By STEPHEN MANNING, Associated Press Writer

SILVER SPRING, Md. (AP) - A priest accused of sexual misconduct was found hanged at a psychiatric hospital Thursday, the second apparent suicide of a clergyman since the sex abuse scandal engulfed the Roman Catholic Church.

 

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The priest, identified by church officials as the Rev. Alfred J. Bietighofer, was sent to the Catholic hospital to undergo psychiatric evaluation after the allegations surfaced and he resigned from his parish in Bridgeport, Conn.

Bietighofer, 64, was found hanging in his room at St. Luke Institute in suburban Washington, according to Prince George's County police. The Rev. Stephen Rossetti, a psychologist who directs the center, said a nurse found the body. The hospital treats priests and nuns for a variety of mental health problems, including alcoholism, depression, and pedophilia.

"I am profoundly saddened by the tragic death of Father Alfred Bietighofer," Bridgeport Bishop William Lori said in a statement Thursday. "To parishioners and to all those whom Father Bietighofer assisted during the course of his priestly ministry, I extend my sincere sympathy and prayers."

Last month, two men told Bridgeport Diocese officials that Bietighofer abused them when they were boys in the late 1970s and early 1980s, church officials said. Bietighofer, who was assistant pastor of St. Andrew Parish in Bridgeport, resigned April 29.

"The allegations from the two gentlemen were credible enough to warrant immediate action, in line with our policy," Lori said at the time the priest resigned.

The Rev. Robert J. Crofut, pastor of St. Andrew Church, declined comment Thursday night.

Bridgeport attorney Jason Tremont, who represented the two alleged victims, said his clients had mixed emotions upon learning of the priest's death.

"It's certainly something we're not happy about. The victims think that any loss of life is unfortunate," Tremont said. "The victims are still glad they came forward. Their goal was to prevent sexual abuse from happening again to any minor."

The Connecticut Post reported that the men accused Bietighofer of fondling them when they were children when he was assigned to Blessed Sacrament Church in Bridgeport.

Bietighofer told the Post he didn't know anything about the allegations. Church officials said they weren't aware of the allegations until seeing the newspaper's story.

Church officials did not report the allegations against Bietighofer to authorities, but said they would cooperate if asked for information. At the time, Connecticut law required victims to report abuse by age 20.

Bietighofer had served in the Bridgeport diocese since he was ordained in 1965, except for two yearlong stints in Peru in the 1970s and 1980s.

About a quarter of St. Luke's 65 beds are used by clergy undergoing treatment for sexual abuse problems. Its residential programs are open to the religious; outpatient programs are open to anyone.

It has become one of the best-known treatment centers and is used heavily by U.S. and some international dioceses.

Rossetti said every incoming patient is screened to determine if he is a suicide risk. Those deemed at risk are placed under "steady surveillance," he said.

More than 177 priests have been dismissed or resigned across the country since the sex abuse scandal erupted in Boston early this year.

Last month, the Rev. Don Rooney, 48, of the Cleveland Diocese shot himself to death after being accused of molesting a girl. On Monday, the Rev. Maurice Blackwell was shot and seriously wounded outside his Baltimore home, allegedly by a man who accused him of abuse nine years ago.

In other developments Thursday:

_Archbishop Alfred Hughes apologized for mistakes he and others in the Archdiocese of New Orleans made in dealing with priests accused of improper sexual behavior with minors. "We failed to protect the innocents among us, our children," he said in a statement.

_Hartford, Conn.'s Roman Catholic archbishop agreed to use a state child-abuse hot line to immediately report any abuse allegations lodged against a priest. The head of the Department of Children and Families had express concern that the church was not meeting its reporting requirements under state law.

_Los Angeles District Attorney Steve Cooley warned Cardinal Roger Mahony that he will resort to a grand jury if the Archdiocese of Los Angeles fails to hand over all documentation on priests implicated in sex abuse. The prosecutor's office says the archdiocese has not turned over any written information as of Thursday. In a statement, the archdiocese said it has been cooperating with all law enforcement agencies and "look forward to resolving any misunderstanding that may exist."