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	Prominent Italian Priest Accused of Sexual Abuse Defrocked Canadian Press March 3, 2008 http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5iBheoOdJ7wa3QyDPJC10TRlo1C4g ROME — A prominent Italian priest accused of sexually abusing young men at the drug rehabilitation centre he founded has been defrocked, a spokesman said Monday. The Rev. Pierino Gelmini, 83, had requested that he be relieved of his priestly status and the Pope agreed, said Gelmini's spokesman, Alessandro Meluzzi. The move reduces Gelmini to a lay status, meaning he can no longer celebrate mass or other sacraments. Last year, nine young men accused Gelmini of sexually abusing them while they were residents at his "Comunita Incontro" rehabilitation centre, which is based in the Umbrian town of Amelia. Gelmini has vigorously denied the accusations and his lawyer has said they were made by disgruntled teens who had an ax to grind because they had been kicked out of the centre. Prosecutors have completed their investigation and a decision is expected in the coming weeks on whether Gelmini will be indicted and ordered to stand trial. Gelmini founded the "Comunita Incontro" in 1963. The organization now runs more than 200 rehabilitation centres in Italy and abroad, including Brazil, Thailand and New York.
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