Worth Repeating – We Need More Answers

By Susan Matthews
Catholics4change
April 7, 2013

http://catholics4change.com/2013/04/07/worth-repeating-we-need-more-answers/

The Philadelphia priests removed from ministry have three options:

1- Live a life of prayer and penance.

2- Laicization.

3- Appeal to the Vatican.

The archdiocese has not updated the public on what each of the priests removed from ministry has chosen. Their choices impact the laity and society in general.

There are no official updates on those choices, according to Kenneth A. Gavin, Director of Communications for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

So where do priests appealing to the Vatican live?

The priests who chose a life in the prayer and penance program are housed at Villa St. Joseph, a retirement home for the clergy in Darby. Click here for info on the program. You’ll find the Q&A info a little spotty. For instance:

Q: How can a victim or the public find out if a priest is in the Prayer and Penance Program?

A: Victims of sexual abuse or the general public can visit the Delegate for Investigation Web Site at: http://archphila.org/delegate.

Good luck. I tried to look up the status of one of the priests Archbishop Chaput removed in July. I couldn’t locate him on any list. Also, there is no specific list for those in the program.

It’s no surprise the archdiocese pays for the food, shelter and healthcare for the priests in the prayer and penance program, but I was a bit taken back by the almost $1000 a month pension they each receive in addition.

Finally, what about those who left the priesthood? They are out there in someone’s community. Since Bevilacqua’s administration, in a very calculated manner, waited out the statute of limitations, you won’t find them on any criminal watch lists. Perhaps the Archdiocese should perform a public service and create their own.