In its first significant update in months on the 26 local priests suspended for sexual abuse, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia e-mailed 500 priests in the region announcing plans for the return and departure of those suspended. After a grand jury reported in February that the church had ignored evidence of clerics’ prior abuse and inappropriate conduct with minors, the Archdiocese hired Ballard Spahr partner and former sex-crimes prosecutor Gina Maisto Smith to look into past allegations against these priests.
The e-mail message stated that Ms. Smith’s investigations were ongoing and that those under investigation would be given the chance to review the allegations.