Six unnamed New York archdiocese priests have been removed from their posts and ordered "not to represent themselves a priests" because of past allegations of sexual misconduct with minors.
The six, whose names were among those of other retired priests in files lodged last week with the Manhattan District Attorney's office, are not permitted to exercise their priestly ministry "until the matter is further clarified", a statement from the archdiocese said.
Edward Cardinal Egan, who has faced criticism for his role in redeploying accused priests as Bishop of Bridgeport, Connecticut, announced last week that the church would report further allegations to the authorities and gave the DA all the details of previous claims.
Only a month a ago the archdiocese said it had no intention of changing its policy.
The 2.4 million-strong archdiocese is the country's third largest and encompasses Manhattan, the Bronx, Staten Island, and several counties north of the city.
Meanwhile in Fresno, California, a priest approached about a claim of sexual abuse by Los Angeles' Roger Cardinal Mahony, has said he does not believe the allegation.
Ms Flora Hickman (51) has claimed she was assaulted in 1969 by the cardinal, then a monsignor in Fresno, although she can not remember the assault.
Ms Hickman was then a high-school student and says she was involved in a brawl with fellow students when she was knocked unconscious.
On waking, she says, she found that some of her underwear had been removed and Monsignor Mahony was standing over her.
Ms Hickman has admitted to the Los Angeles Times that she is a paranoid schizophrenic undergoing treatment and that her claim was in part motivated by her need for cash after the state cut her disability payments.
Cardinal Mahony, who revealed the claim on Friday, has strongly denied it and the priest to whom she made it, Monsignor John Esquivel, told journalists on Sunday that he did not believe the allegations were true.
"She claimed that happened with 40 different youths watching. There is no way that is going to happen in front of all these people," he said.
Meanwhile, in Salt Lake City the Mormon Church has acknowledged sexual abuse in its ranks.
Speaking at the Mormon semi-annual general conference at the weekend, the church's leader, Mr Gordon Hinckley said: "I regret to say that there has been some very limited expression of this monstrous evil among us."
