Former DA will help church investigate possible abuse

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia has announced additional steps to deal with allegations of child sexual abuse.

A grand jury report released last week accused three priests and a parochial school teacher of abusing children and a monsignor of failing to prevent abuse by others.

 

In what he said was a continuing response to the grand jury report, Cardinal Justin Rigali said has directed the immediate re-examination of all cases of concern to the grand jury, which asserts that as many as 37 priests remain in active ministry despite credible allegations of child sexual abuse.

The archdiocese has retained the services of a former Philadelphia assistant district attorney who will re-examine all cases of accused priests in active ministry, as well as reviewing the procedures employed by the archdiocese and making recommendations to the cardinal.

“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,” said Rigali.

A lawsuit filed earlier this week by a man who claimed he was abused as a child named the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, Rigali and retired Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua as defendants.