PHILADELPHIA (AP) – The Roman Catholic Church defrocked a priest convicted of child-pornography charges years ago after saying he continued to celebrate Mass and perform other public duties after having been barred from them.

Another priest, accused in 1993 of misconduct involving a minor, was defrocked at his own request, while a retired monsignor was permanently barred from the ministry after allegations were raised that he abused two women in the 1960s.

The Philadelphia archdiocese announced the moves in its newspaper this week.

One defrocked priest, the Reverend Edward M DePaoli, 60, was convicted on the pornography charges in 1986. DePaoli was an assistant pastor at a parish in Oreland when he was convicted for possessing magazines, films and videos of underage boys.

He received a one-year suspended sentence, was sent to counselling and placed in restricted ministry, barred from administering sacraments or saying Mass in public. He was dismissed after the archdiocese learned in 2002 that he had celebrated Mass and performed other public duties. Donna M Farrell, the archdiocese’s spokeswoman, said his case was then referred to the Vatican, which removed him from the priesthood.

Monsignior Philip J Dowling, 75, who led St Patrick Church near Philadelphia’s Rittenhouse Square until his retirement last year, was permanently barred from the ministry. He had been suspended in March.

Dowling told The Philadelphia Inquirer he had repeatedly fondled a teenage girl, saying he was “very sorry for the inappropriate acts and touches.” The newspaper said two women, now in their 50s, had said he had abused them. He denied one woman’s claim that he had raped her.

Dowling was not defrocked, a step that only the Vatican can take. Farrell told the newspaper she had no information on why. He was to be sent to a facility for counselling, and has “accepted a life of prayer and penance,” Farrell said.