EGAN AVOIDS TESTIFYING IN ABUSE CASE

The Reverend John Castaldo, a 45 year old Connecticut priest who was the chaplain at a Catholic high school, admitted in court he was trying to send indecent material to a 14 year old boy when he was caught in an Internet sex sting.  Castaldo has been removed as chaplain.  He is accused of engaging in sexually explicit online conversations during April and May of 2001.  He claimed online that he was a gym teacher, gave out his phone number, and described the explicit sexual activity he wanted to engage in to an undercover agent posing as a 14 year old boy.

Cardinal Edward Egan was to become the third prince of the church forced to testify under oath about his handling of priestly sex abuse - specifically about whether he ignored a psychologist's warnings about Castaldo.  But now he will not have to testify because the case has been settled.  

(Connecticut)