Philadelphia cardinal orders investigation of 37 priests

[kpete]

Source: CNN

Philadelphia cardinal orders investigation of 37 priests

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (CNN) - The Catholic Church in Philadelphia will investigate as many as 37 priests identified in a grand jury report as remaining in "active ministry with credible allegations of child sexual abuse," Cardinal Justin Rigali, archbishop of Philadelphia, said Wednesday.

"Sexual abuse of children is a crime. It is always wrong and gravely evil," Rigali said in a news release. "The grand jury report makes clear that for as much as the archdiocese has done to address child sexual abuse, there is still much to do."

He also announced that three priests were placed on administrative leave pending a review.

"The actions we announce today build on the changes that the church has already announced," Rigali said.

Read more: http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/02/16/philadelphia-cardinal-orders-investigation-of-37-priests/?hpt=T2

[davidthegnome]

1. Can anyone elaborate on

What the archdiocese has done so far to address child sexual abuse from clergy? As a former Catholic, I find it infuriating and heartbreaking that so much of the church's money went into trying to bail out sexual predators. Especially now - when that money could have and should have been used to serve the principles of the Catholic faith - primarily charity.

There are, however, Priests that are very good, even outstanding men. I can't understand how so many can sit by and allow this to happen without bailing on the church altogether. It just boggles my mind, the whole damn thing, boggles my mind.

[msanthrope]

2. Well, they cleared the local churches and orders of homosexuals, but kept the

pedophiles...

Five years ago, they had a grand jury report produced by the former DA--and not a damn thing was done.

HEre, I think Rigali is trying to avoid being indicted himself.

[hedgehog]

3. Who cares what the Cardinal does - if these men are guilty of a

crime, then the DA should go after them promptly. The Cardinal enters the equation only if he participated in a cover-up, in which case he should face prosecution as well!

My understanding is that teachers and medical personnel are required to report to the police if there is even a suspicion of child abuse, yet how many priests, bishops and cardinals have actively worked to conceal these crimes by moving predators from place to place? How many of them have been indicted in the courts?

[davidthegnome]

4. So in summary

The archdiocese isn't doing squat aside from trying to cover itself. I can't say I'm surprised. Disgusted yes, surprised no.

[crim son]

5. Thirty seven priests to be put on leave?

There has been more than time enough to clean out the filth but only today they are taking actions on changes "that the church has already announced."? Thirty seven priests. I left the Church long before the abuse scandal became daily news and can't for the life of me understand why anybody in their right mind would support this organization by attending service and dropping dollar bills into the collection plate. There is no longer any excuse for the laity to claim ignorance. Pray at home or you're part of the problem. IMHO, of course.

[Ricepaper]

6. They should be in prison, not on leave.

Where are the warrants?

[crim son]

7. Agreed.

100%, once the proof is in and I'm betting there is documentation of the offenses of more than a few of them.