US: Catholic high school coach linked to homophobic beating resigns
A Catholic high school assistant coach has resigned over his part in an attack which injured two gay men.
Despite no arrests having been made, the Philadelphia coach from Archbishop Wood High School has stepped down, confirmed the church, condemning the attack.
“Violence against anyone, simply because of who they are, is inexcusable and alien to what it means to be a Christian,” said Archbishop Charles Chaput on Thursday in a statement.
The attack took place on 11 September, and a dozen adults have been linked to the attack. Police released surveillance video on Tuesday, and social media users assisted in the investigation by identifying individuals in a group photo.
“Investigators are continuing to interview a number of people regarding this incident, folks from the video as well as other civilian witnesses that have come forward,” said Lieutenant John Stanford, a police spokesman.
The video showed the group of men and women and their encounter with a gay couple who were going out for pizza.
The victims say they were held down, punched and beaten, and subjected to homophobic slurs after they bumped into the group on the street.
The coach has been banned from teaching anywhere in the archdiocese.
A police investigation is ongoing.
