Preliminary hearing scheduled
for former Ryan priest

The former president of Archbishop Ryan High School awaits a preliminary hearing after turning himself in last week on theft charges.
The Rev. Charles Newman, dressed in civilian clothes and accompanied by attorney Frank DeSimone, surrendered on Christmas Eve morning at the district attorney’s office. He was processed and arraigned at the Police Administration Building and later was released after posting 10 percent of his $50,000 bail.
On Dec. 20, District Attorney Lynne Abraham announced that a grand jury had indicted Newman on six counts of theft and one count of forgery. All are felonies. He faces a possible lengthy prison term and hefty fines.
As the Times went to press, a preliminary hearing was scheduled for New Year’s Eve but was expected to be moved to sometime early in 2008 because of the complex nature of the case.
Newman, 57, is charged with stealing more than $900,000 from Archbishop Ryan and the Order of Friars Minor, better known as the Franciscans. He was ordained in 1985.
A former teacher at Ryan, Newman served as principal from 1993 to 2002. Then, he was named president. He also directed the school plays.
The alleged fiscal misconduct took place from July 2002 to November 2003. Staffers at the high school reported suspicious behavior by Newman to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.
When the archdiocese discovered financial irregularities in November 2003, Newman was forced to resign. Later, the archdiocese learned of allegations of sexual abuse against Newman by a former student.
Arthur Baselice III, a 1996 Ryan graduate, said Newman provided him with drugs and alcohol and engaged in sexual activity with him. The archdiocese reported its findings to the district attorney’s office.
In June 2004, Baselice filed a lawsuit against the church based on Newman’s alleged actions.
To avoid a media frenzy, Ryan canceled its closing Mass of the year and the final day of school. Report cards were mailed home, and students returned later to clean out their lockers.
The Baselice lawsuit was eventually dismissed because the statute of limitations had expired. Baselice died of a drug overdose in November 2006.
The indictment charges Newman with giving Baselice at least $54,000 in drugs, alcohol and cash.
Since the allegations of sexual abuse surfaced, Newman has been living in a Franciscan retirement community in Wisconsin. He is not permitted to conduct any public ministry. ••