according to a 2005 grand jury investigation into clergy sexual abuse, while serving as assistant vicar for administration in 1996, cistone was involved with silencing a nun who tried to alert parishioners at st. gabriel parish about abuse by a priest. a week after being named to lead the diocese of saginaw, cistone was asked by a mid-michigan newspaper reporter about the grand jury investigation and his reported role in covering up instances of sexual abuse. cistone expressed unhappiness with how little opportunity he had been given to respond to the report, saying, "unfortunately, the grand jury procedure, as followed in philadelphia, did not allow for any opportunity to address such questions to offer explanation or clarification." cistone also expressed surprise that he had not been questioned about the grand jury report during his introductory press conference and told the reporter, "had it come up, i certainly would have addressed it." however, when given the opportunity to answer questions about his actions by the newspaper reporter, cistone refused to answer specific questions on the matter.