ST. LOUIS -- The Archdiocese of St. Louis has removed a second priest over an allegation of past child sexual abuse, citing a tougher local standard imposed after revelations the Boston diocese failed to remove 80 priests accused of sexually molesting children.

Archdiocesan officials on Friday withheld the name of the priest forced to resign, saying that news of the removal should first be delivered to his parish.

Also last week, the removal of the Rev. Joseph D. Ross from St. Cronan Church became public after Ross sent a letter to parish members advising them of his departure. Ross' ouster was in response to sexual abuse charges against him 15 years ago when he was with a different area church, the archdiocese said.

Archdiocesan representatives will attend Mass at both parishes this weekend to read a letter explaining the moves and to answer any questions, officials said.

In a statement released Friday, Archbishop Justin Rigali said he called for the new standard.

"Until now, the archdiocesan sexual abuse committee could recommend that a priest might be placed in a pastoral setting after professional evaluation and treatment, and with appropriate monitoring, if the committee believed the priest posed no risk to minors," Rigali wrote.

"In light of this more restrictive standard, the committee, under the direction of Auxiliary Bishop Timothy M. Dolan, has recommended that two pastors not continue in their parish ministry, though the committee had previously determined that they posed no risk."

Officials say the two resignations ensured that no priest in the archdiocese with a substantiated allegation of child sexual abuse is in any pastoral setting or position that provides access to children.