Statement from Bishop Gainer on Child Sexual Abuse

By Bishop Ronald W. Gainer
Diocese of Harrisburg
August 1, 2018

https://www.hbgdiocese.org/statement-from-bishop-gainer-on-child-sexual-abuse/

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg released information from their own internal investigation on child sex abuse. Bishop Ronald W. Gainer released the following statement:

“With the Grand Jury investigation concluded and the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ordering a stay of the Grand Jury’s full report pending further review, the Diocese of Harrisburg chose to release our own list of clergy and seminarians who were accused of sexual abuse of minors as we felt it was critical to get this information out to the public and our parishioners as soon as possible. The information we are releasing today is the result of a great deal of work by outside counsel and professional investigators. I wish to emphasize that this list is a list of accusations; we did not make assessments of credibility or guilt in creating this list.

“I read the information used to create this list with great sadness, for once again we come face-to-face with the horror that innocent children were the victims of egregious acts committed against them. I am saddened because I know that behind every story is the face of a child precious in God’s sight; a child who has been wounded by the sins of those who should have known better.

“I acknowledge the sinfulness of those who have harmed these survivors, as well as the action and inaction of those in church leadership who failed to respond to you

appropriately and justly.

“In my own name, and in the name of the Diocesan Church of Harrisburg, I express our profound sorrow and apologize to the survivors of child sex abuse, the Catholic faithful and the general public for the abuses that took place and for those Church officials who failed to protect children.