Canton Repository
July 21, 2010
http://www.cantonrep.com/news/x699272807/Former-local-pastor-defrocked
The former pastor at Our Lady of Peace Church in Canton who admitted to sexual misconduct more than 30 years ago while he taught at a Youngstown high school has been defrocked.
Thomas Crum, who served in the Diocese of Youngstown from 1975 to 2009, was removed from the priesthood about two weeks ago, said the Rev. Robert Siffrin, vicar general of the diocese. He did not have the exact date.
Siffrin said that after an abuse allegation involving a student at Cardinal Mooney High School surfaced in May 2009 while Crum was in Canton, the diocese removed him from active duty and asked him to consider requesting removal from the priesthood, which he did.
| Thomas Crum |
The diocese sent the request to the Vatican, Siffrin said, and after review, the decree came back and was presented to Crum, 61, who no longer lives in the diocese.
The man who first came forward about abuse at Cardinal Mooney in 1975 and 1976, now in his 30s, soon was joined by two others who said they, too, were abused.
The victims' identities were kept confidential.
Crum, a native of Louisville, is a graduate of Central Catholic High School and Walsh University.
Crum was assigned to Our Lady of Peace in 2005. Prior to that, he served at St. Anthony Church in Canton from 1992 to 1994, followed by a leave of absence.
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