Erie’s Persico: ‘we Really Need to Clean This Up’

By Ed Palattella
Erie Times-News
May 1, 2019

https://www.goerie.com/news/20190501/eries-persico-we-really-need-to-clean-this-up

In April 2018, Erie Catholic Bishop Lawrence Persico released the first version of the Catholic Diocese of Erie’s list of clergy and laypeople credibly accused of sexual abuse and other misconduct with minors.

A year later, the list continues to grow — it started with 51 names and is now at 81 — and so has the diocese’s financial exposure.

As state lawmakers extended their debate about whether to adjust the statute of limitations to allow abuse victims to sue over old cases, Persico joined other dioceses statewide and created a compensation fund to pay claims to victims outside of court.

The dioceses made their moves after the statewide grand jury’s report on the abuse crisis recommended rolling back the statute of limitations to allow more victims to sue.

The six-month claims period for the Erie diocese’s fund ends in August, and Persico said the diocese has already wrapped up six claims. And while Persico said the 13-county diocese has set aside funds to cover the payments, he also told the Erie Times-News on Tuesday that the abuse crisis has strained the diocese’s finances.

“We’re not bankrupt yet,” Persico said. “But we’re fortunate that there was good and frugal management of the finances. All of this investigation, whether with the grand jury or what we’re doing on our own, has cost us a great deal of money.

“But I think the spending is well worth it, because we really need to clean this up and try to get it right.”

Persico spoke to the Erie Times-News during a 30-minute interview that was streamed live on Facebook. The interview focused on how the Catholic Diocese of Erie has responded to the abuse crisis under Persico, 68, who started as bishop in October 2012.