The Names of Sex Abusers Released by Seattle Archdiocese of Catholic Church

Sky Valley Chronicle
January 15, 2016

http://skyvalleychronicle.com/FEATURE-NEWS/THE-NAMES-OF-SEX-ABUSERS-RELEASED-BY-SEATTLE-DIOCESE-OF-CATHOLIC-CHURCH-2378279

[full text]

[letter of apology from the archbishop]

There it is in plain but rather stunning language nonetheless on the home page of the Seattle Archdiocese of the Roman Catholic Church: "Archdiocese disclose names of child sex abusers."

A pubic statement that just 10 years ago would not have seemed possible from a church seemingly under siege all over the country and in foreign lands over the issue of sex abuse by Catholic priests against male and female children, teens and women.

For years, according to numerous court documents filed in a landmark Boston case that has since been made into a movie, the church seemed to do its best to keep such things hidden from public view, to keep them under wraps.

Cases of alleged abuse were routinely settled out of court for money and a promise from the plaintiff not to say anything. The priests involved or suspected to have engaged in sexual abuse were shuttled from parish to parish with no warning to members of the next parish what kind of person was coming in to their lives and communities.

But that was then. Before the Boston case blew wide open and shocked an entire nation. That was before a new Pope took the helm of the church and is committed to rooting out abusers and being above board in attempting to deal with cases of suspected sex abuse by priests.

A statement posted on the Seattle Archdiocese website reads:

"Anyone who has knowledge of sexual abuse or misconduct by a member of the clergy, an employee or volunteer of the Archdiocese of Seattle is urged to call the archdiocesan hotline at 1-800-446-7762. The Archdiocese of Seattle has a longstanding commitment to transparency, accountability and assistance to persons sexually abused by clergy or by anyone working on behalf of the Church."

The statement also reaches out to those who have been abused in the past but may never have come forward about that abuse:

"If you are a victim of child sexual abuse or suspect abuse by clergy or anyone working on behalf of the Church, you may report it to our Pastoral Outreach Coordinator at 1-800-446-7762 or email hotline@seattlearch.org. All information received by the Pastoral Outreach Coordinator will be held in strictest confidence."

A letter of apology to the community dated Jan. 15, 2016 from Archbishop J. Peter Sartain can be read by clicking the PDF file at upper right.

And then there is that long list of names the church posted on its website. The "List of clergy and religious brothers and sisters for whom allegations of sexual abuse of a minor have been admitted, established or determined to be credible."

The church says the list is being released, "As part of the Archdiocese of Seattle’s ongoing commitment to transparency and to encourage persons sexually abused by clergy or by anyone working on behalf of the Church to come forward."

The individuals named in this list have either served or resided in the Archdiocese of Seattle, as noted in the list released by the church.

You can see the list by opening the the 2nd PDF file on the page at upper right.

In a note with the list the Archdiocese said, "Locations of known assignments or residences are listed, however this does not mean that there are allegations of abuse at each place. Despite our best efforts to assure that this information is accurate and complete, we know that this list may include errors or be incomplete. It was compiled through a process involving an independent outside consultant and the members of the Archdiocese Review Board."

The list will be updated as new information is received or identified.

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Note: in the list the reader will see the word "Laicized." Here is what that means according to Catholic.com:

"Laicization is a process which takes from a priest or other cleric the licit use of his powers, rights, and authority. Laicization occurs automatically when a priest, deacon, or monk marries or joins the military without permission.

Major clerics (priests and deacons) are directly laicized through their superiors by the penalty of degradation. The Holy See also has the privilege of laicizing major clerics.

Laicized clerics are forbidden to wear clerical dress or to perform ceremonies or to administer the sacraments ordinary to their former offices.

Priests who are laicized are required to continue practicing celibacy, although dispensations from this discipline are frequently given. Otherwise, laicization renders a cleric for ecclesiastical purposes the equivalent of a layman.

The supernatural mark of holy orders and the powers connected with the sacrament (especially for the priest) remain even after laicization, although they cannot be used licitly. A laicized priest has the power to confect the Eucharist. Although to the world he may live as a layman, in a sense "once a priest, always a priest."

Below is a movie trailer for the film "Spotlight," now in theaters. It tells the true story of how the Boston Globe newspaper's Spotlight Investigative team uncovered the huge scandal of child molestation and cover-up within the local Catholic Archdiocese in that area.