Reuters - February 16, 2011
Philadelphia Catholic Diocese to re-open sex abuse cases
By Dave Warner
(Reuters) - The archdiocese of Philadelphia, reeling from criminal and civil allegations of sexual misconduct by priests and church officials, said on Wednesday it would reopen 37 cases of possible child sexual abuse cited by a local grand jury.
The church also placed three priests on administrative leave pending review of their cases, the archdiocese said in a statement.
"Sexual abuse of children is a crime," Cardinal Justin Rigali, Archbishop of Philadelphia, said in the statement. "It is always wrong and gravely evil. Protecting children, preventing child abuse and assisting victims are priorities of the archdiocese of Philadelphia."
Rigali and his predecessor, retired Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua, were named in a civil suit filed this week by an anonymous 28-year-old man who accused them of concealing the identity and sexual abuse of predatory priests from law enforcement to save the church from a costly scandal
Last week, a grand jury recommended charging Monsignor William Lynn, secretary for the clergy for the Archdiocese under Bevilacqua, with two criminal counts of endangering the welfare of a child. It also recommended rape and other criminal charges against three priests and a teacher.
Rigali has ordered "the immediate reexamination of all cases of concern to the grand jury, which asserts that as many as 37 priests remain in active ministry with credible allegations of child sexual abuse," the church statement said.
The move was hailed by District Attorney Seth Williams, whose office led the grand jury probe.
"The cardinal's strong words and recent efforts are the correct steps at this time," Williams said.
The Archdiocese is the sixth largest in the United States with 1.5 million Catholics.
The archdiocese said the church hired Gina Maisto Smith, an attorney and former Philadelphia assistant district attorney, to lead the reexamination of the cases.
Placed on administrative leave were Rev. Joseph DiGregorio, Rev. Joseph Gallagher and Rev. Stephen Perzan, all of whom were named in the grand jury report.
The grand jury said Gallagher, accused by a former altar boy of fondling him, is retired. Perzan was accused by two boys of fondling them, it said, while DiGregorio remained a parochial vicar after he was "credibly accused" of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl.
(Editing by Ellen Wulfhorst and Greg McCune)
This article was found at:
RELATED ARTICLES:
Washington archbishop claims Catholic clergy abuse is all historic, abusive priests now dealt with appropriately, but church still fights victims
Case of pedophile priest protected by UK's top Catholic puts lie to apologist claims that clergy sex crimes are all historic
Pope refers to clergy sex crimes as "recently" emerging in speech to trainee priests, ignoring centuries of abuse
New cases of recent sex crimes against minors by Catholic bishops emerge in Texas, Canada and Norway
Pope refers to clergy sex crimes as "recently" emerging in speech to trainee priests, ignoring centuries of abuse
New cases of recent sex crimes against minors by Catholic bishops emerge in Texas, Canada and Norway
New Catholic child abuse cases surface in Austria, Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands
Jesuit sex abuse scandal in German school just "the tip of the iceberg" says principle, but survivors have few legal options
Boston Globe reporters who exposed widespread sex crimes scandal which led to current Catholic crisis say far more yet to come
Current wave of global Catholic scandals just tip of iceberg says Quebec advocate who predicts many more to come
As Vatican cardinal defends pope and church, African bishop says sex crimes of priests there not yet exposed
Jesuit sex abuse scandal in German school just "the tip of the iceberg" says principle, but survivors have few legal options
Boston Globe reporters who exposed widespread sex crimes scandal which led to current Catholic crisis say far more yet to come
Current wave of global Catholic scandals just tip of iceberg says Quebec advocate who predicts many more to come
As Vatican cardinal defends pope and church, African bishop says sex crimes of priests there not yet exposed
Leaked confidential letter reveals Vatican's intention to prevent reporting of abuse to criminal authorities
Former Jesuit priest finally charged with child abuse for assaulting two students in 2004 and 2009
Dutch bishops admit they did not warn diocese of pedophile priest, Cardinal denies knowledge of abuse and Vatican cover-up
Vatican officials, including future pope, refused to defrock "evil, remorseless sociopath" priest until 9 years after his first conviction for sex crimes
