Philadelphia Archdiocese Suspends 3 Accused Priests

The Philadelphia Archdiocese has placed three priests on leave and ordered the re-examination of cases involving more than 30 other priests amid allegations of child sex abuse detailed in a grand jury report.

"Many people of faith and in the community at large think that the archdiocese does not understand the gravity of child sexual abuse," Cardinal Justin Rigali of the Philadelphia Archdiocese said in a statement to reporters. "We do. The task before us now is to recognize where we have fallen short and to let our actions speak to our resolve."

The cardinal said the Revs. Joseph DiGregorio, Joseph Gallagher and Stephen Perzan are being removed from the "public exercise of ministry" until the outcome of the second review is complete. DiGregorio has denied the accusations, but Gallagher and Perzan have not spoken publicly about the investigation, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.

The men were three of 37 priests named in a grand jury report last week who were accused of sexual abuse of minors in a 2005 report but who continue to have contact with children.

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The grand jury report accused the archdiocese of not moving decisively enough to protect children from sexually abusive priests. Four other priests named in the recent report were arrested last week and charged with felony counts, including rape.

The archdiocese has hired former Philadelphia assistant district attorney Gina Maisto Smith, known for prosecuting sex crimes and child abuse, to lead the internal investigation into the allegations against the priests.

Rigali said the archdiocese takes allegations of sexual abuse seriously and said it is acting forcefully against such abuse. "Sexual abuse of children is a crime," he said. "It is always wrong and gravely evil."