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	Philadelphia Church Places 21 Priests on Leave Amid Sex Charges By Dave Warner Reuters March 8, 2011 http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/08/us-priests-abuse-idUSTRE7276Z920110308 Slammed by a grand jury report and two civil lawsuits detailing alleged sexual abuse of minors by clergy, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia on Tuesday placed 21 priests on administrative leave and apologized for "this great evil." The move was announced by Cardinal Justin Rigali who said a thorough and independent investigation will follow the suspensions. "These have been difficult weeks since the release of the grand jury report," Rigali said in a statement. In February, a Philadelphia grand jury released a report that harshly criticized the church's handling of complaints by alleged victims of pedophile priests, and singled out a lack of action by Rigali and retired Archbishop Anthony Bevalacqua. Rigali apologized "first of all, for victims of sexual abuse, also for Catholics and for everyone in our community," according to the statement. "I wish to express again my sorrow for the sexual abuse of minors, committed by any member of the church, especially by clergy. I am truly sorry for the harm done to the victims of sexual abuse as well as to members of our community who suffer as a result of this great evil and crime," he said. He said 21 priests were placed on administrative leave on Tuesday. The grand jury had identified 37 cases of abuse, including three priests already placed on leave and two other priests who are no longer in the Philadelphia Archdiocese. In the wake of the grand jury disclosure, the Archdiocese hired a former district attorney with experience in molestation cases to review the complaints. Rigali said the decision to suspend the 21 priests came after "looking at both the substance of allegations, and the process by which those allegations were reviewed." The church's handling of complaints was roundly criticized in the grand jury report. The civil lawsuits specifically accused the church-run victims' help office of collecting information from complainants to, instead, be used for the church's defense.
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