Archdiocese of Chicago removes two priests

Archdiocese of Chicagoremoves two priests
CHICAGO -- The Archdiocese of Chicago has removed two more priests for allegations of sexual improprieties, bringing to five the number of priests removed in the archdiocese this year because of an independent review board investigation.
The Rev. R. Peter Bowman, 73, retired last year as the archdiocese vicar for administration. The Archdiocese removed him from the ministry Sunday because of allegations of sexual misconduct with a minor more than 45 years ago, when he was an associate pastor.
The Rev. Donald Mulsoff, 58, was associate pastor at St. Celestine Church until his removal Sunday. Archdiocese spokesman James Dwyer said Mulsoff is accused of misconduct with minors more than 25 years ago at two parishes.
No one answered Monday at telephone numbers listed for the two men. An archdiocese spokesman said the archdiocese would not make them available for comment.
Dwyer said both cases were referred to prosecutors, though they may be too old for legal action. State's Attorney spokeswoman Marcy O'Boyle said Monday that attorneys had not determined yet whether charges could be filed.
Cardinal Francis George said the archdiocese takes allegations seriously no matter how old they are.
Train derailment forcesevacuation of town
POTTERVILLE, Mich. -- A freight train carrying hazardous materials derailed in this town of 2,200 people, prompting officials to order the city's evacuation as they tried to avoid an explosion from leaking propane.
The Grand Trunk train was carrying liquid propane and sulfuric acid when 35 of its 58 cars derailed Monday, the Eaton County Sheriff's Department said. Nine of the derailed cars were carrying propane and two others contained sulfuric acid.
No injuries were reported. Canada-based Young Environmental Systems Inc. had a crew of about 30 working through the night to halt the leaks and move the cars.
One car was spewing fuel, another had a steady leak, and a third may have been punctured, said Sheriff Rick Jones. He said any spark or surge of electricity could ignite the cars.
"If it went off, it would be like a bomb," Jones said. "They're just trying to figure out how to release the propane without anything blowing up."
Bahrain crowd attacks sailors after accident
MANAMA, Bahrain -- A U.S. sailor and his Ethiopian bride remained hospitalized Monday after they were attacked by a crowd when their car hit a local woman outside a store.
The newlyweds were under observation at the military hospital on this tiny Persian Gulf island, home to the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet, Navy spokesman Lt. Chris Davis said. He would not identify the patients but said their conditions were "not life threatening."
However, a U.S. Embassy statement said the sailor's wife, who is three months pregnant, was seriously hurt.
Another sailor who was in the car with the couple was treated Monday at the Bahrain Defense Forces hospital and released, he said.
According to Davis, the three went to the Farshat Al-Areas store about nine miles southwest of Manama, the capital, seeking a refund of the $79.50 deposit the woman placed on a wedding dress.
The store refused to pay in full and a heated argument spilled into the street, attracting a crowd and causing a traffic jam, Davis said.
"They were trying to leave the area and struck a local woman in the process," Davis told The Associated Press. "They tried to check on her, and when they got down to help her the crowd took offense on them."
The crowd smashed the car windows and beat its occupants, he said.
Arizona wildfires
TUCSON, Ariz. -- Fire crews thinned and burned trees near a highway on Monday hoping to cut off fuel to a 17,600-acre wildfire that had crept within a half-mile of 175 Mount Lemmon homes.
About 100 residents were evacuated Sunday as high wind hampered firefighters battling the blaze in the Coronado National Forest.
The fire hadn't damaged any structures but it had the potential to threaten 700 homes and 15 businesses, authorities said.
Mount Lemmon Highway could remain closed for up to a week, officials said.
"The road is the only good place to stop the fire," said Heidi Schewel, a Coronado National Forest spokeswoman.
One firefighter was injured by a falling tree and airlifted to a hospital. He was treated for minor injuries and released.
Associated Press