US cardinal to step down over handling of sex abuse scandal

US cardinal Justin Rigali, under pressure over his handling of a long-running priest sex-abuse scandal, is expected to step down after eight tumultuous years leading the Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

The independent National Catholic Reporter, citing unnamed sources, reported that Pope Benedict XVI would name Archbishop Charles Chaput of Denver, Colorado, to succeed Cardinal Rigali, 76.

The Philadelphia archdiocese declined to comment.

The archdiocese is defending unprecedented criminal charges filed against a former secretary of clergy for allegedly transferring paedophile priests without warning new parishes.