BishopAccountability.org
	Regarding Allegation against Reverend David L. Colella, O.ss.t. Archdiocese of Philadelphia September 15, 2008 http://www.archdiocese-phl.org/press%20releases/pr001420.htm The Order of the Most Holy Trinity (The Trinitarians), a religious congregation, has this past week notified the Archdiocese of Philadelphia of an allegation that Reverend David L. Colella, O.SS.T. committed sexual abuse approximately twenty years ago when he served in the Diocese of Victoria, Texas. Upon learning from the Trinitarians of the allegation, Cardinal Justin Rigali withdrew Father Colella's faculties to exercise his priestly ministry in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. The Trinitarians have informed the Archdiocese that this is the first allegation against Father Colella and that he has denied it. He has left the Archdiocese and returned to the Trinitarians' Provincialate in Baltimore, MD pending a canonical investigation by the Trinitarians. Father Colella, who is 80 years old, is retired. Since August 2007, he had resided at Saint Ann Parish in Bristol, Bucks County, the only parish in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia staffed by the Trinitarian priests. Father Colella also assisted at Saint Michael the Archangel Parish in Levittown, Bucks County, celebrating Mass on a regular basis. He periodically assisted at other parishes in the lower Bucks area. An announcement was made to parishioners at Saint Ann's and Saint Michael's this past weekend. In April 2008 he began serving one afternoon per week as an adjunct judge in the Metropolitan Tribunal, the office of the Archdiocese that is responsible for the processing of petitions for annulments and other matters related to marriage. Cardinal Rigali has also withdrawn Father Colella's appointment as adjunct judge. Father Colella's only other assignment in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia was as an assistant pastor at Saint Ann Parish in Bristol, Bucks County from 1957 to 1959. He was ordained in June 1957. The Archdiocese of Philadelphia recognizes that this public notice may be painful to those who have been abused. If anyone needs assistance please contact the Victim Assistance Office for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia at 1-888-800-8780.
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