PHILADELPHIA (PA)
Duluth News Tribune
By MITCH LIPKA
Philadelphia Inquirer
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — Three more Catholic priests who sexually abused boys have been removed from the clergy, including one said to have molested "countless children" for years, bringing to 17 the number of Archdiocese of Philadelphia priests defrocked in the church sex scandal.
As is the tradition of such announcements, notice of the defrockings appeared deep inside yesterday's issue of the archdiocese's newspaper, the Catholic Standard & Times.
Although defrocking - the demotion of a priest to lay status - is the most severe action the church can take against one of its clergy, the growing list is of little consolation to a group of abuse survivors.
"This does nothing to address the broader issue that they broke the law and they escaped prosecution because the statute of limitations is so short," said John Salveson, a leader of the national advocacy group Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests and Other Clergy.
Posted by kshaw at April 8, 2006 08:36 AM