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	Bishop Addresses Abuse Issue By Angela Lackey Midland Daily News May 29, 2009 http://ourmidland.com/articles/2009/05/29/local_news/1832299.txt [The Philadelphia Grand Jury report] Bishop Joseph R. Cistone believes "it would not serve any purpose to revisit the grand jury report" from 2005 that states he was complicit in the cover up of multiple cases of child sexual abuse committed by priests in the Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Cistone, who disagreed with parts of the report and talked about how he would handle similar situations as bishop here, was named bishop of the Diocese of Saginaw on May 20. The grand jury investigated and documented the abuse of hundreds of children by priests, and found that Philadelphia Archdiocese officials at the highest levels both "excused and enabled the abuse." Cistone was the Archdiocese's assistant vicar for administration and then vicar general and vicar for administration during the time period of the grand jury's investigations. Telephone calls from readers concerning the bishop's role in the investigations prompted the Daily News to look into the issue. Cistone did not respond to specific Daily News questions about the grand jury report, but did offer a general comment about it. "While I appreciate the work of the members of the grand jury panel, I have respectfully disagreed with the report's characterization of certain actions and motives," Cistone said. "Unfortunately, the grand jury procedure, as followed in Philadelphia, did not allow for any opportunity to address such questions to offer explanation or clarification before the authors of the report drew their own conclusions." Cistone had not been asked about the grand jury report by local media until he responded to Daily News questions by e-mail Thursday. A news conference took place at the Saginaw diocese office the morning Cistone's appointment was announced. "I thought the subject could be brought up by reporters at my introductory press conference," he said. "In fact, I have since learned that reporters were aware of the report, but chose not to ask me any questions about it. Had it come up, I certainly would have addressed it." Cistone said he would not approve the transfer of any priest, either accused or known to have committed sexual abuse, to either a church or school within the diocese. "I assure you this will not happen. Priests can only be transferred with permission and approval of the local bishop," he said. "It absolutely will not happen during my time as Bishop of Saginaw." Cistone said his role as bishop, in regards to clergy sexual abuse, is "one of prayerful leadership, education, support, protection and transparency." "In the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, we have been extremely open about all actions involving substantiated cases of sexual abuse," he said. "I am not yet familiar with the programs and procedures followed in Saginaw, although I have learned from others that they are well structured and followed carefully. "I intend to share my own experience in order to enhance these programs where suitable, particularly in areas of education, awareness and training that have been extremely effective in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia." The grand jury found Cistone complicit in the 1996 silencing of Sister Joan Scary. According to the grand jury report, Scary was trying to let parishioners know about one priest's history of abuse. In 2002, the report states Cistone learned that a former priest and known molester had been teaching full-time for three years in two school districts in the Philadelphia suburbs and took no action. The grand jury report also details one incident in which Cistone reportedly knew about child sexual abuse committed by a priest, but still recommended that the priest continue with his parish duties, including saying Mass and hearing confession. Cistone is on the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee for Protection of Children and Young People. According to the Archdiocese, Cistone "is among the leading advocates for the protection of children and transparent accountability of the church. He has helped to make his home Archdiocese a national leader and model, both through its commitment and its policies, to protect children." Programs implemented by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia include hiring a victims' advocate, having priests hear the stories of three victims of abuse firsthand, and continued efforts to keep people informed through mailings and e-mail.
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