Puerto RICO Archbishop: 5 Abuse Cases Being Probed

WPEC
February 25, 2014

http://www.cbs12.com/template/inews_wire/wires.international/26e72b79-www.cbs12.com.shtml

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) -- The archbishop of Puerto Rico's capital has revealed that government prosecutors are investigating five additional cases of alleged sex abuse within the San Juan Archdiocese.

Roberto Gonzalez Nieves told reporters Tuesday that the priests accused in those cases have been suspended. He noted the statute of limitation had expired in all five cases.

He provided no further information but said he was cooperating with prosecutors. He recently announced that one other case was being investigated.

The announcement comes as Puerto Rico's justice department investigates four cases of alleged sex abuse at the Mayaguez diocese and several other cases at the Arecibo diocese, which has defrocked six priests as a result.

Prosecutors have complained that the Arecibo diocese has withheld information, including the names of the alleged victims.