New York priest defrocked for child sex abuse after 8 year church judicial process that excluded victim's rights
New York priest defrocked for child sex abuse after 8 year church judicial process that excluded victim's rights
Catholic church fights New Jersey bill that would reform statute of limitations and expand liability to supervisors of children
New Jersey childhood sexual abuse statute of limitations law upheld
Catholic Conference fights law reforms across the U.S. that would extend statute of limitations in child sex abuse cases
U.K. Catholic child protection head says Vatican response inadequate, statute of limitations ignore long term effects of abuse
Law suits against Catholic church for fraud and negligence in sex abuse cases attempt to overcome restrictive statute of limitations
Documents in Nova Scotia clergy abuse case reveal why statute of limitations for child sexual abuse should be eliminated
Victims of sex abuse in Quebec revictimized by statute of limitations and lack of therapy services
Canadian Supreme Court rules woman's lawsuit against Catholic Church can proceed despite expired time limit
Brooklyn Bishop Avidly Opposes Bill Extending Time to File Child-Abuse Suits
Bill on Childhood Sexual Abuse Suits Is Amended to Add an Age Limit
Wisconsin considers law to remove age limit for child sex abuse suits, Milwaukee Archbishop objects
Priest sex abuse case in Illinois dismissed due to statute of limitations
Australia's Anglican leader fights sex abuse statute plan
Australian Anglican Church votes down internal push by clergy to drop the statute of limitations
Brooklyn Bishop endorses politician who played key role in defeating statute of limitations bill
Pope Benedict promises to better protect children in future, while New York Bishops fight to deny compensation to past victims
Wisconsin considers law to remove age limit for child sex abuse suits, Milwaukee Archbishop objects
Tennessee clergy abuse survivors seek justice for crimes committed by pedophile priests and end to time limits
Priest sex abuse case in Illinois dismissed due to statute of limitations
Episcopal bishop who covered up youth minister's sex abuse of minor reinstated due to church time limits
Child sex abuse inquiry finds Ontario church and gov't institutions revictimized survivors seeking help
Australian clergy abuse survivors say they are being re-victimized by compensation process and Catholic hierarchy
U.S. clergy abuse survivors group, SNAP, goes global to address worldwide crisis of abuse and cover-up
New Jersey childhood sexual abuse statute of limitations law upheld
Catholic Conference fights law reforms across the U.S. that would extend statute of limitations in child sex abuse cases
U.K. Catholic child protection head says Vatican response inadequate, statute of limitations ignore long term effects of abuse
Law suits against Catholic church for fraud and negligence in sex abuse cases attempt to overcome restrictive statute of limitations
Documents in Nova Scotia clergy abuse case reveal why statute of limitations for child sexual abuse should be eliminated
Victims of sex abuse in Quebec revictimized by statute of limitations and lack of therapy services
Canadian Supreme Court rules woman's lawsuit against Catholic Church can proceed despite expired time limit
Brooklyn Bishop Avidly Opposes Bill Extending Time to File Child-Abuse Suits
Bill on Childhood Sexual Abuse Suits Is Amended to Add an Age Limit
Wisconsin considers law to remove age limit for child sex abuse suits, Milwaukee Archbishop objects
Priest sex abuse case in Illinois dismissed due to statute of limitations
Australia's Anglican leader fights sex abuse statute plan
Australian Anglican Church votes down internal push by clergy to drop the statute of limitations
Brooklyn Bishop endorses politician who played key role in defeating statute of limitations bill
Pope Benedict promises to better protect children in future, while New York Bishops fight to deny compensation to past victims
Wisconsin considers law to remove age limit for child sex abuse suits, Milwaukee Archbishop objects
Tennessee clergy abuse survivors seek justice for crimes committed by pedophile priests and end to time limits
Priest sex abuse case in Illinois dismissed due to statute of limitations
Episcopal bishop who covered up youth minister's sex abuse of minor reinstated due to church time limits
Child sex abuse inquiry finds Ontario church and gov't institutions revictimized survivors seeking help
Australian clergy abuse survivors say they are being re-victimized by compensation process and Catholic hierarchy
U.S. clergy abuse survivors group, SNAP, goes global to address worldwide crisis of abuse and cover-up
No comments:
Post a Comment