METRO DIGEST || Priests are removed

HERMITAGE, PA.

A priest from Kennedy Catholic High School here and another from Cambridge Springs have been removed from the ministry by the Diocese of Erie and are prohibited from any contact with minors after diocesan investigations into alleged misconduct, Erie Catholic Bishop Lawrence Persico told the Erie Times-News. According to the Times website, Goerie.com, the Rev. Sean Kerins, 27, was removed from his roles as chaplain at Kennedy Catholic and from the Church of the Good Shepherd Parish in West Middlesex, Pa., after the diocese determined he sent a series of inappropriate text messages to a student. The Diocese of Erie Catholic Schools Office was informed in late January by school officials of the possible inappropriate communications, The Times reports. Following school and diocesan policy, ChildLine and law enforcement were informed, a preliminary independent investigation was started and Kerins was put on temporary administrative leave. After Diocesan officials determined the texts were inappropriate, Persico removed Kerins from his assignments, and prohibited him from all public ministry and any contact with minors while Hermitage police continue their investigation.