NEW YORK
New York Newsday
January 6, 2006, 3:35 PM EST
NEW YORK (AP) _ A priest accused of sexual abuse will be tried by a church tribunal following a ruling by the Vatican, a spokesman for the Archdiocese of New York announced Friday.
Msgr. Charles M. Kavanagh, once a leading figure in the church hierarchy, was suspended in May 2002 after he was accused of molesting a former seminarian. He has vehemently denied the charges.
Following an internal investigation by the archdiocese, the case was referred to the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which determines how to proceed.
The Congregation found the allegations merit a trial.
"I am absolutely delighted that the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith has granted my request for a full and fair trial," Kavanagh said in a statement. "I am fully confident that once I have a chance to present my case, I will be completely vindicated and will return to the ministry that I love."