Episcopal bishop calls for ‘disciplinary proceedings’ in St. George’s School sex abuse case

RHODE ISLAND
Providence Journal

By Karen Lee Ziner
Journal Staff Writer Posted Jan. 5, 2016

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The Episcopal bishop of Rhode Island is calling for “appropriate disciplinary proceedings” against three people named in recent reports of sexual abuse at St. George’s School in Middletown in the 1970s and 1980s.

The Rt. Rev. W. Nicholas Knisely said in a statement Tuesday that he is in contact with Rhode Island State Police, “and I am following their direction as the investigation is being carried out” into the episodes discussed in a report issued by the school in December and in media coverage.

“As of this morning, two Episcopal priests and a third person who has worked in Episcopal congregations have been named in the report or ensuing media coverage,” Bishop Knisely wrote in a letter to clergy released shortly after a Boston news conference about sexual abuse at the elite private school.

“One of the priests allegedly committed abuse and the other allegedly failed to report allegations of abuse made against a St. George’s employee as mandated by state law,” Bishop Knisely wrote. “The third individual is alleged to have committed abuse.”

“I have been in touch with bishops in whose dioceses the three men reside, and am currently working with other church leaders to make sure that appropriate disciplinary proceedings are initiated in this case,” Knisely wrote.

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