Philadelphia Archdiocese: 5 Priests Removed from Ministry

The Wpvi
December 15, 2013

http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/local&id=9361425

[with video]

PHILADEPHIA - December 15, 2013 (WPVI) -- The Philadelphia Archdiocese announced on Sunday that Archbishop Charles Chaput has made decisions in seven more cases of priests placed on administrative leave following the February 2011 grand jury report.

Of those, five priests have been declared unsuitable for ministry.

One of those priests, Reverend Michael A. Chapman, was found to be unsuitable for ministry due to a substantiated allegation of sexual abuse of a minor.

It all stems from the February 2011 grand jury report into the sexual abuse of minors by the clergy.

The case resulted in the conviction of high ranking church official Monsignor William Lynn who was accused of shuffling predator priests from one parish to another.

"I'm shocked but if it was just a regular person they would have been in jail a long time ago," said a former member of Ascension of Our Lord.

The reverends on the list, who were the leaders of churches in Philadelphia, Bucks and Chester counties, were never charged.

However the Archdiocese says its internal investigation found evidence the men violated what they call "the standards of ministerial behavior and boundaries."

The church wouldn't give any more details but a spokesman says out of the five priests, church investigators discovered Father Michael Chapman, of Ascension of Our Lord in Kensington, sexually abused a minor.

The parish closed last year but a former member, who didn't want to be identified, believes Chapman brought down her church.

"We're ashamed. We're hurt it's closed down. We think the majority of the closing was due to him," she said.

To date, Archbishop Chaput has fired 14 priests who were named in the sex abuse scandal involving minors. Ten have been cleared and allowed to return to their churches.

Meanwhile, the Archdiocese is still investigating one case involving Reverend John Paul who last month resigned from Our Lady of Calvary in Northeast Philadelphia.

No charges have been filed against him but it appears once his resignation was made public, the church says it received multiple new allegations he abused children more than 30 years ago.

Those allegations have been reported to the district attorney.

The following information about those priest was released by the Archdiocese:

Reverend Michael A. Chapman

Father Chapman is 58 years old and was ordained in 1982. He served at the following parishes and schools: Saint Bonaventure, Philadelphia (1982-1986); Chaplain, Little Flower High School (1983-1985); Saint Agnes, West Chester (1986-1990); Saint Henry, Philadelphia (1990-1991); Saint Augustine, Bridgeport (1991-1992); Saint Veronica, Philadelphia (1992-1999); Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, Philadelphia (1999-2001); Ascension of Our Lord, Philadelphia (2001-2011); placed on administrative leave (2011).

Reverend Mark E. Fernandes

Father Fernandes is 40 years old. He was ordained in 2004. He served at the following parishes and schools: Assumption, B.V.M., West Grove (2004-2005); Holy Cross, Springfield (2005- 2006); administrative leave with private residence (2006-2007; health leave with private residence (2007-2009); Chaplain, Grand View Hospital, Sellersville (2009-2010); Saint Agnes, Sellersville (2009-2011); placed on administrative leave (2011).

Reverend Joseph M. Glatts

Father Glatts is 75 years old. He was ordained in 1966. He served at the following parishes and schools: Saint Anthony of Padua, Philadelphia (1966-1967); Saint Alphonsus, Philadelphia (1967-1968); Faculty, Saint John Neumann High School, Philadelphia (1967-1971); Saint Irenaeus, Philadelphia (1968-1971); Chaplain, Pennsylvania National Guard (1969-1971); Resurrection of Our Lord, Chester (1971-1976); Faculty, Saint James High School for Boys, Chester (1971-1976); Chaplain, Villa Saint Joseph, Darby (1976); Chaplain, United States Air Force (1976-1999); Saint Joseph, Aston (1999-2000); Saint Andrew, Drexel Hill, (2000-2008); Saints Simon and Jude, West Chester (2008-2011); placed on administrative leave (2011).

Reverend Stephen B. Perzan

Father Perzan is 68 years old. He was ordained in 1973. He served at the following parishes and schools: Saint Stanislaus, Lansdale (1973-1974); Saint Pius X, Broomall (1974-1975); Saint Elizabeth, Philadelphia (1975-1980); Saint Benedict, Philadelphia (1980-1985); Saint Rose of Lima, Philadelphia (1985-1987); Saint Charles Borromeo, Philadelphia (1987-1989); Chaplain, Saint Gabriel's Hall, Norristown (1989-1994); Extern Service in the Diocese of Gallup, New Mexico (1994-1997); Visitation, B.V.M., Philadelphia (1997); Saint Hugh of Cluny, Philadelphia (1997-1998); Visitation, B.V.M., Philadelphia (1998-2002); Our Lady of Mount Carmel Mission, Puerto Rico (2002-2004); Saint Helena, Philadelphia (2004-2011); placed on administrative leave (2011).

Reverend Peter J. Talocci

Father Talocci is 54 years old. He was ordained in 1986. He served at the following parishes and schools: Saint Frances Cabrini, Fairless Hills (1986-1990); Chaplain, Bishop Conwell High School (1989-1990); Holy Saviour, Norristown (1990-1995); Saint Donato, Philadelphia (1995- 1997); Saint Martin of Tours, Philadelphia (1997-2000); Saint Thomas Aquinas, Croydon (2000- 2003); Our Lady of Calvary, Philadelphia (2003-2007); Saint Patrick, Malvern (2007-2011); placed on administrative leave (2011).

The priests found unsuitable for ministry will have no public ministry in the Archdiocese.

Of the seven cases, the two priests found suitable for ministry are Reverend Francis J. Schlett and Reverend Zachary W. Navit.