PA--Victims group to Greensburg Bishop: Turn over secret files on arrested priest

By Judy Jones
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests
July 25, 2017

http://www.snapnetwork.org/pa_victims_group_to_greensburg_bishop_turn_over_secret_files_on_arrested_priest

The nation’s largest support group for survivors of sexual abuse in institutional settings today is demanding that the bishop of Greensburg, PA turn over all secret files pertaining to a priest arrested yesterday for sexual abuse.

http://www.pennlive.com/news/2017/07/priest_sex_abuse_arrest_shapir.html

That priest, John T. Sweeney, was criminally charged for sexually abusing a 10-year-old boy in the 1990s.     

Members of SNAP, the Survivors Network, (SNAPNetwork.org), believe that Greensburg Bishop Edward C. Malesic may be withholding evidence, hidden in secret files otherwise known as Canon 489 files. These files, that every bishop must keep according to church law, outline abuse allegations and include letters, memos, reports from parents and victims, psychological reports, witness accounts of abuse, and other important evidence that law enforcement can use to help bolster their case.

http://articles.latimes.com/2013/may/27/local/la-me-church-secret-files-20130528

“Sometimes, dioceses will hide these files in their lawyers’ offices under attorney-client privilege so that they can’t be subpoenaed,” said Judy Jones, Midwest Regional Leader, SNAP. “Other times, they just don’t turn them over. These files are so secret and so protected that law enforcement has to know exactly what they are asking for. Otherwise, men like Bishop Malesic are only going to turn over a sanitized file and then issue a statement saying that they knew ’nothing’ about allegations.”

Jones says that until now, Malesic’s efforts ­as well as the efforts of other bishops to be forthcoming about abuse­ have been failures.

“Internal programs, reforms, and prayers have done nothing to expose abuse. The only thing that will hold people accountable allowing abuse and cover-up to continue is changing the law and turning over files,” she said.

“Let’s see if he is the reformer he claims to be."