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	Archdiocese Removes Three Priests By Chris English Bucks County Courier Times February 17, 2011 http://www.phillyburbs.com/news/news_details/article/28/2011/february/17/archdiocese-removes-three-priests.html Also, an attorney was hired to "re-examine" the findings of a recent grand jury report alleging new sex abuse cases. For many residents, these actions aren't enough. Some local residents were somewhat encouraged by the latest round of steps taken by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia in response to a grand jury report alleging sexual abuse against children by several priests and a school teacher in the archdiocese. However, a lot of anger remains over the situation in general. On Wednesday, Cardinal Justin Rigali, head of the archdiocese, placed three priests named in the last week's grand jury report on administrative leave and announced that all cases of concern of the Philadelphia grand jury will be re-examined. The grand jury asserted that as many as 37 priests remained 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," said Rigali. Also, the archdiocese has hired attorney Gina Maisto Smith, a former Philadelphia assistant district attorney, to re-examine all cases of accused priests in active ministry, as well as review the procedures employed by the archdiocese and make recommendations to Rigali. The Rev. Joseph L. DiGregorio, the Rev. Joseph J. Gallagher and the Rev. Stephen B. Perzan were placed on leave and will refrain from the public exercise of ministry pending the outcome of a second review of their cases, said the cardinal. The grand jury said all three of their cases are examples of a system that worked to protect the archdiocese and its priests rather than help the victims of their abuse. Three other priests and a former Catholic school teacher were charged Feb. 10 with raping boys and other sexual offenses, and a high-ranking priest was accused of moving problem priests to new parishes without disclosing past sex abuse complaints against them. One of the priests, the Rev. James Brennan, was the former pastor of St. Andrew Parish in Newtown Township and later assigned to Assumption BVM Parish in Lower Southampton. The teacher, Bernard Shero, lives in Bristol and taught at a school in Philadelphia. The two other priests charged are the Revs. Charles Engelhardt, 64, and Edward Avery, 68. The grand jury also charged Monsignor William Lynn with endangering children in his role as secretary for clergy under former Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua. Lynn, 60, had a duty to protect children in the five-county archdiocese and refer priests with known sexual problems for rehabilitation or prosecution, Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams said in announcing the charges. "I'm glad they are doing something, but the Catholic Church is always hiding things, that's all I know," said Bristol Township resident and Catholic Kathy Bambrinck. Her brother Martin Bambrinck, also a Catholic and Bristol Township resident, was unimpressed with steps taken by the archdiocese so far to combat the problem. "All those priests should be locked up and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," he said. "This thing is way out of hand and has been going on since Moses was in short pants. I started to read that grand jury report and I got sick. It's disgusting." More steps being taken by the archdiocese is good news, said Juliana Reed, a Catholic who works in the rectory at Queen of the Universe Parish in Middletown. "It's good they are trying to find out what happened," she said. "But for myself, I have no reason to worry. The priests I work with are awesome." A mother picking up her kids Wednesday from Holy Family Regional Catholic School in Middletown said her faith remains unshaken by the sexual abuse scandals of the last several years. "We are the church, not the priests," said the woman, who declined to give her name. "The priests are humans and make mistakes, but the church is still strong because we are the church." "I'm not a Catholic but I know it's terrible what has happened," said Bristol Township resident Joy Snedeker. "Something has to be done. Maybe it's time to allow (priests) to get married." Wednesday, archdiocese officials said they take seriously the observations and recommendations of the grand jury and they remain committed to working with the Philadelphia District Attorney. "Many people of faith and in the community at large think that the archdiocese does not understand the gravity of child sexual abuse," Rigali said. "We do. The task before us now is to recognize where we have fallen short and to let our actions speak to our resolve." Chris English can be reached at 215-949-4193 or cenglish@phillyBurbs.com Follow Chris on Twitter at Twitter.com/courierc.
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