NEW YORK
NBC New York
A well-known New York priest is coming under criticism for saying that priests accused of child sex abuse are often seduced by their accusers and that a first-time offender should not go to jail.
The Rev. Benedict Groeschel of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal made the comments in an interview with the National Catholic Register this week. The interview has since been removed from the news source’s website and the outlet did not return a call seeking comment.
The Archdiocese of New York repudiated the comments in a statement posted on its website, calling them “simply wrong.”
Groeschel is not a priest with the Archdiocese but has worked with it in the past. He did not return messages seeking comment.
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