Philly-area priest charged with harassment

    Roman Catholic church officials say a priest in suburban Philadelphia has been arrested and charged with harassment and indecent assault.

    The alleged conduct by the Rev. John Roebuck did not involve a minor, according to a statement from the Philadelphia archdiocese issued Friday.

    A message left at Roebuck’s parish office was not immediately returned. It’s not clear if he has a lawyer.

    Court records indicate the alleged incident took place Dec. 15. No other details were available.

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    Church officials call the charges “deeply troubling.” The 64-year-old priest is on administrative leave from his job as parochial vicar at St. Stanislaus in Lansdale.

    The archdiocese says it is cooperating with investigators. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Thursday.

    Lansdale police said no information about the case would be released until Monday.

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