18 Rockville Centre priests Removed from Ministry over Sex Abuse

Catholic News Service
January 26, 2005

www.CatholicOnline.org

ROCKVILLE CENTRE, N.Y. (CNS) -- In a sweeping series of decisions during 2004, the Vatican and the Rockville Centre Diocese dealt with 23 priests accused of sexually abusing minors, removing 18 from active ministry, announced Rockville Centre Bishop William F. Murphy.

Of the remaining five, church trials were ordered for three priests and two can be returned to ministry because of findings of insufficient evidence, he said.

Of the 18 removed from ministry, eight were laicized and 10 were permanently suspended, he said.

"I can assure you once again that the diocese has moved decisively in this area and none of these priests guilty of the sexual abuse of a minor will ever function again as priests in any public ministry," said Bishop Murphy in an open letter to the diocese.

The letter was dated Jan. 19 and made public Jan. 26.

The Vatican decided the cases of 14 priests.

The cases of the other nine priests did not go to the Vatican as they agreed to a permanent suspension from ministry imposed by Bishop Murphy.