PENNSYLVANIA
United States Attorney’s Office, Western District of Pennsylvania

PITTSBURGH – Acting United States Attorney Soo C. Song and Bishop Mark L. Bartchak of the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown announced today reforms by the Diocese to protect the children of the Diocese from sexual abuse, ensure that all allegations of sexual abuse are immediately reported to law enforcement and provide victims with access to a full range of counseling and support services.

The reforms are summarized in a memorandum of understanding. The memorandum is the product of extensive collaboration between the Diocese and the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Among other core reforms, the memorandum provides for:

* The creation of an independent, multidisciplinary oversight board;
* The retention of an outside expert to develop a new, comprehensive child abuse prevention program;
* A reporting protocol that requires the Diocese to report allegations of child sexual abuse to law enforcement…