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Archbishop of Philadelphia to Resign Following Abuse Scandal Pocono Record July 18, 2011 http://www.poconorecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110718/NEWS90/110719775/-1/NEWS Pope Benedict XVI will accept the resignation of the Archbishop of Philadelphia this week, five months after a grand jury report accused the Archdiocese of a decades-long cover-up of sexual abuse by priests, the Philadelphia Daily News reported Monday. Cardinal Justin Rigali's resignation is likely to be announced Tuesday. Rigali became head of the Archdiocese in 2003. The grand jury report, released in February, alleged that as many as 37 priests remained active in the ministry despite credible abuse allegations against them, according to the Daily News. A high-ranking Archdiocesan official was charged with child endangerment for transferring accused abusers to other positions, while two former priests -- one of whom was a Catholic schoolteacher -- were charged with sexually assaulting minors. At first, Rigali said that no priests in active ministry "have an admitted or established allegation of sexual abuse of a minor against them," the Daily News reported. However, on March 8, Rigali placed 21 priests on leave, in addition to the three priests who had been placed on administrative leave following the release of the grand jury report. The Archdiocese said five others would have been subject to administrative leave, but were not put on leave due to circumstances such as health issues and transfers. |
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