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  Abuse Allegations Emerge against Deceased Pa Bishop

WFMJ
July 13, 2010

http://www.wfmj.com/Global/story.asp?S=12790377

[with video]

MERCER COUNTY, Pennsylvania- The Episcopal Church in northwestern Pennsylvania is asking victims of alleged sexual assaults that may have taken place in the dioces to come forward.

Allegations have emerged that the late Bishop Donald Davis of the northwestern Pennsylvania diocese sexually abused young girls during the 1970's and 80's.

In a pastoral letter from the Right Reverend Sean Rowe said there have been four credible allegations against Davis, some of which have been known to church authorities but not made public.

"As part of the resolution of those cases, Davis resigned from the Episcopal Church's House of Bishops in 1994 at the request of then-presiding Bishop Edmund Browning. Davis, then living in retirement in Sarasota Florida, agreed to refrain from priestly or episcopal duties. He also helped pay for counseling for two of the victims. Davis died in 2007," the letter, which was read in 34 parishes, states.

Rowe said he first learned of the allegations in March when one of the alleged victims contacted him.

According to the letter, the allegations against two of the females occurred at a diocesan summer camp.

"The existence of four victims makes it possible that there are others and we are bound as Christians to seek their healing," Rowe wrote.

Davis served as Bishop of the Northwestern Pennsylvania diocese from 1974 to 1991.

 
 

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