My apologies for two posts on the Catholic Church in one day, but I felt it note worthy that the Archdiocese has placed 21 priests on leave in recognition of the credible claims of sexual abuse previously lodged against them. It is a sad commentary that it took two damning grand jury reports and a new lawsuit against the archdiocese to get this long over due action implemented by Cardinal Justin Rigali (pictured t left). It is also a strong indictment of the Church leadership that cared so little about the welfare of children and youths that these men were left in positions where they could potentially harm more minors. Welcome to the perverted priorities of the "princes of the Church" who can spend millions of dollars persecuting gays in committed relationships who seek civil law recognition yet leave child rapists where they can continue to prey on children and youths. Here are highlights from the Philadelphia Inquirer:*
The Archdiocese of Philadelphia announced this afternoon that it was putting on administrative leave 21 priests alleged to have behaved inappropriately with minors.
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The archdiocese said it was acting in response to a Feb. 10 Philadelphia grand jury report that found that 37 priests, accused or suspected of misbehavior with children, were serving in ministry. The archdiocese did not identify the priests by name.
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The grand jury said it had learned directly from the archdiocese that least 37 priests remained in ministry despite what the jury called "substantial evidence of abuse," but said it had seen the files of only about 20.
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Of those files it reviewed, it [the grand jury] asserted the archdiocese had dismissed credible abuse allegations on flimsy pretexts, such as a victims misremembering the layout of a rectory, or the year in which the priest served. "We understand that accusations are not proof," the grand jury wrote, "but we just cannot understand the Archdiocese's apparent absence of any sense of urgency."
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