Cardinal Rigali has not released the names of the 21 suspended priests. However, their names have been removed from the Archdiocesan Web site as of Tuesday evening. A cross reference of today’s listing with the previous directory could help determine who might have been suspended. Parishioners will soon know if any of their priests have been removed via announcements in effected churches. Please share your outrage if your children have been put at risk.
Highlights From NYT & Questions:
“The mass suspension was the single-most sweeping in the history of the sexual-abuse scandal in the Roman Catholic Church in the United States, said Terence McKiernan, president of BishopAccountability.org, which archives documents from the abuse scandal in dioceses across the country.”
How and Why Does This Happen?
“The announcement was a major embarrassment for Cardinal Justin Rigali, who, in response to the grand jury report, had initially said there were no priests in active ministry “who have an admitted or established allegation of sexual abuse of a minor against them.”
Where Is the Honesty and Accountability In Our Hierarchy?
“If charges against the priests are upheld, the church could face a payout of millions of dollars in legal settlements. The charges come at a stressful time for the church, with membership and parochial school enrollment declining. The archdiocese announced last week that it was closing seven schools in June; it has already closed more than 40 since 2006.”
How Do You Feel About Donating to the Hierarchy’s Legal Defense Fund?