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All Dioceses - Including Harrisburg - Now Support Release of Findings from Grand Jury Investigation

By Ivey DeJesus
PennLive
May 21, 2018

http://www.pennlive.com/news/2018/05/diocese_of_harrisburg_to_suppo.html

Bishop1.jpg Bishop Ronald Gainer, pictured here during a Mass service, on Monday reversed plans to potentially counter the findings from a grand jury investigation into clergy sex abuse in his diocese. (Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive)

The Diocese of Harrisburg - one of six dioceses under state investigation for clergy sex abuse - on Monday walked back the suggestion that it might oppose the findings of a grand jury investigation.

In a statement to the media Attorney General Josh Shapiro applauded the decision, which was also taken by the Diocese of Greensburg.

Shapiro commended Bishops Ronald Gainer of Harrisburg and Bishop Edward Malesic of Greensburg for "doing the right thing."

"Victims of this sexual abuse deserve the right to tell their stories to the people of Pennsylvania," Shapiro said. "That is why my legal team and I have worked tirelessly to have each diocese agree to give victims the opportunity to be heard."

The decision from the heads of the Harrisburg and Greensburg dioceses means that all six dioceses are in support of the release of the investigation's findings and results and that the bishops will not stall the process.

Over the weekend, Bishop David Zubik, head of the Diocese of Pittsburgh, joined the dioceses of Erie, Scranton and Allentown in announcing he would not obstruct the process going forward.

Gainer late last week signaled that he might have concerns with the findings of the 18-month long probe by state investigators.

While Gainer stressed that the diocese was cooperating with the investigation, he also was concerned "about due process rights," he said Friday in a statement released to PennLive.

The Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General is expected in June to release the findings of the grand jury investigation into allegations of clergy sex abuse and potential cover-up across six Catholic dioceses.

The probe was launched in 2016 to investigate allegations of clergy sex abuse and potential cover-up across the Catholic dioceses of Erie, Harrisburg, Scranton, Pittsburgh, Allentown and Greensburg.

Shapiro said he expected to make public the findings by the end of June.

"The only thing that could stop these findings from becoming public at that time is if one of the bishops or dioceses would seek to delay or prevent this public accounting," he said.

Authorities have already made two arrests stemming from the investigation.

Shapiro earlier this month announced the arrest of Father David Poulson, a 40-year priest in the Diocese of Erie. Poulson, 64, was charged with sexually assaulting two boys over the course of many years. He has been charged with three felonies including indecent assault, endangering the welfare of children and corruption of minors.

Last September, authorities arrested a retired priest who had served at various parishes throughout the Greensburg Diocese.

The Rev. John Sweeney, 74, is accused of sexually molesting a 10-year-old boy.

Contact: idejesus@pennlive.com

 

 

 

 

 




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