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.
He noted the church had already hired a victim services consultant
and a compliance officer, and created a new position of delegate for
investigations to assist with the review.
"Many people of faith and in the community at large think that the
archdiocese does not understand the gravity of child sexual abuse,"
Rigali said. "We do."
Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams on Wednesday lauded the church announcement.
"I commend Cardinal Rigali and the archdiocese for this latest
action," Williams said. "The cardinal's strong words and recent efforts
are the correct steps at this time."
Last week, three Philadelphia priests and a parochial school teacher were charged with raping and assaulting boys in their care,
while a former official with the Philadelphia Archdiocese was accused
of allowing the abusive priests to have access to children, the city's
district attorney's office said.
CNN Senior Vatican Analyst John Allen said the charges against the
former church official appeared to be unprecedented and could have
national implications.
"This is apparently the first time that a Catholic leader has been
charged criminally for the cover-up as opposed to the abuse itself," he
said.
"It sends a shot across the bow for bishops and other diocesan
officials in other parts of the country, who have to wonder now if
they've got criminal exposure, too."
Edward Avery, 68, and Charles Engelhardt, 64, were charged with
allegedly assaulting a 10-year-old boy at St. Jerome Parish from 1998 to
1999.
Bernard Shero, 48, a teacher in the school, is charged with allegedly
assaulting the same boy there in 2000, Williams said at a Thursday
press conference.
James Brennan, another priest, is accused of assaulting a different boy, a 14-year-old, in 1996.
Monsignor William Lynn, who served as the secretary for clergy for
the under then-Philadelphia Archbishop Anthony Bevilacqua, was charged
with two counts of endangering the welfare of a child in connection with
the alleged assaults, Williams said.
From 1992 until 2004, Lynn was responsible for investigating reports
that priests had sexually abused children, the district attorney's
office said.
The grand jury found that Lynn, 60, endangered children, including
the alleged victims of those charged last week, by knowingly allowing
dangerous priests to continue in the ministry in roles in which they had
access to kids.
"This behavior will not be tolerated - ultimately they will be judged
by a higher authority," Williams said.
"We want to ensure that all
victims of abuse can call us directly and don't have to filter their
story with anyone else."
Avery, Engelhardt and Shero were charged with rape, indecent sexual
assault and other criminal counts following the results of the grand
jury investigation of clergy sexual abuse, Williams said.
The names of
the alleged victims, who are now in their 20s, have not been publicly
released.
The grand jury believed that more than 30 priests have remained in
ministry in Pennsylvania despite solid, credible allegations of abuse,
Williams said.
Rigali had initially challenged that claim.