PENNSYLVANIA
Metro
After a two year investigation, attorney general Kathleen Kane announced that she discovered caes of hundreds of young victims being abused by priests in the Altoona-Johsntown diocese — but cannot bring criminal charges against any of the alleged predators.
The conduct by priests that Kane’s office discovered was “monstrous,” she said at a Tuesday morning press conference, where Kane announced at a press conference that her office discovered church leadership labored to protect abusive priests from consequences for their actions for years.
Allegations range from anal rape of teenage boys inside the rectory at St. Agnes Church in Lock Haven to a 16-year-old girl in foster care being sexually abused by a priest — and then being blamed for seducing the priest.
“Hundreds of children have fallen victim to child predators wrapped in the authority and the faith of those that they served,” Kane said Tuesday. “This abuse lasted for four decades. Not only was it covered up, priests were moved around … to avoid further scandal.”
None of the allegations will lead to criminal charges, Kane said.
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