Retired priest pleads not guilty to sex charges
A retired Roman Catholic priest has pleaded not guilty to charges alleging he engaged in sexual acts with a 15-year-old boy in Colorado Springs.
Charles Robert Manning pleaded not guilty Friday to three counts of sex assault on a child by one in a position of trust and two counts each of contributing to the delinquency of a minor and sexual exploitation of children.
Manning is accused of molesting the boy while serving at St. Gabriel the Archangel Catholic Church in 2007. He also is accused of giving the boy alcohol and marijuana.
Manning was placed on leave in January and was arrested in May.
He lives in a home for retired priests in St. Louis. Trial is set for March 4.
David Clohessy, the Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests issued, in part, the following statement:
Let’s hope that every person who saw, suspected or suffered clergy sex crimes and cover ups in Philly will find the courage and strength to speak up, call police, expose wrongdoing, protect kids and start healing.
If you have knowledge or suspicions – however old, small or seemingly insignificant – about clergy sex crimes, it’s your moral and civic duty to call police. Please summon the courage to do what’s right, call law enforcement and hopefully prevent more devastated lives.
