5 Philadelphia priests removed from ministry, another placed on leave

December 16, 2013

Archbishop Charles Chaput has permanently removed five Philadelphia priests from ministry – one for child sexual abuse and four for violating ministerial standards – and has placed a sixth on administrative leave following “multiple, new allegations” of child sexual abuse, according to two statements from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

Following a 2011 grand jury report, 26 Philadelphia priests were placed on administrative leave, and over the last three years the archdiocese has made final determinations in the majority of the cases. On December 15, the archdiocese announced the resolution of seven of the eight remaining cases: “two of the priests are suitable for ministry,” “one of the priests is unsuitable for ministry due to a substantiated allegation of sexual abuse of a minor,” and “four of the priests are unsuitable for ministry due to substantiated violations of ‘The Standards of Ministerial Behaviors and Boundaries.’”

In a separate announcement, the archdiocese said that another priest was placed on administrative leave “following allegations that he sexually abused minors over 30 years ago.”

 

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Further information:

• Announcement Regarding Reverend John P. Paul (Archdiocese of Philadelphia)
• The Archdiocese of Philadelphia Announces Additional Resolutions of Cases of Priests on Administrative Leave (Archdiocese of Philadelphia)
• Phila. Archdiocese suspends priest over sex allegations (Philadelphia Inquirer)