Priests Who Served in Chester County Face New Sex Charges

Digital First Media
January 13, 2019

https://www.dailylocal.com/news/local/priests-who-served-in-chester-county-face-new-sex-charges/article_82ce3360-17a0-11e9-bd18-73abe795dac5.html

A Catholic priest who served at Bishop Shanahan in the early 1990s was found to be “not suitable for ministry” following an investigation that he sexually abused a minor in the 1980s, and a Catholic priest who served at Saints Philip and James in Exton has been placed on administrative leave after a new claim that he sexually abused a minor in the 1980s.

A Philadelphia-area priest, Rev. John F. Meyers, 64, was also found to be not suitable for ministry following sexual abuse allegations, the Philadelphia Archdiocese announced Sunday, noting that is referring the allegation to law enforcement.

The Rev. Raymond Smart, 74, was employed at Bishop Shanahan High School from 1991 to 1995, when it was located in West Chester, and the Rev. Monsignor Joseph L. Logrip, 73, served at Saints Philip and James in Exton from 2007 to 2008.

The allegations comes on the heels of a Pennsylvania grand jury report that found Roman Catholic leaders in Pennsylvania had covered up decades of child sex abuse dating back to the 1940s involving hundreds of priests and more than 1,000 victims.

Logrip was previously placed on administrative leave and had his priestly faculties restricted by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia following the March 2011 Philadelphia Grand Jury Report and based on an allegation that he had sexually abused a minor over two decades before that time.

The allegation was referred to law enforcement and public announcements were made to the media as well as the parish communities where Monsignor Logrip had been serving.

In 2014, it was recommended that Archbishop that Monsignor Logrip was suitable for ministry based on an unsubstantiated allegation of sexual abuse of a minor. Archbishop Charles Chaput accepted that recommendation and determined that Monsignor Logrip was suitable for ministry. Since that time, he has served as a Chaplain at Camilla Hall, a retirement home for female religious, and as a weekend assistant at Saint Peter Parish in West Brandywine.

A new allegation that Monsignor Logrip sexually abused a minor several decades ago was recently received by the Archdiocese. This matter has been referred to law enforcement and the Archdiocese will cooperate fully with authorities in the course of their investigation.

As a result of the new allegation, Monsignor Logrip was placed on administrative leave and his priestly faculties were restricted earlier this week. While on administrative leave he will not be able to exercise his ministry public, present himself publicly as a priest, or be present in any parishes or schools.

The information above was shared with residents at Camilla Hall as well as with parishioners at Saint Peter Parish in West Brandywine at all Masses this weekend. Counselors were also made available to parishioners at all Masses at that parish.

Logrip was ordained in 1972. He has served at the following parishes, schools and offices: Saint Ignatius, Yardley (1972-1974); Saint Rose of Lima, North Wales (1974-1975); Bishop Kenrick High School (1974-1983); Epiphany of Our Lord, Plymouth Meeting (1975-1981); Saint Gabriel’s Hall (1981-1983); Archbishop Carroll High School (1983-1990); Saint Francis of Assisi, Norristown (1990-1992); Saint Monica, Philadelphia (1992-1994); Mater Dolorosa, Philadelphia (1994-2000); Immaculate Conception, Levittown (2000-2007); Saints Philip and James, Exton (2007-2008); Mother of Divine Grace, Philadelphia (2008-2010); Chaplain, Saint Mary Manor (2010-2011); Saint Stanislaus, Lansdale (2010-2011); placed on administrative leave and faculties restricted (2011); found suitable for ministry (2014); Chaplain, Camilla Hall (2014-2019); Saint Peter Parish, West Brandywine (2017-2019); placed on administrative leave and faculties restricted (2019).

Reverend Smart has not served in any parish or school since 1995 due to poor health. He has been retired and living in a private residence since 2002. In April 2011 the Archdiocese of Philadelphia received an allegation from a third party complainant that Father Smart had sexually abused a minor. This allegation was referred to law enforcement and no criminal charges were filed. No announcements regarding this allegation were made as the complainant did not provide information as to where the abuse was alleged to have occurred.

In September 2011, it was recommended to the Archbishop that the allegation of sexual abuse of a minor lodged against Father Smart was unsubstantiated. Archbishop Chaput accepted that recommendation. Father Smart retained his priestly faculties, but remained inactive due to his poor health.

In January 2016, the Archdiocese received an allegation that Father Smart had violated The Standards of Ministerial Behavior and Boundaries. This matter related to alleged misconduct with an adult and did not constitute alleged criminal activity.

The allegation was investigated by the AOI. The findings of that investigation were presented to the APRRB following the process noted above. In February 2017, the APRRB recommended to Archbishop Chaput that the alleged violation of The Standards of Ministerial Behavior and Boundaries was substantiated and that Father Smart’s priestly faculties be formally restricted. Archbishop Chaput accepted that recommendation and Father Smart’s priestly faculties were formally restricted at that time. He remained inactive due to his poor health.

In the spring of 2017, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia received an allegation that Father Smart had sexually abuse a minor in the early 1980s.

The allegation was referred to law enforcement and the Archdiocese cooperated with authorities in the course of their work.

Smart was ordained in 1970. He has served at the following parishes, schools, and offices in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia: Saint Helena Parish, Center Square (1970-1974); Newman Chaplain, Montgomery County Community College (1971-1974); Saint Pius X High School, Pottstown (1974-1982); Saint Hubert Catholic High School for Girls, Philadelphia (1982-1983); Chaplain, Saint Gabriel’s Hall, Audubon (1983-1989); Bishop Kenrick High School, Norristown (1983-1991); Bishop Shanahan High School, Downingtown (1991-1995); health leave (1995-2002); retired (2002); priestly faculties restricted (2017); found unsuitable for ministry (2019).

Victim services are available to the public through the Victim Assistance Office of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia at 1-888-800-8780 or philavac@archphila.org.

Those who would like to report an allegation of sexual abuse or any other criminal activity perpetrated by a priest, deacon, employee, or volunteer of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, contact your local law enforcement agency and/or the Office for Investigations at 1-888-930-9010.