GREENSBURG, Pa. -- The head of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Greensburg said he will cooperate with civil authorities investigating sexual-abuse charges against priests in the diocese.
However, Bishop Anthony Bosco told WTAE's Marcie Cipriani that there's no way to monitor the priests 24 hours per day.
"I don't know what they do after hours," he said. "They don't report to me and say, 'Daddy, can I go out tonight?'"
Bosco also noted that the public's trust in priests should not change.
"If I'm in public and want to hug a kid, I'll hug a kid. I am not going to allow myself to be defeated and to behave in an absolutely inhuman way."
He said that if any of the sex-abuse charges against priests are substantiated, he will help the victims.
Bosco made the comments Thursday at a news conference. The meeting was delayed because Bosco fell and broke his shoulder last week.
The diocese placed three active priests on leave as a result of an investigation into charges of child sexual abuse.
The diocese gave the Westmoreland County District Attorney the files of active and retired priests. The district attorney's office is investigating to see whether criminal charges are necessary.
Bosco said the priests were devastated when confronted with the accusations against them.
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