Catholic Bishop Supports Release of Sexual Abuse Findings As Grand Jury Probe Nears End
By Jeff Hawkes
The bishop for a Catholic diocese that includes Lancaster County says a Pennsylvania grand jury’s findings about sexual abuse by priests and lay leaders should be made public. The Diocese of Harrisburg has joined five other Pennsylvania dioceses under investigation in saying they won’t challenge the release of the report sometime next month. A grand jury investigation into widespread abuse began in 2016. Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro said Monday that he expects to announce the findings by the end of June, now that all six dioceses support making a report public. The investigation has already led to the arrest of an Oil City, Venango County, priest accused of sexually abusing at least two boys and making one of them say confession after the alleged assaults. In announcing the charges earlier this month, Shapiro said Erie Diocese officials knew about the abuse as early as 2010 but did nothing to stop it until they had to answer the grand jury subpoena in September 2016.
In a statement last Friday, Bishop Ronald W. Gainer, leader of the Harrisburg diocese, expressed both support for and concern about release of the findings. “The Diocese of Harrisburg wants to be clear that we strongly support the release of the grand jury report,” Gainer said. “However, we are also concerned about due process rights.” “It’s important that we get this report right,” he said, noting the diocese’s full cooperation with the investigation. “Each diocese is separate and faces a different situation,” Gainer said. “We continue to consider all of our options in law as we move forward.” Due process A Harrisburg Diocese spokesman told LNP that “some reports” have misunderstood the diocese’s position on the grand jury’s report. “We’ve never objected to the release of the report,” said Joseph Aponick, the diocese’s communications director. “We just want to be sure that due process is followed.” Aponick said he could not speak about the bishop’s specific concerns. Shapiro in a statement said victims deserve to tell their stories. “That is why my legal team and I have worked tirelessly to have each diocese agree to give victims the opportunity to be heard,” he said. “The only thing that could stop these findings from becoming public (in June) is if one of the bishops or dioceses would seek to delay or prevent this public accounting.” LNP sought comment Tuesday from Lancaster County parishes about the pending release of the report. Five that responded said media questions should be directed to the diocese. Gainer in a letter to parishioners in April said the diocese was fully cooperating with the grand jury. “I also want to assure you that we have taken every step possible to assure the safety of our children." “I also want to assure you that we have taken every step possible to assure the safety of our children,” Gainer said. Mark Totaro, the victim assistance coordinator in the Office of Youth Protection for the Harrisburg Diocese, said in a March 2016 statement that the Catholic Church has repeatedly acknowledged mistakes and made strides in protecting children and helping victims heal. Totaro said the church has a zero-tolerance policy for clergy, employees and volunteers accused of sexual misconduct with children and requires the immediate reporting of any allegation to law enforcement. He said the church also requires background checks and training for all adults who interact with children.
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