Former St. Ignatius Priest Accused Of Sexual Abuse: Archdiocese

By Kara Seymour
Patch
January 14, 2019

https://bit.ly/2FyDFpR

A reverend who once served at Saint Ignatius in Yardley has been placed on administrative leave following new allegations he sexually abused a minor several decades ago, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia announced this week.

Reverend Monsignor Joseph L. Logrip, 73, served at Saint Ignatius 1972-1974. Law enforcement is now involved in the investigation, and the Archdiocese said it will cooperate fully with authorities.

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 Archdiocese said.

Logrip is one of three priests whose status was recently reviewed by The Archdiocesan Office of Investigations, which conducts internal investigations following allegations of misconduct.

In 2014, the same board recommended that Monsignor Logrip was suitable for ministry based on an unsubstantiated allegation of sexual abuse of a minor. Since that time, he has served as a Chaplain at Camilla Hall retirement home, and as a weekend assistant at Saint Peter Parish in West Brandwyine.

However, the new allegations since surfaced, causing another internal review of Logrip.

Logrip 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

In addition to Logrip, the review board has found Reverend John F. Meyers and Reverend Raymond W. Smart unsuitable for ministry, the Archdiocese announced this week.

Meyers, 64, was found unsuitable for ministry based on a substantiated allegation of sexual abuse of a minor in the early 1980s. Meyers served at parishes and schools in Philadelphia, Bucks, and Montgomery counties.

In 2011, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia received an allegation that Smart, 74, had sexually abused a minor. This allegation was referred to law enforcement and no criminal charges were filed. The review board was not able to substantiate the allegation and Smart retained his priestly faculties, according to the Archdiocese.

In the spring of 2017, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia received another allegation that Father Smart had sexually abuse a minor in the early 1980s. No charges were filed but the review board has found Smart unsuitable for ministry based on a substantiated allegation of sexual abuse of a minor, the Archdiocese said.

Smart served at parishes and churches in Philadelphia, Chester, and Montgomery counties.