PHILADELPHIA (PA)
NBC 10
By David Chang | Sunday, Dec 15, 2013
Philadelphia Archbishop Charles Chaput has removed five parish priests from the ministry due to sexual abuse and misconduct allegations, according to a report from the Philadelphia Inquirer.
The Inquirer reports that Rev. Michael A. Chapman, Rev. Stephen B. Perzan, Rev. Peter J. Talocci, Rev. Mark E. Fernandes and Rev. Joseph M. Glatts were all removed from the archdiocese.
Chapman was first placed on leave in March 2011 for allegedly violating standards of ministerial behavior and boundaries. A subsequent investigation found him suitable for ministry.
But new allegations were reported in May of 2012 as he prepared to return to a Philadelphia parish. The archdiocese said it immediately reported the claims to law enforcement; church officials later suspended the priest a second time.
The Inquirer reports that Perzan, of St. Helena Parish in Philadelphia and Talocci, of St. Patrick’s in Malvern, also face sexual-abuse allegations. However, the review board could not substantiate the sex-abuse allegations against them and they were removed for allegedly violating the “standards of ministerial behavior,” according to the Inquirer.
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