Puerto Rico police investigate priests

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - Prosecutors in Puerto Rico are investigating six priests who face sex-abuse allegations and have been expelled by church authorities from a diocese in one of the island’s north coastal towns.

Government prosecutor Yolanda Pitino said Friday that she and other attorneys are interviewing several people who have accused the priests of sodomy, lewd acts and sexual harassment. She said the Arecibo Diocese has provided prosecutors with information related to the six priests, but that they need more details.

“We are not satisfied with the information that the church gave us,” Pitino said in a phone interview, adding that the diocese has not responded to requests for more information. The Diocese of Arecibo said in a statement that it is working with authorities and sharing information about the six priests that Bishop Daniel Fernandez expelled starting in 2011.

Front Section, Pages 5 on 02/08/2014

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