement on behalf of Marian High School related to Friday's reports of charges brought against students at the Hometown school.

The statement, received Monday from Matt Kerr, communications director, is as follows:"In October of last year school officials reported to the appropriate authorities, including law enforcement, what they had been told about incidents involving four members of the freshmen football team."The school cooperated with the ensuing police investigation."The students involved were disciplined in accordance with school policy."On Friday it was learned that three Marian High School freshmen face assault-related charges stemming from alleged bullying incidents that took place in 2014.The alleged victim is a 14-year-old Lehighton youth who attended the school and was a participant in the football program.Marian football coach Stan Dakosty said Monday morning he could not comment. "I have to refer you to the official release sent out by the school," he said.The student has since withdrawn from Marian and is now being home-schooled.According to the boy's mother, the student has made progress since the setback and is active in sports in the Lehighton area.Rush Township police confirmed Friday that harassment charges were filed in the office of District Justice Stephen Bayer against two Marian students, both minors.A third Marian student, also a minor, will face misdemeanor assault charges in Schuylkill County Juvenile Court.There has been no information made available about the fourth student.Since the victim and defendants are minors, police and courts will not divulge details other than to confirm the existence of the case.