THE US: Authorities in Arizona have begun extradition proceedings against Father Patrick Colleary, a priest of the Phoenix diocese now living in Ireland, who is wanted on sex abuse charges.
US attorney Rick Romley has also written to the Vatican asking that it instruct Father Colleary and another indicted priest, Father Joseph Briceno, who is believed to be living in Mexico, to "voluntarily come back to America".
Mr Romley was speaking at a press conference yesterday after Bishop Thomas O'Brien of Phoenix was charged in a hit-and-run case in which a pedestrian died.
Father Colleary is believed to have moved to the west of Ireland in January and family members said last week that he was contacting a solicitor in Dublin to respond to any extradition warrant.
The indictment was laid against the priest two weeks ago. He is charged with two counts of sexual conduct with a minor and one count of attempted sexual conduct with a minor.
Four other priests and a former priest of the diocese have been indicted on similar charges.
Last week Father Thomas Zurcher, vicar for priests in the diocese, told The Irish Times that Father Colleary had left Phoenix in January and did not leave word of his whereabouts.
The Irish-born priest was arrested last December on similar charges dating back to 1977 and 1979 but was released in January when authorities determined the statute of limitations on the allegations had expired.
This was contested by his victims. His lawyer said that "irresponsible actions of the media" at the time helped create a hostile atmosphere and the priest left Phoenix, fearing for his safety.