Robert Brennan, former Pa. priest, charged with sexually abusing altar boy for 3 years; previously named in 20 other cases
(CBS/AP) PHILADELPHIA - The Rev. Robert L. Brennan, a former Philadelphia priest named in more than 20 abuse complaints during a long church career, has been criminally charged for the first time after a new accuser came forward within the new time limit.
Brennan, 75, was arrested on rape charges in Perryville, Md., where he's been living since he was suspended after being named in a 2005 grand jury report on sexual abuse within the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia. He is now charged with sexually abusing an altar boy from 1998 to 2001 in northeast Philadelphia.
According to CBS Philly, the boy was 11 years-old when the alleged abuse started.
Earlier complaints against Brennan were long buried in a locked vault at the archdiocese, according to documents unearthed in a landmark church-abuse trial last year. But Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams said the archdiocese - after the conviction of a church official over his handling of complaints - did the right thing when Brennan's latest accuser contacted them in January.
"This shows the sea change, I believe, in the manner in which the archdiocese under (Archbishop Charles) Chaput is handling complaints," Williams said.
Brennan was expected to be sent to Pennsylvania to be arraigned. It was not immediately clear if he has a lawyer.
The former priest is charged with abusing the altar boy in the church sacristy, in his rectory bedroom, in a storage area and at a movie theater. Brennan had been transferred to Resurrection of Our Lord parish despite complaints dating back to at least 1990 - from school administrators, a parent and other adults - of improper wrestling, touching and other inappropriate behavior around boys.
CBS Philly reports Brennan has never faced criminal charges before because previous accusations fell outside the legal statute of limitations.
The archdiocese reportedly said their petition to the Vatican to permanently remove Brenan from the priesthood is pending.