PHILADELPHIA: 37 Catholic Priests Investigated For Molestation

The Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia has announced a sweeping investigation of molestation accusations and has named 37 priests as suspected child abusers.

The Catholic Church in Philadelphia will investigate as many as 37 priests identified in a grand jury report as remaining in "active ministry with credible allegations of child sexual abuse," Cardinal Justin Rigali, archbishop of Philadelphia, said Wednesday. "Sexual abuse of children is a crime. It is always wrong and gravely evil," Rigali said in a news release. "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." He also announced that three priests were placed on administrative leave pending a review. "The actions we announce today build on the changes that the church has already announced," Rigali said. He noted the church had already hired a victim services consultant and a compliance officer, and created a new position of delegate for investigations to assist with the review.

Note that only three of the 37 priests identified in the report have been removed from active duty.