BERKELEY (CA)
Oakland Tribune
THE faith of many Catholics, especially those in Berkeley, has been strengthened by the decision of the Diocese Review Board to dismiss all charges of sexual abuse against the Rev. George Crespin, pastor of St. Joseph the Worker Church on Addison Street.
Since February, when the popular priest was abruptly removed from celebrating Mass and forced into retirement, it seemed the presumption of innocence did not apply to him or any of the many Roman Catholic priests accused of sexual abuse of minors.
Crespin immediately denied the charges: "The accusations are not true." Nonetheless, he was removed and disappeared from the church premises. I learned later he had gone to the Southwest, where he has friends and relatives.
But his friends in Berkeley and Oakland stood by him.
Posted by kshaw at June 2, 2005 05:23 PM