Two priests who serve in the Philadelphia area have been deemed not suitable for ministry and one has been placed on administrative leave over new allegations of sexual abuse of minors in the 1980s, according to a statement from the Philadelphia Archdiocese.
These allegations come on the heels of the grand jury report that found over 1,000 cases of child sexual abuse across 301 clergy across the state. The Philadelphia Archdiocese was not included in that report.
Rev. Msgr. Joseph Logrip, who was reinstated for service in 2014 after a 2011 report of abuse could not be substantiated, is now on administrative leave as a result of these new allegations. His priestly faculties have also been restricted. The allegation has been referred to law enforcement and the Archdiocese will cooperate with the investigation.
The archdiocese also found the Rev. John F. Meyers and the Rev. Raymond W. Smart unsuitable for ministry as a result of similar substantiated claims. Smart was also investigated in 2011 but the Archdiocese reinstated him for ministry in 2014. Meyers was placed on administrative leave in late 2018 and Smart has been retired from service since 2002. Criminal charges have not been filed but the Archdiocese determined the two men can no longer serve as ministers and have been reported them to the Vatican.
In August 2018, a grand jury report was released detailing horrific child sexual abuse that spanned over seven decades by hundreds of priests throughout Pennsylvania’s catholic dioceses. Last month, the Philadelphia Archdiocese announced that it would be sending packets to victims so that they could file claims for compensation for all they have suffered. If you have received an information packet, do not fill it out without having an attorney review. The Pisanchyn Law Firm’s child sexual abuse attorneys have handled many cases of this nature and can help you navigate getting the justice you deserve! The other seven Archdiocese in Pennsylvania are expected to follow Philadelphia’s footsteps, sending claim information to hundreds of other victims throughout the state.
While no amount of money will ever make the victim of abuse whole again, it is an important step in validating the victim’s claim and in obtaining justice for the egregious wrongdoings that were forced upon them. Call 1-800-444-5309 for a free consultation if you or a loved one have suffered abuse at the hands of another.
