By Regina Medina
Philadelphia Daily News
March 9, 2011
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/pennsylvania/117632983.html
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| Cardinal Justin Rigali apologizes for "this great evil and crime." |
Who are the 21 priests placed on administrative leave by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia?
The church isn't saying, and sexual-abuse survivors are none too happy about that.
"It was reckless and irresponsible for Cardinal [Justin] Rigali not to reveal the identities of the priests," said Barbara Blaine, president of the national group SNAP, Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests. "They need to be known to the public."
Rigali's action comes in response to the damning February grand-jury report taking aim at the Archdiocese for allegedly failing to protect children from accused pedophile priests by assigning them to unsuspecting parishes.
The report "presented us with serious concerns that demand a decisive response," Rigali said yesterday in a written statement. He again apologized: "I am truly sorry for the harm done to the victims of sexual abuse, as well as to the members of our community who suffer as a result of this great evil and crime."
The men placed on leave are being investigated for inappropriate behavior and sexual-abuse accusations by hired counsel Gina Maisto Smith. Two others no longer serve the Archdiocese and are members of another religious order, which the Archdiocese notified. One was already on leave and two are "incapacitated and are not in active ministry," according to the Archdiocese statement.
All those on leave are prohibited from ministering in public or cannot live in a rectory or parish while on administrative leave.
Eight priests were found by attorney Maisto Smith to warrant no further investigation, the Archdiocese said.
Three priests named in the grand-jury report - the Rev. Joseph DiGregorio, a parochial vicar at Stella Maris parish, in South Philadelphia; the Rev. Joseph Gallagher, who is now retired from St. Richard's, in South Philadelphia, but who until last month was a regular assistant at St. Jerome's and St. Timothy's, in Northeast Philadelphia, and at St. Thomas Aquinas, in Croydon, Bucks County; and Rev. Stephen Perzan, a parochial vicar at St. Helena's in Olney - were placed on leave Feb. 16.
The priests' names, which have been shared with the District Attorney's Office, will be announced to the parishes this weekend, said Donna Farrell, a spokeswoman for the Archdiocese.
Blaine said that the parish members who learn the names will be a select few. "It's nowhere near enough," she said. "If the names are exposed, it's more likely that other victims will come forward."
This investigation was the first phase in a long process, said Maisto Smith, a former assistant district attorney who is well-versed in the prosecution of sex crimes. She is a law partner at Ballard Spahr, where she is in the litigation department.
"As the thoughtful, careful, deliberate, objective person who will be responsible for the assessment of these cases, we have to be mindful that this is an interim measure and no final determination has been made," Maisto Smith said. "The result of the initial review places children as a priority while the investigation is pending."
In other words, the church says that it's protecting the kids and, for now, the privacy of its employees.
SNAP has been critical of Maisto Smith, a Catholic who once served on a Catholic Charities board, to head the archdiocesan investigation. She said last night, "I'm committed to doing the right thing and being fair across the board."
Contact: medinar@phillynews.com 215-854-5985
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