Share
Six Roman Catholic dioceses in Pennsylvania joined the list this week of those around the U.S. that have been forced to face the ugly truth about child-molesting priests in their ranks.
But in dozens of other dioceses, there has been no reckoning, leading victims to wonder if the church will ever truly take responsibility or be held accountable.
In a few instances, namely in Tucson, Arizona, and Seattle, dioceses voluntarily named names.
Dioceses in Boston; Los Angeles; Seattle; Portland, Oregon; Denver; San Diego; Louisville, Kentucky; and Dallas have all paid multimillion-dollar settlements to victims. Fifteen dioceses and three Catholic religious orders have filed for bankruptcy to deal with thousands of lawsuits.
Still, only about 40 of the nearly 200 dioceses in the U.S. have released lists of priests accused of abusing children, and there have been only nine investigations by a prosecutor or grand jury of a Catholic diocese or archdiocese in the U.S., according to BishopAccountability.org.
In many of the dioceses that have been examined, the numbers have been staggering: in the six Pennsylvania dioceses, 300 abusive priests and more than 1,000 victims since the 1940s; in Boston, at least 250 priests and more than 500 victims.
More Than 17,000 People Have Reported Being Molested
All told, U.S. bishops have acknowledged that more than 17,000 people nationwide have reported being molested by priests and others in the church going back to 1950.
Phil Saviano, a Massachusetts man who said he was sexually abused by a priest in 1960s beginning at age 11, said he hopes the grand jury report in Pennsylvania will prompt attorneys general in other states to conduct similar investigations. He said he doubts dioceses will release names unless forced to do so.
Mitchell Garabedian, a Boston lawyer who estimates he has represented 3,000 clergy sex abuse victims from around the world since the 1990s, said he has sent letters detailing about two dozen allegations of abuse against priests from dioceses in Michigan, Ohio and Rhode Island and received similar responses from all three.
In many states, statutes of limitations allow people abused as children to file civil claims up until only age 21 or slightly older. In Massachusetts and other states hit hard by the crisis, those statutes were amended after the scandal erupted. But in many other states, the laws have remained unchanged.
The Statute of Limitations for Bringing Charges
The Pennsylvania grand jury said that in almost every case there, the statute of limitations for bringing criminal charges has run out.
Echoing what was discovered in Boston and other places, the grand jury report accused senior church officials of hushing up allegations against priests, in some cases by shuffling them from parish to parish.
In a statement, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishopsโ Committee for the Protection of Children and Young People expressed sorrow over the Pennsylvania findings and said: โWe are committed to work in determined ways so that such abuse cannot happen.โ
The Rev. Thomas Reese, a Jesuit priest who is a senior analyst for the Religion News Service, noted such reforms but said the Pennsylvania grand jury report should be a โwake-up callโ to other dioceses that they need to hire outside groups to do independent investigations, then must publish the results. But he said he is doubtful that will happen.
โIf they had just gotten all of the dirt out at the very beginning, all at the same time, then we wouldnโt be suffering death by 1,000 cuts. Itโs just place after place, and frankly, itโs the same story in every place.โ
Teen Girl Accused as Getaway Driver in Caleb Quick Murder Appears in Court
8 hours ago
Fed Keeps Rates Steady but Pencils in Two Cuts by End of 2025, Warns of Inflation Ahead
6 hours ago
Putin Says He Does Not Want to Discuss the Possible Israeli-US Killing of Iranโs Supreme Leader
6 hours ago
What Is Juneteenth and When Did It Become a US Federal Holiday?
7 hours ago
US Social Security, Medicare to Run Short of Funds in 2033, Trustees Say
8 hours ago
Teen Girl Accused as Getaway Driver in Caleb Quick Murder Appears in Court
8 hours ago
Fed Keeps Rates Steady but Pencils in Two Cuts by End of 2025, Warns of Inflation Ahead
6 hours ago
Putin Says He Does Not Want to Discuss the Possible Israeli-US Killing of Iranโs Supreme Leader
6 hours ago
What Is Juneteenth and When Did It Become a US Federal Holiday?
7 hours ago
US Social Security, Medicare to Run Short of Funds in 2033, Trustees Say
8 hours ago
Teen Girl Accused as Getaway Driver in Caleb Quick Murder Appears in Court
8 hours ago
Trump Faces Uproar From MAGA Base Over Possible Iran Strike
6 hours ago
Categories

Meta in Talks to Hire Former GitHub CEO Nat Friedman to Join AI Efforts, The Information Reports

Fed Keeps Rates Steady but Pencils in Two Cuts by End of 2025, Warns of Inflation Ahead

Putin Says He Does Not Want to Discuss the Possible Israeli-US Killing of Iranโs Supreme Leader
