Former River Wards priest deemed unsuitable for ministry
Rev. Andrew D. McCormick has been on administrative leave since March 2011.
By Melissa Komar
The Archdiocese of Philadelphia announced Sunday Rev. Andrew D. McCormick has been found unsuitable for ministry.
Archbishop Chaput made the decision after receiving a recommendation from the Archdiocesan Professional Responsibilities Review Board “that Father McCormick was not suitable for ministry based on a substantiated allegation of sexual abuse of a minor.”
McCormick, 62, had been placed on administrative leave and had not functioned as an active priest since March 2011.
The action came on the heels of the release of the Philadelphia Grand Jury Report the same month and “based on concerns regarding his suitability for ministry.”
McCormick was arrested in July 2012 on charges related to the sexual assault of a 10-year-old boy at St. John Cantius Parish in Bridesburg.
McCormick stood trial in March 2014 and March 2015, with both trials ending with a hung jury.
Criminal charges were withdrawn in April 2015, but the alleged victim, then 26, filed a civil suit against McCormick in July 2015 for excess of $50,000, which was resolved earlier this year, according to the archdiocese.
Following the conclusion of both the criminal and civil proceedings, the Archdiocesan Office of Investigation commenced its own required investigation of McCormick in June.
After receiving the findings of the investigations office, the APRRB reached its recommendation, which it then passed on to the archbishop for a final decision.
Chaput informed McCormick of the decision. McCormick “will either be laicized or enter into a supervised life of prayer and penance.”
McCormick was ordained a priest in 1982. He served at St. Adalbert Parish in Port Richmond from 1982 to 1986; St. John Cantius Parish in Bridesburg from 1986 to 2000; St. Bede the Venerable Parish in Holland from 2000 to 2004; and Sacred Heart Parish in Swedesburg from to 2004 to 2011. ••
Details on the efforts of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia to provide safe environments for the children and young people and to assist survivors of sexual abuse can be found at AOPPledgetoProtect.com.
For updates regarding matters related to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, visit archphila.org.
