Six N.Y. priests asked to leave assignments

NEW YORK (AP) -- Six priests from the Archdiocese of New York have been suspended over allegations of sexual misconduct and their names have been handed over to prosecutors, the latest developments in an ongoing church probe that also include new allegations of misconduct in California.

The Roman Catholic archdiocese did not release the names of the priests because not all of the allegations had been substantiated, archdiocese spokesman Joseph Zwilling said in a statement Sunday.

The news comes less than a week after the archdiocese said it had given the Manhattan district attorney's office a list of cases involving priests who have been accused of sexual misconduct with minors.

"The priests in question have been informed that they are not to present themselves as priests or exercise their priestly ministry publicly at least until the matter is further clarified or resolved," the statement said.

Officials would not comment on when the alleged abuses took place. Zwilling said worshippers from parishes where priests were asked to step down were notified by letter.

With 2.4 million members, the New York archdiocese is the nation's third largest.