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	Archdiocese Puts 3 Priests on Leave in Sex Probe Daily Times February 16, 2011 http://delcotimes.com/articles/2011/02/16/news/doc4d5c24f52a855445578352.txt PHILADELPHIA - The Archdiocese of Philadelphia has taken a new series of actions in response to the latest allegations of sexual abuse involving priests, including suspending three priests accused in a scathing grand jury report of being child molesters. The archdiocese also has pledged to reopen complaints made against 34 others still on the job. Joseph Gallagher, Stephen Perzan and Joseph DiGregorio are being removed from ministry while their cases are reviewed. Gallagher has no listed phone number; Perzan and DiGregorio haven't returned messages. A city grand jury last week charged four current or former priests and a teacher with raping boys in the 1990s or endangering children by covering up the crimes. Cardinal Justin Rigali says former child abuse prosecutor Gina Smith will examine the complaints made against the 34 active priests. Church investigators previously said they couldn't substantiate the allegations. Smith is a veteran of the Philadelphia district attorney's office, which issued last week's grand jury report. The archdiocese has been rocked in the past week with criminal charges against two priests and a former priest in the sexual abuse of a youth, and charges of endangering the welfare of a child against a high-ranking archdiocese official. In addition, the archdiocese announced the following: • directed the immediate re-examination of all cases of concern to the grand jury, which asserts that as many as 37 priests remain in active ministry with credible allegations of child sexual abuse. This re-examination will be undertaken to determine the suitability of these priests for active ministry. • To lead that re-examination, the Archdiocese has retained the services of Gina Maisto Smith, a partner at the law firm of Ballard Spahr. Smith is a former Philadelphia assistant district attorney who for nearly two decades has prosecuted child sexual assault cases. She will re-examine all cases of accused priests in active ministry, as well as review the procedures employed by the Archdiocese, and make recommendations to the Cardinal. Smith will also assist the Archdiocese in its communications in the course of dealing with the District Attorney's Office and in responding to the Grand Jury Report. "Sexual abuse of children is a crime," Rigali said in a statement. "It is always wrong and gravely evil. Protecting children, preventing child abuse and assisting victims are priorities of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. The Grand Jury Report makes clear that for as much as the Archdiocese has done to address child sexual abuse, there is still much to do." Last week the archdiocese announced they had retained Mary Achilles as a victim services consultant, hired Joseph Cronin Jr., to ensure priests' compliance with the Standards of Ministerial Behavior and Boundaries and creating the position of Delegate for Investigations. "Many people of faith and in the community at large think that the Archdiocese does not understand the gravity of child sexual abuse. We do," rigali said. "The task before us now is to recognize where we have fallen short and to let our actions speak to our resolve." This comes as Cardinal Justin Rigali said that as many as 37 priests who are still in active ministry will also have their cases re-examined. To that end, the Archdiocese said it has hired Gina Smith, a former Philadelphia assistant district attorney and current partner of the law firm Ballard Spahr. In making this announcement Cardinal Rigali said, "Many people of faith and in the community at large think that the Archdiocese does not understand the gravity of child sexual abuse. We do. The task before us now is to recognize where we have fallen short and to let our actions speak to our resolve." The grand jury report last week re-opened the issue of abuse and Catholic priests in the region, with charges against several priests and endangering charges filed against Monsigonr William Lynn in connection with his work as secretary for the clergy under then Archbishop Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua. Lynn is alleged to have transferred known problem priests to other parishes without notifying parishioners of their problems. A civil suit filed this week by an alleged victim of priest sexual abuse named Bevilacqua, Rigali and Lynn, charging the archdiocese failed to protect children from problem priests.
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