By Sharon Stevens
KSDK
July 19, 2011
http://www.ksdk.com/news/article/267459/3/St-Louis-reacts-to-Cardinal-Rigali-resignation-claims
[with video]
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| Archbishop of Philadelphia Justin Rigali. (Photo by William Thomas Cain/Getty Images) |
The head of the Philadelphia Archdiocese and former St. Louis Archbishop is expected to resign over reports of failure to investigate sex abuse claims against priests.
A report appearing in Monday's Philadelphia Daily News said Cardinal Justin Rigali has submitted a letter of resignation to Pope Benedict XVI, and the pope is expected to accept Rigali's resignation as early as Tuesday.
Before being appointed to Archbishop of Philadelphia, Rigali, 76, served as Archbishop of St. Louis from 1994 to 2003. Pope John Paul II named Rigali cardinal prior to his move to Philadelphia. He had worked for the Vatican for three decades prior to his St. Louis appointment.
The reports out of Philadelphia have people talking in St. Louis, though the St. Louis Archdiocese had nothing to say other than he's in Philadelphia.
The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, or SNAP, said Rigali was not helpful when it came to investigating local claims about alleged priest abuse.
"There were certainly a number of cases that came forward at that time that he refused to deal with in any way that was meaningful," said Barbara Dorris of SNAP.
According to the Philadelphia Daily News, a grand jury report in February 2011 slammed Regali and the Philadelphia Archdiocese, accusing them of a widespread cover-up and keeping nearly 40 clergymen active in the priesthood despite claims of abuse. Initially, Cardinal Rigali said no active priests had been accused of sexual abuse. However, Rigali suspended 21 accused priests in March.
Others say Rigali is a good man.
Mary Dorsey, a long-time parishioner and admirer of Cardinal Rigali said, "He worked diligently while he was Archbishop here and most people were very pleased when he was named a Cardinal."
Rigali's successor is said to be named Tuesday, though there was no comment on that from church officials from the Vatican or in Philadelphia.
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