New hotline set up for victims of Altoona-Johnstown priest sex abuse

By Christian Alexandersen
PennLive
March 1, 2016

http://www.pennlive.com/news/2016/03/new_hotline_set_up_for_victims.html

A reporter looks at a chart of the results of a Pennsylvania Grand Jury investigation into the child sexual abuse by over 50 priests in the Altoona-Johnstown diocese over the past 40 years. March 1, 2016 at the Blair County Convention Center in Altoona, Pa. Mark Pynes

Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane announces the results of a Grand Jury investigation of child sexual abuse by over 50 priests in the Altoona-Johnstown diocese over the past 40 years. March 1, 2016 at the Blair County Convention Center in Altoona,

Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane announces the results of a Grand Jury investigation of child sexual abuse by over 50 priests in the Altoona-Johnstown diocese over the past 40 years. March 1, 2016 at the Blair County Convention Center in Altoona,

Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane announces the results of a Grand Jury investigation of child sexual abuse by over 50 priests in the Altoona-Johnsontown diocese over the past 40 years. March 1, 2016 at the Blair County Convention Center in Altoona,

At least one of the priests in the Grand Jury investigation served at Bishop Guilfoyle Catholic High School in Altoona, Pa. Mar. 1, 2016. Photo by Mark Pynes

Sacred Heart Catholic Church in downtown Altoona, Pa. At least one of the priests in the Grand Jury investigation served here in Altoona, Pa. Mar. 1, 2016. Photo by Mark Pynes

Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane announces the results of a Grand Jury investigation of child sexual abuse by over 50 priests in the Altoona-Johnstown diocese over the past 40 years. March 1, 2016 at the Blair County Convention Center in Altoona.

Headquarters of the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown in Altoona, Pa. Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane announces the results of a Grand Jury investigation of child sexual abuse by over 50 priests in the Altoona-Johnsontown diocese over the past 40 years.

The Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in downtown Altoona, Pa. was the site of priest abuse in the Grand Jury investigation Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane announces results from March 1, 2016 at the Blair County Convention Center in Altoona,

A poster from the 37th Statewide Investigative Grand Jury shows a timeline of child sexual abuse by over 50 priests in the Altoona-Johnstown diocese over the past 40 years. March 1, 2016 at the Blair County Convention Center in Altoona,

A poster from the 37th Statewide Investigative Grand Jury shows a timeline of child sexual abuse by over 50 priests in the Altoona-Johnstown diocese over the past 40 years. March 1, 2016 at the Blair County Convention Center in Altoona,

Graffiti near Sacred Heart Catholic Church in downtown Altoona, Pa. At least one of the priests in the Grand Jury investigation served at the church in Altoona, Pa. Mar. 1, 2016. Photo by Mark Pynes

ALTOONA -- If you have information about sexual abuse by a priest or religious leader in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown, the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office wants to hear from you.

Attorney General Kathleen Kane announced Tuesday that a new hotline has been created for victims of the sexual abuse and rapes committed by leaders in the diocese. The hotline comes amid the release of a grand jury report documenting the sexual abuse of hundreds of children by diocese priests and religious leaders over 40 years.

Kane said the hotline -- 888-538-8541 -- will be staffed by attorney general agents or attorneys fluent in the Altoona-Johnstown diocese abuse case.

"We will be able to answer phones until about 9 p.m.," Kane said. "We know people have jobs, we know that they have families now and we're trying to accommodate [them at that time] for that reason."

Kane said that none of the voicemails or information provided will be released.

"You will be taken seriously," she said.