Msgr. Joseph L. Logrip
Msgr. Joseph L. Logrip, whose case was the last to be resolved among the 26 priests placed on administrative leave following the 2011 Philadelphia Grand Jury report on clergy sexual abuse of minors, has been found suitable for ministry based on unsubstantiated allegations that he sexually abused minors over 20 years ago.
Archbishop Charles Chaput made the decision on the priest and it was announced by the Philadelphia Archdiocese in a statement June 8. Announcements about the decision were made at St. Stanislaus Parish and St. Mary Manor, both in Lansdale, this weekend and when Msgr. Logrip was placed on leave in March 2011.
All such priests were not permitted to exercise their public ministry, administer the sacraments or present themselves publicly as priests.
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The archdiocese did not indicate when or in what capacity Msgr. Logrip, 67, will return to priestly ministry. Ordained in 1972, he served in the following assignments: St. Ignatius, Yardley (1972-1974); St. Rose of Lima, North Wales (1974-1975); Bishop Kenrick High School (1974-1983); Epiphany of Our Lord, Plymouth Meeting (1975-1981); St. Gabriel’s Hall (1981-1983); Archbishop Carroll High School (1983-1990); St. Francis of Assisi, Norristown (1990-1992); St. Monica, Philadelphia (1992-1994); Mater Dolorosa, Philadelphia (1994-2000); Immaculate Conception, Levittown (2000-2007); SS. Philip and James, Exton (2007-2008); Mother of Divine Grace, Philadelphia (2008-2010); Chaplain, St. Mary Manor (2010-2011) and St. Stanislaus, Lansdale (2010-2011).
On three occasions in 2012 and two more in 2013, Archbishop Chaput announced resolutions to 25 cases of priests on leave.
Although Msgr. Logrip is the last of those cases, the clergy sexual abuse scandal still casts a shadow on the archdiocese.
The only priest among the group to be arrested, Father Andrew McCormick, awaits a new trial as his first ended in a deadlocked jury and mistrial. Father James J. Brennan is awaiting retrial set to begin June 16 on child endangerment charges. His first trial in 2012 also resulted in a deadlocked jury.
Msgr. William Lynn is serving house arrest after his 2012 conviction for child endangerment was overturned late last year by a state Superior Court; that decision is now on appeal.
Nevertheless the archdiocese continues its Honesty, Healing and Hope in Christ: Confronting Sexual Violence in Our Archdiocese initiative, which was introduced in May 2012. Once a case is resolved the program begins at the parish level and consists of four phases over six months.
Its purpose is to address the wide variety of reactions, thoughts and feelings that will be experienced as a result of the announcement both immediately and in the days and weeks ahead.
It identifies three primary stakeholders: the victims of the allegation or violation of The Standards of Ministerial Behaviors and Boundaries, which in the Msgr. Logrip case were found to be none; the parishioners including school and Parish Religious Education Program (PREP) families; and the priests on administrative leave.
Through the implementation of this initiative, the archdiocese said it “continues a journey of honesty, healing and hope toward the restoration of trust.”
The archdiocese said Msgr. Logrip’s case followed the same procedure as all other cases of priests placed on administrative leave following the February 2011 Grand Jury report. Prior to any investigation, the case was submitted to the appropriate local district attorney’s office. After the district attorney declined to press charges, investigations were conducted by the Multi-Disciplinary Team and the archdiocesan Office of Investigations.
The results of this process were submitted to the Archdiocesan Professional Responsibility Review Board, which is comprised of 12 men and women, both Catholic and non-Catholic, with extensive professional backgrounds in the investigation and treatment of child sexual abuse. It functions as a confidential advisory committee to the archbishop, which assesses allegations of sexual abuse as well as allegations of violations of The Standards of Ministerial Behavior and Boundaries.
The board made a recommendation on the suitability for ministry of Msgr. Logrip to Archbishop Chaput, who made the final decision.
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Praise the Lord! I was a parishioner at Immaculate Conception where this wonderful, kind man was stationed. I knew in my heart that he would never have done anything like this. I hope he is happy and well. His exoneration has pleased all that belonged to Immaculate Conception and he is dearly missed.
I was working at Immaculate Conception when Father Logrip was stationed there. Father never went near any child to do any harm. I remember a incident when a little boy was standing near him and his zipper was down on his pants, Father would not even go near him he asked a female to help him. He was kind, gentle and would never do such a thing we all admired him and loved him as our Pastor
H
He was our Paster at Immaculate Conception in Levittown & was loved by ALL.So happy for him now! Just knew this was not true of him in these alligations….:)
Father LoGrip was the chaplain when I attended Archbishop Carroll and also spent time as an assistant at St. Monica’s in Berwyn. He always seemed like a decent guy and I never heard any indication from my friends or neighbors that he was involved in sexual abuse, though that doesn’t necessarily exonerate him.
Such great news – and what a relief for Msgr. Logrip – finally! I am glad that the Church took her time and with transparency and thoroughness settled this matter – hopefully to everyone’s satisfaction, friend
I knew Fr Logrip at Immaculate Conception Parish in Levittown 2000 -2007. I also knew in my heart and soul that he was not guilty. He was a support system through our family’s life events and feel strongly that Immaculate Conception would not be closing if he was still ministering the faithful there. God Bless you Father
Thanks be to God!……I have known this Grace filled man for almost 25 years,while stunned when I first heard of it,I knew in my soul it wasn’t true!
If any priest takes his office seriously,it is Monsignor!
I wasn’t ordained till 2001,and he was and continues to be a solid rock in the storms of life.
Great news. I have known Msgr. Logrip for 30 years and always knew him to be an effective priest. I agree with Mary Ann. I hope this news is headline material for the papers and for the news outlets.
Good news — worth waiting for!!
Friends @ Holy Saviour are relieved & thankful…
Thank you for publishing this. It was also announced
at this weekends masses at Mither of Divine Grave Parish
where Msgr. Ligrip had served. I am wondering if his exoneration will be a major headline in the Inquirer, Daily News, and on all the local news channels. They we’re
certainly willing to splash the inquiry about the allegations of his supposed misconduct. I would hope that they would be willing toe post the good news as well.