BishopAccountability.org

Local faith leaders respond to PA church sex abuse scandal

By Tashanea Whitlow
WWLP
August 15, 2018

https://www.wwlp.com/news/local-faith-leaders-respond-to-pa-church-sex-abuse-scandal/1373569544


[with video]

A grand jury investigation into priest sex abuse in Pennsylvania is sending shock waves across the country.

This comes after hundreds of Catholic priests are accused of sexually abusing thousands of young parishioners and the church is accused of covering it up. Some are finding it difficult to believe men of God could commit such crimes. 

"From my faith perspective, the light of God shines brightly when we can pull things out of the shadows," said Rev. Margaret Sawyer of the Pioneer Valley Workers Center in Northampton. "And we can't have this type of mistreatment in the shadows. My heart is breaking for those victims."

The 2-year investigation into six dioceses over 7 decades revealed more than 300 abusive priests, who preyed on more than 1,000 victims, but that number could rise.  According to the grand jury, there may be thousands of more abuse victims.

More than 17,000 people, across the nation, have reported being molested by priests and others in the church dating back to 1950. According to the grand jury, there may be thousands of more abuse victims. 

"The stories in Pennsylvania are heartbreaking," said Sawyer.

"Priest sometimes moves, from one place to another, and they have a history," said Northampton Attorney James Winston. "And there is a duty those churches that want to hire somebody, within their organization, that they do thorough background checks and make sure somebody they're bringing in has been thoroughly checked."

A growing number of lawsuits have been filed where plaintiffs sued churches alleging clergy malpractice.

Contact: tashanea.whitlow@wwlp.com




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