New charges against Boston priest

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BOSTON, Sept. 9 (UPI) -- A Catholic priest cleared by the Archdiocese of Boston of sexual abuse charges made by a prison inmate faces new charges, church officials say.

The archdiocese said it has opened a new investigation into the Rev. Thomas Curran, involving charges that he molested boys in the 1970s and 1980s, The Boston Globe reported. Curran has been on permanent disability since 2007, allowing him to celebrate the sacraments only with his family.

"It is with great sadness that we announce these additional allegations of sexual abuse,'' Cardinal Sean P. O'Malley said Wednesday. "As new information and accusations emerge, we again experience the painful reality of this crisis''

In 2002, a man imprisoned for sexually assaulting a boy said Curran molested him in the 1970s. The archdiocese said the charges were unfounded.

David Clohessy, executive director of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, said the new charges show how flawed church investigations are.

"Catholics, citizens and cops should be extremely skeptical when Catholic officials claim they have 'cleared' an accused pedophile priest,'' he said.