No Third Trial for Catholic Priest
Philadelphia Daily News
A CATHOLIC PRIEST who was accused of sexually abusing a 10-year-old altar boy in 1997 in the rectory at St. John Cantius Parish in Bridesburg will not have to face a third trial on child sex-abuse charges. The District Attorney's Office yesterday dropped all charges against the Rev. Andrew McCormick after two separate juries failed to reach verdicts. On March 11, a jury declared itself deadlocked after a little more than three days of deliberations in McCormick's second trial. On March 12, 2014, a different jury deadlocked after 4 1/2 days of deliberations in his first trial. McCormick, 58, who has not been in custody, was in court, dressed in his usual black priestly garb and white clerical collar. Common Pleas Judge Gwendolyn Bright has not lifted a gag order on Assistant District Attorney Kristen Kemp, defense attorney Trevan Borum and others involved in the case. A status listing on the gag order was set for Monday. Kenneth Gavin, a spokesman for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, said afterward by email: "Father McCormick remains on administrative leave at this time. He is not permitted to exercise his public ministry, administer any of the Sacraments, or present himself publicly as a priest. "Now that law enforcement has concluded its process, the Archdiocese will begin a canonical investigation in accordance with its policies. There is no definitive timeframe for the completion of that process. Father McCormick will remain on administrative [leave] pending the outcome. He is living in a private residence." The alleged victim, now an adult, testified in the retrial that in McCormick's bedroom in the church rectory, the priest undressed him to his boxers, began "rubbing my genitals" and tried to force him to perform oral sex. The defense contended that the accuser was lying.
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