BOSTON (MA)
Boston Globe
By Michael Paulson and Jonathan Saltzman, Globe Staff | June 10, 2005
The Catholic Archdiocese of Boston announced yesterday that six priests accused of sexually abusing minors are ''no longer in the clerical state," indicating that they were either defrocked by the Vatican or had voluntarily left the priesthood.
The archdiocese refused yesterday to say how many priests are still on leave facing unresolved accusations, how many have been removed from the priesthood, and how many have been restored to their jobs after investigations failed to substantiate the allegations.
But a spokesman said that Archbishop Sean P. O'Malley, who has expressed frustration that the Vatican has moved too slowly to resolve abuse accusations against priests, was pleased to see the backlog being reduced.
Under church law, all credible accusations of abuse must be referred to the Vatican, which can then decide how to resolve the case or can allow dioceces to do so.