NEW YORK
Syracuse.com
Bishop Robert Cunningham took an important step toward reconciling with his flock last week when he agreed to immediately report allegations of sexual abuse against priests or other religious workers to the civil authorities.
But the bishop can go farther by releasing the names of 11 priests in the diocese facing credible accusations of abuse.
First, the good news. Cunningham signed a “memorandum of understanding” with the seven district attorneys who have jurisdiction in the sprawling Catholic diocese of Syracuse. Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick was among them.
The agreement goes beyond the diocese’s 2003 policy on dealing with sexual abuse of children, which was limited to “current cases involving a minor and any clergy member, employee, religious or volunteer.” The new memorandum requires the diocese to report “regardless of the age of the allegation or whether or not the clergy member is active.” Further, the diocese won’t investigate allegations on its own before reporting them to the district attorney, and it will work with DAs to preserve evidence.
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