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Priest at Allentown, Pa. church accused of sex abuse says he can prove his innocence

The Morning Call

Priest at Allentown, Pa. church accused of sex abuse says he can prove his innocence

The pastor of a Catholic church in Allentown, Pa., has been removed from ministry while authorities investigate a sexual abuse allegation against him.

In a statement in the church bulletin, the Rev. Edward Sacks of Our Lady of Perpetual Help said the allegation was made by the mother of a student from former Holy Name High School in Reading, where Sacks was principal in the 1970s.

“I am absolutely convinced I can prove my innocence,” the statement said. “It is a case of mistaken identity.”

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Under its zero tolerance policy, the diocese removed Sacks from ministry and informed law enforcement of the allegations, diocese spokesman Matt Kerr said in a statement.

Sacks, 80, was ordained in 1964 and served most of his priesthood in high school education. In addition to Holy Name, he was principal of Marian High School in Rush Township, Schuylkill County.

He has been pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help since 1988.

“The (zero-tolerance policy) has been put in place as it should be,” Sacks’ note said. “I am removed from the parish immediately, pending the outcome of an investigation. Father (Abraham) Ha will be in charge in my absence.

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“Know that you are in my prayers and I ask you to pray for me.”

The allegation was not part of the state grand jury report on sexual abuse released five weeks ago. The report, which examined five dioceses in the state, including Allentown, named 301 allegedly abusive priests and conservatively estimated 1,000 victims over 70 years

Since the report, the Allentown diocese has removed from ministry the Rev. Kevin Lonergan, who was charged with corruption of minors and indecent assault for allegedly sending nude pictures of himself to a 17-year-old girl and grabbing her.

Additionally, a Reading man filed a civil complaint against the diocese Monday, charging that the late Rev. Richard J. Ford fondled him in a rectory in 1989.

Another allegation, against a diocesan priest who was working in Florida, was determined to be false. The Allentown Diocese said the Rev. David Gillis’ suspension was lifted and that he was returned to ministry as a priest in good standing.

According to the grand jury report and Allentown Diocese records, more than 50 priests from the diocese, many of them deceased, were named as known or alleged child sexual abusers over a period of decades.

A hotline established by state Attorney General Josh Shapiro for clergy sex abuse complaints has received more than 1,000 calls.

Concerns about abuse in the church or elsewhere can be reported to the state Child Line at 1-800-932-0313; the attorney general’s hotline at 1-888-538-8541; or to local law enforcement.

First Published: September 18, 2018, 3:14 p.m.

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