Thornton Heath Priest Arrested over Sex Abuse Accusations

Croyden Advertiser
September 14, 2012

http://www.thisiscroydontoday.co.uk/Thornton-Heath-priest-arrested-sex-abuse/story-16901790-detail/story.html

A CATHOLIC priest has been arrested after being accused of sexually assaulting a teenage boy.

Francis Moran, of St Andrew's Roman Catholic Church, in Brook Road, Thornton Heath, was questioned and then bailed by police last Thursday.

In a statement read out during Mass on Sunday, Archbishop Peter Smith informed parishioners that Canon Moran, 52, had been "temporarily withdrawn" from church life and moved away from the parish.

He added: "I want to make it clear that this action does not in any way imply guilt on his part, nor does it constitute Canon Francis' removal from his office as parish priest."

Canon Moran has become a respected figure in the Catholic community, both in Croydon and throughout the diocese, since his appointment to St Andrew's in 2004.

As well as holding the position of parish priest he is also the safeguarding officer for the Archdiocese of Southwark.

Scotland Yard said the allegations related to a teenage boy but would not confirm to when they dated back. When contacted by the Advertiser, colleagues at St Andrew's said Canon Moran was "away on leave".