Diocese of Sacramento to release list of clergy credibly accused of sexual abuse

KCRA TV
April 29, 2019

Diocese of Sacramento to release list of clergy credibly accused of sexual abuse

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Sacramento will publish a list of priests and deacons this week that it said have been credibly accused of sexual abuse against minors over the past seven decades.

Bishop Jaime Soto released a letter Sunday acknowledging the pain this will cause members of the Sacramento community.

"I am repulsed and heartbroken by the evil acts that were perpetrated upon the innocent by those entrusted with their care. When you read the list you will experience your own feelings of shock, anger and disgust. This undoubtedly will reopen wounds for some," Soto wrote in a letter. "I apologize for the sins and failures of the past. I am determined that such acts of abuse should never again occur in our diocese."

The diocese hired an outside consultant to go through hundreds of files and determine which cases were credible. This comes as dioceses across the country are releasing the names of priests accused of sexual abuse.

If you were sexually abused by clergy or a religious leader, or have information about sexual abuse at a religious organization, you are urged to report your case.

There are several resources in place to help.

The California Attorney General’s Office has created an online system to report clergy abuse. You can find that here.

The Diocese of Sacramento said if Catholics in the region have experienced, witnessed or suspect abuse involving clergy, employees or volunteers, they are urged to first call and report the incident to local law enforcement.

Members are then urged to reach out to the Diocese of Sacramento’s victim assistance hotline at 866-777-9133. They can also reach out to the Diocese of Sacramento's pastoral care coordinator for victims of abuse, Loree Lippsmeyer, at 916-733-0142. Learn more about reporting clergy abuse here.

You can also call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673 or chat online to find support.

Victims of clergy abuse can reach out to SNAP -- Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests -- for help and support.