WORCESTER (MA)
The Republic

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
March 05, 2013

WORCESTER, Massachusetts — The Vatican has defrocked three priests from the Worcester Diocese who were accused of sexual abuse.

David Blizard, Thomas Kane and Robert Shauris can no longer function as priests in any capacity.

The Worcester Telegram & Gazette reports (http://bit.ly/VBgmPC) that the Vatican stripped the men of the priesthood last year, but just announced it after the period for appeals expired.

Shauris was accused of molesting children during the 1980s. He’s been on leave from the diocese since 1991.

Kane was removed from ministry in the 1990s for alleged sexual abuse in the 1970s.