The Latest: Franciscan order ‘deeply saddened’ by charges

PENNSYLVANIA
Washington Post

By Associated Press March 15

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. — The Latest on charges against leaders of a Franciscan religious order over an abusive friar.(all times local):

11 a.m.

A Franciscan religious order in Pennsylvania says it is “deeply saddened” to learn of criminal charges against three leaders who are accused of allowing a friar who was a known sexual predator to have access to children.

Charges against the three, including child endangerment, were announced Tuesday by the state attorney general following a nearly two-year grand jury investigation.

The three were the successive leaders of a Franciscan order near Hollidaysburg from 1986 to 2010. All now live outside Pennsylvania.

The order issued a statement saying it cooperated with the investigation. It says it “extends its most sincere apologies to the victims and to the communities who have been harmed.”

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