Daily Mail
February 17, 2011
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1357899/Catholic-Church-Philadelphia-orders-investigation-37-ministers-credible-child-sex-abuse-claims.html?ito=feeds-newsxml
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| Taking steps: Cardinal Justin Rigali said that the archdiocese understood the seriousness of the situation |
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| The accused: Edward Avery, James Brennan, Charles Engelhardt (top row L-R), and William Lynn and Bernard Shero (bottom row) are all facing charges connected to child sex abuse |
The archbishop of Philadelphia has said that as many as 37 priests in the Catholic Church will be investigated after they were identified in a grand jury report as 'remaining in active ministry' despite facing credible allegations of child sexual abuse.
Cardinal Justin Rigali also announced that three priests had been placed on administrative leave pending a review.
Speaking in a news release, Rigali added that these actions would build upon changes already announced by the church to deal with the victims of these crimes.
These will include hiring a victim services consultant and compliance officers, as well as a delegate for investigations.
'Sexual abuse of children is a crime. It is always wrong and gravely evil,' Rigali said.
'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.'
'Many people think that the archdiocese does not understand the gravity of child sexual abuse,' Rigali added, 'We do.'
Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams has welcomed the news. 'I commend Cardinal Rigali and the archdiocese for this latest action," he told CNN. 'The cardinal's strong words and recent efforts are the correct steps at this time.'
The announcement came in the wake of three Philadelphia priests and a parochial school teacher being charged last week with raping and assaulting boys in their care. A former secretary with the Catholic Church in Philadelphia was also accused of allowing the priests to have access to children.
Edward Avery, 68, and Charles Engelhardt, 64, were charged with allegedly assaulting a 10-year-old boy at St. Jerome Parish from 1998-1999, while 48-year-old Bernard Shero, who taught in the school, is charged with allegedly assaulting the same boy there the following year.
Another priest, James Brennan, is accused of assaulting a 14-year-old boy in 1996. The alleged victims, who are now in their 20s, have not been named.
Monsignor William Lynn, who was secretary for the former-Philadelphia Archbishop Anthony Bevilacqua, faces two counts of endangering the welfare of a child in connection with the alleged assaults.
The grand jury found that the 60-year-old had put children at risk, including the alleged victims of those charged, by knowingly allowing dangerous priests to have access to minors within their roles in the ministry.
'This behaviour will not be tolerated - ultimately they will be judged by a higher authority,' Williams said. 'We want to ensure that all victims of abuse can call us directly and don't have to filter their story with anyone else.'
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