The Cincinnati Enquirer

Advocates for victims of clergy sexual abuse called Thursday for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati to act more quickly in removing two priests accused of molesting children from the ministry and to apologize to abuse victims.

Archbishop Daniel Pilarczyk shouldn't wait for the outcome of evidentiary hearings by a new Catholic review board to take action, said Kay Montgomery of Lexington, a member of Survivors Network for those Abused by Priests (SNAP).

Those hearing are scheduled to begin this fall.

During a press conference Thursday downtown outside the chancery office of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, representatives from SNAP and Voice of the Faithful said they want Monsignor Daniel Pater and the Rev. David Kelley removed immediately.

"The archbishop owes Catholics and victims an explanation," Montgomery said. "The archbishop owes us an apology."

Archdiocese spokesman Dan Andriacco said the slower pace is necessary to ensure that church law is followed and the priests get a fair hearing.

Pater recently quit his job at the Vatican after he was questioned about allegations that he abused a teenage girl years ago in Kettering.

Kelley is accused of molesting boys at St. Therese the Little Flower in Mount Airy in the 1970s and 1980s.