By Sarah Larson
The Patch
March 10, 2011
http://horsham.patch.com/articles/inquirer-former-hatboro-priest-among-those-placed-on-leave
 |
A former priest at Saint John Bosco in Hatboro is among 21 priests placed on administrative leave while the Philadelphia Archdiocese investigates allegations of child sexual abuse, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Zachary W. Navit is one of those placed on leave, the newspaper reported Wednesday.
The Archdiocese has not confirmed the names of the 21 men who are being investigated, but other news sources have reported the same names.
The details revealed Wednesday follow Cardinal Justin Rigali's announcement Tuesday that 21 of 37 priests named in a Philadelphia grand jury investigation have been removed from active ministry, pending investigation.
"These have been difficult weeks since the release of the Grand Jury Report: difficult most of all for victims of sexual abuse, but also for all Catholics and for everyone in our community," Rigali said in a statement.
Navit most recently served as a part-time parochial vicar at Our Lady of Guadalupe in Buckingham, according to the church's Web site.
Before coming to Oud Lady of Guadalupe, Navit served at other parishes, including St. John Bosco in Hatboro and Nativity of Our Lord, in Warminster.
The accusations against Navit and other priests come a month after a Philadelphia grand jury on Feb. 10 issued a scathing report into allegations that the church had covered up sexual assaults on young boys.
The grand jury investigated allegations that two priests and a teacher sexually abused a 10-year-old boy at St. Jerome Parish, Philadelphia, and that another priest at St. Jerome sexually assaulted a 14-year-old boy.
The grand jury recommended criminal charges of rape and indecent sexual assault against the three priests, Edward Avery, Charles Engelhardt, and James Brennan, and the teacher, Bernard Shero, according to the Philadelphia district attorney's office.
It also recommended charging church official Monsignor William J. Lynn with endangering the welfare of a child, for "knowingly allowing dangerous priests to continue in ministry," the district attorney's office said.
As Catholics around the area marked the beginning of Lent on Wednesday, a letter from Rigali to the faithful begged for forgiveness from God and reconciliation with the community.
"During this Lent we are especially conscious of the grave sins of sexual abuse committed against minors, in particular by members of the clergy," Rigali wrote. "We experience the need to ask God’s forgiveness repeatedly in our liturgy and to offer prayers of reparation for these sins and for all the sins of the world."
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.