Priests Huddle at O'hara for Meeting with Archbishop Chaput on Suspensions, Trial

Daily News
May 2, 2012

http://www.delcotimes.com/articles/2012/05/02/news/doc4fa1986765a09858056261.txt


UPDATE: Archbishop Charles Chaput will address the status of 23 suspended priests in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia during a Friday press conference, according to one Delaware County priest who attended this afternoon's meeting at Cardinal O'Hara High School.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Hundreds of Roman Catholic priests have been called to a sudden meeting in Delaware County with their archbishop, as 23 priests suspended over sex-abuse allegations await their fate.

At the conclusion of the meet at Cardinal O'Hara High School, the priests filed out without commenting on what took place. It's still not clear if they learned the fate of 23 suspended colleagues.

The region's 1.5 million Catholics are waiting to learn about parish priests investigated after a second grand jury report into child sexual abuse within the archdiocese.

A spokeswoman for Archbishop Charles Chaput says a news conference is planned for Friday. A gag order in the ongoing criminal trial has prevented the archdiocese this year from commenting on many sex-abuse allegations.

But Chaput has said he hoped to resolve the fate of the suspended priests this spring.

The priests were suspended after a February 2011 grand jury report alleged that accused predators were still active in Philadelphia, despite a zero-tolerance policy among U.S. bishops.

Archbishop Charles Chaput has said he hoped to announce the outcome of the latest priest-abuse investigations this spring.

The priests were suspended after a February 2011 grand jury report alleged that accused predators were still active in Philadelphia, despite a zero-tolerance policy among U.S. bishops.

The meeting was held at Cardinal O'Hara High School in Marple — while a former official of the archdiocese is on trial downtown.

Monsignor William Lynn is accused of endangering children by allegedly helping the church hide priest-abuse complaints when he served as secretary for clergy.

Chaput came to Philadelphia in September, succeeding retired Cardinal Justin Rigali.