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Local Catholics Shocked After Archdiocese Suspends 21 Priests

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- For many Catholics, some trusted men of the cloth are now under a cloud of suspicion.

21 priests all now face allegations of having some kind of inappropriate relations with minors.

All of them have been suspended by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, including Reverend Joseph Glatts.

Father Joseph Glatts
Father Joseph Glatts (credit: simonandjude.org)

Eyewitness News has learned he ministered at the SS Simon and Jude parish in West Chester.

"I actually hadn't known that father Glatts was involved in any of that," said parishioner Nina Marr.

Nina and her husband James say Father Glatts married them this past October.

"He seemed like a good guy to us in our dealings with him from the marriage process," said James Marr.

At church after church catholic parishioners in our area were informed during Ash Wednesday services if one of the 21 priests suspended worked at their Parrish.

Cardinal Justin Rigali addressed the grand jury report on priest sex abuse and his response to it during his Ash Wednesday mass in center city.

However, critics of the church remain frustrated.


In West Chester parishioners who spoke with Eyewitness News don't know what to make of the suspension of father Joseph Glatts.

"If there is a criminal happening that took place then he should be held accountable," parishioner Todd Grove said.

Even though the Priests have been suspended and named in the Grand Jury report, the investigation is ongoing and no conclusions have been made.

Reported by Todd Quinones, CBS 3

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