Abusive priests live unmonitored
The charges of child molestation came too long after the abuse to send Carl Sutphin, a Roman Catholic priest, to prison. Now he is spending his days in a doublewide mobile home, a short walk from day care centers and two elementary schools.
“I won’t say I deny it. I do not deny it, no,” Sutphin, 78, said in a frail voice as he leaned on his walker.
There are dozens of accused priests like him, from California to Maryland. To victims’ advocates, that is dangerous.
They say church officials should monitor them in the same way that police track sex offenders and that the church should create special housing to keep predator priests away from children.
“Essentially, you have admitted or credibly accused child molesters walking free among unsuspecting families _ and bishops are doing little or nothing,” said David Clohessy, national director for Survivors of those Abused by Priests.