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21 priests suspended by Philadelphia Archdiocese for pedophilia
IBTimes ^ | March 9th 20111 | IBTimes Staff Reporter

Posted on 03/09/2011 3:44:05 AM PST by Cardhu

The Archbishop of Philadelphia, Cardinal Justin Rigali, announced in a statement on Tuesday the suspension of 21 priests following examination of files implicating them in sexual abuse of minors.

The step initiated was in response to a grand jury report that was released last month where 37 priests were suspected of widespread child molestation.

These have been difficult weeks since the release of the Grand Jury Report: difficult most of all for victims of sexual abuse, but also for all Catholics and for everyone in our community," stated Cardinal Rigali.

"I wish to express again my sorrow for the sexual abuse of minors committed by any members of the Church, especially clergy. I am truly sorry for the harm done to the victims of sexual abuse, as well as to the members of our community who suffer as a result of this great evil and crime," he further added.

All the reported 37 cases were subjected to a review under the Pennsylvania Crimes Code, the Child Protective Services Act, the "Essential Norms" from the Charter for the Protection of Young People of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, and the Archdiocese's Standards for Ministerial Behavior and Boundaries.

Apart from the 21 recently announced orders of suspension, three priests had already been suspended after the report was released in February.

The Grand Jury Report, presented on 21st January, 2011, contained a graphic description of instances of sexual abuse by priests of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. The report also indicated that the abuse was "known, tolerated, and hidden by high church officials, up to and including the Cardinal himself."

It also stated that there are many abusers who are still on duty in the Archdiocese with "open access" to new young prey.

(Excerpt) Read more at uk.ibtimes.com ...


TOPICS: Catholic; Current Events; Religion & Culture
KEYWORDS: catholic; homosexualagenda; moralabsolutes; pedophile; philadelphia; suspendspriests
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1 posted on 03/09/2011 3:44:09 AM PST by Cardhu
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To: Cardhu
The report also indicated that the abuse was "known, tolerated, and hidden by high church officials, up to and including the Cardinal himself."

Sadly, I'm not shocked...
2 posted on 03/09/2011 3:48:33 AM PST by TSgt (Colonel Allen West & Michele Bachman - 2012 POTUS Dream Team Ticket!)
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To: Cardhu

How many priests are there in Philly?


3 posted on 03/09/2011 3:48:51 AM PST by red tie
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To: Cardhu
I think they need to make eunuchs out of these priests...then defrocked.
4 posted on 03/09/2011 3:51:22 AM PST by Vaquero ("an armed society is a polite society" Robert A. Heinlein)
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To: Cardhu

If true, the Catholic church is grossly responsible for the cover-up and people should go to jail.

The story does not mention any details about the victims, so we’ll have to assume the overwhelming majority of the victims were boys.

If that is true, we need to be very clear that the accused, if guilty, were first and foremost NOT priests but homosexual men, that they betrayed their teachings and their positions of authority by giving in to their homosexual desires.

We must also begin to make the assumption that at least some of these men chose their professions in order to facilitate their long-range objective which was not to be priests but to prey upon victims of their homosexual desire.

And we’re supposed to allow openly homosexual men to be leaders in the Boy Scouts and to take our children on camping trips?


5 posted on 03/09/2011 3:52:03 AM PST by Ghost of Philip Marlowe (Prepare for survival.)
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To: Cardhu
I really doubt the GJ report was referring to Cardinal Rigali as the cardinal who knew about the abuse. He's very pious and conservative and hasn't been in Philly very long, so it's entirely possible the report is talking about the previous cardinal.

Mrs. Prince of Space

6 posted on 03/09/2011 4:05:55 AM PST by Prince of Space
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To: Cardhu

During the war in ‘Nam a few occupations were GUARANTEED a pass and not be drafted.
Among them were CLERGY, and SCHOOLTEACHERS!!
Now, boys and girls, what sort of ‘men’ would be attracted to these jobs??
Now they have been there for a long time, and they protect each other—and RECRUIT MORE!!

BTW—What’s all this done to our SCHOOLS???
What”s it done to our CHURCHES??
IS ANYBODY SURPRISED BOTH INSTITUTIONS HAVE BEEN DESTROYED?


