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	Accused Priests Sent on Leave The Copenhagen Post April 12, 2010 http://www.cphpost.dk/news/national/88-national/48716-accused-priests-sent-on-leave.html Two Catholic priests have requested leave while investigations against them are carried out The Catholic Church in Denmark announced over the weekend that two priests accused of child abuse have been relieved of their duties while the allegations are investigated. One priest from a parish in Zealand has been accused by two separate people of abusing them as children. Church spokesman Niels Engelbrecht said the priest had requested to be given leave as he didn't want to be a 'burden' on the church while the investigation is ongoing. The priest was originally accused by his victim in a newspaper article and since then a second victim has come forward. According to the church, the second case had previously been reported to police, who found no merit for investigation. Speaking anonymously to public broadcaster DR, the priest denied the accusations against him, but said he will report to police voluntarily to help with the case. 'I had a good relationship with them all. I can't see who would have reason to be mad at me,' the priest said, denying that anything more than a hug had passed between him and any children. It also emerged that a second priest has now been reported to the police for alleged abuse against a 17-year-old boy in 1989. The church said today that the priest has requested sick leave for an undetermined amount of time. Catholic Church representatives are meeting with the Danish Law and Bar Society today to appoint an independent lawyer to investigate the abuse claims.
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