PHILADELPHIA (PA)
Philadelphia Inquirer
JEREMY ROEBUCK, INQUIRER STAFF WRITER
LAST UPDATED: Sunday, December 15, 2013
Archbishop Charles J. Chaput has permanently removed five parish priests from ministry over allegations of sexual abuse or misconduct, including one priest who had previously been investigated and returned to duty last year.
An archdiocesan review board had cleared the Rev. Michael A. Chapman in May 2012 of an abuse allegation involving a minor. But within months, a new accuser came forward with allegations dating back 30 years.
In a statement expected to be released in parishes across the region Sunday, the archdiocese said the board substantiated new abuse accusations against Chapman and deemed him “unsuitable for ministry.”
“This information was provided to law enforcement and Father Chapman was placed back on administrative leave,” the statement read. “At no time was he ever returned to active ministry.”
As has been its practice, the archdiocese offered no details of the allegations against Chapman or the four other priests whose removals were announced to congregants who braved Saturday’s snowstorm for evening Mass.
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