7 posted on 03/09/2011 4:10:16 AM PST by Flintlock
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To: red tie

In 2004 there were 1,078 of which GJ initially had charges against 91 priests. Many of them are now either dead or the Statue of Limitations has run out.

The remaining 21 active priests have been suspended until their guilt or innocence can be proved.


8 posted on 03/09/2011 4:10:25 AM PST by Cardhu
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To: Prince of Space

Quite possibly you are right as most if not all predate the present Cardinal’s appointment.


9 posted on 03/09/2011 4:12:50 AM PST by Cardhu
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To: Flintlock

Yea there is something really fishy about the pedophile priest business


10 posted on 03/09/2011 4:12:54 AM PST by Sophia777
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To: Ghost of Philip Marlowe
Didn't we just wrap up a dispute where the Philadelphia City Council demanded the Boy Scouts accept homosexual leaders or give up their headquarters?

Thought so!

Sexual corruption appears widespread in that place.

11 posted on 03/09/2011 4:14:22 AM PST by muawiyah (Make America Safe For Americans)
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To: Cardhu

Devastating. Someone needs to reconsider letting Priests marry...it is impossible to expect a human to be completely asexual..this obviously leads to serious problems.


12 posted on 03/09/2011 4:23:01 AM PST by Earthdweller (Harvard won the election again...so what's the problem.......? Embrace a ruler today.)
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To: Earthdweller

These Catholic priests could only get married in a few states (so far). Homos are good at recruiting others to their cause. These priests have been doing just that for decades in the Catholic church.


13 posted on 03/09/2011 4:28:50 AM PST by conservaterian (Sarah/DeMint '12)
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To: Earthdweller
omeone needs to reconsider letting Priests marry...it is impossible to expect a human to be completely asexual..this obviously leads to serious problems.

Perhaps it doesn't lead to problems but those with deviant intentions could be drawn to that lifestyle as not only a cover but also as an opportunity.

14 posted on 03/09/2011 4:30:29 AM PST by Sawdring
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To: Cardhu

“On the day the grand jury report was released, Cardinal Justin Rigali issued a brief response saying ‘there are no archdiocesan priests in ministry today who have an admitted or established allegation of sexual abuse of a minor against them.’

Six days later, he hired lawyer Gina Maisto Smith, a former sex crimes prosecutor in the District Attorney’s Office, to review the personnel files of all priests named in the grand jury’s report.

Smith’s preliminary review served as the basis for deciding which priests should be put on leave.”

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20110309_Philly_archdiocese_puts_21_priests_on_leave.html


15 posted on 03/09/2011 4:33:51 AM PST by Dr. Scarpetta
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To: Earthdweller
Devastating. Someone needs to reconsider letting Priests marry...it is impossible to expect a human to be completely asexual..this obviously leads to serious problems.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

There are stories in the news every day about government school teachers sexually abusing children....and..it seems most are married.

16 posted on 03/09/2011 4:35:36 AM PST by wintertime
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To: TSgt

In before it is defended by freepers...


17 posted on 03/09/2011 4:46:26 AM PST by MrEdd (Heck? Geewhiz Cripes, thats the place where people who don't believe in Gosh think they aint going.)
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To: MrEdd

They are too busy posting “Catholic Word of the Day” threads to notice...

Besides, everyone does it!


18 posted on 03/09/2011 4:56:42 AM PST by TSgt (Colonel Allen West & Michele Bachman - 2012 POTUS Dream Team Ticket!)
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To: Cardhu
Investigations conducted since 2003 reveal many cases where pastors, parochial vicars, chaplains, and retired priests have been accused of abusing children but no action has been taken against them.

Plus, the 37 suspects...Plus, who knows how many more???

A massive Homo Pedo Porno ring...I say confiscate the buildings which are a cover for this criminal enterprise...Tear 'em down or sell 'em...

19 posted on 03/09/2011 5:01:34 AM PST by Iscool (I don't understand all that I know...)
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To: TSgt
Besides, everyone does it!

If someone has really said "everyone does it!" you should post the name of the person so they can be admonished.

However, if you're upset about "Catholic Word of the Day" threads, I can't help you out there - perhaps not reading them would help. Catholics aren't going to "go away".

20 posted on 03/09/2011 5:07:31 AM PST by Hacksaw (Puritanism: The haunting fear that someone, somewhere, may be happy — H.L. Mencken)
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