Austria: Priest resigns after admitting abuse; 2 others suspended

Austria: Priest resigns after admitting abuse

VIENNA — An Austrian diocese says a priest has resigned after admitting he abused a 17-year-old boy.

The Graz-Seckau diocese says the priest stepped down of his own accord and that the abuse happened more than 20 years ago on a vacation.

Spokesman Georg Plank says two other priests have been suspended as a precautionary measure because one was convicted of committing a homosexual act with a 17-year-old and the other was convicted of exhibitionism.

Plank said Tuesday the two cases date back about 15 and 20 years. He added that an investigation was under way to verify that none of the three priests committed other incidents of abuse.

Austria is among several European countries currently being confronted with a wave of church abuse claims.