Lansdale priest cleared of sexual abuse allegations

Monsignor is ruled suitable for ministry

The Morning Call, Pennsylvania/June 8, 2014

By Paul Muschick

Allegations of sexual abuse against a priest who served two parishes in Lansdale are unsubstantiated and he is suitable for ministry, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia announced Sunday.

Monsignor Joseph L. Logrip was among 26 priests placed on administrative leave following a 2011 report by a Philadelphia grand jury that investigated sexual abuse of minors by clergy and archdiocese employees. His case is the final one to be resolved.

Logrip had most-recently served the St. Mary Manor and St. Stanislaus parishes in Lansdale from 2010 to 2011. Announcements about the disposition of his case were made at those parishes this weekend and counselors were made available, the archdiocese said in a statement.

The district attorney's office had declined to press criminal charges and Logrip was investigated by the archdiocese.
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Those results were submitted to the Archdiocesan Professional Responsibility Review Board, comprising 12 men and women, both Catholic and non-Catholic, with backgrounds in the investigation and treatment of child sexual abuse.

That board acts as an advisory committee to Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, who decided Logrip "is suitable for ministry based on unsubstantiated allegations that he sexually abused minors over 20 years ago," according to Sunday's statement from the archdiocese.

The announcement was criticized by the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests. Its director, David Clohessy, said in a statement that the archdiocese hadn't provided enough information about its decision to exonerate Logrip.

"Catholics, citizens and children deserve better," he said. "Whatever became of Chaput's repeated pledges to be 'open and transparent' about clergy sex cases? Where's a real explanation of what Msgr. Logrip did and didn't do?"

Logrip, 67, was ordained in 1972. He also has served parishes in Yardley, North Wales, Plymouth Meeting, Norristown, Philadelphia, Levittown and Exton.

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