Charity’s Report Backs Allegations That Priest Engaged in Misconduct
NEW YORK — Investigators have concluded that Father Bruce Ritter engaged in sexual misconduct with young men at the shelter for young runaways that he founded, Covenant House announced Friday.
The four-month inquiry, ordered by the Covenant House board of directors, discovered “cumulative evidence . . . supporting the allegations of sexual misconduct on the part of Father Ritter,†Covenant House said.
If Ritter had not resigned as Covenant House president in February, the statement added, “the termination of his relationship would have been required.â€
The four-month investigation was conducted by Robert J. McGuire, a former city police commissioner.
Ritter, 63, who founded the shelter that annually serves 28,000 youths, has vehemently denied the allegations of sexual impropriety. He is believed to be living in New Jersey and is considering leaving the Franciscan order.
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