⛪ Pope defrocks Pennsylvania priest accused of sexually abusing children 👦

The Vatican has defrocked a Pennsylvania priest who's been accused of sexually abusing children.

David L. Poulson, who served in a church in Erie in northwestern Pennsylvania, U.S., was one of 300 priests from the state who were accused of sexual crimes since 1947, according to a 1,356-page grand jury report released in August. The grand jury charged just two of those priests, as the rest of the cases exceeded the statute of limitations.

In October, Poulson pleaded guilty to two felony charges, including corruption of minors and endangering the welfare of children. As part of the plea, he agreed to seek laicization, the Diocese of Erie said.

The Rev. David L. Poulson walks out of the Jefferson County Courthouse in Brookville after his sentencing on January 11, 2019.

Laicization is a process that removes a priest from the priesthood. Pope Francis approved Poulson's "dispensation from all the obligations attached to holy orders (priesthood)," the Diocese says.