February 04, 2006

Letter About Accused Priest Being Read At Several Churches

CHICAGO (IL)
WBBM

Bob Roberts Reporting

CHICAGO (WBBM Newsradio 780) -- The latest priest to be removed from public ministry by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese amid accusations of sexual abuse is the subject of a letter being read tonight and Sunday to parishioners at a half dozen churches where he has served.

The priest was removed Tuesday because of multiple allegations involving then-underage girls in the late 1960s.

The priest is under investigation by the Chicago Police Department, but a spokesperson said that no criminal charges have been lodged.

The accusations against him were first made "roughly two years ago," said Archdiocesan spokesman Jim Dwyer, who said no action was taken at the time because "it's a very complicated case."

That prompted sharp criticism from activists, who called for sanctions against Francis Cardinal George by theAbuse Tracker Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Posted by kshaw at February 4, 2006 08:53 PM