PENNSYLVANIA
Tribune-Democrat
By Dave Sutor
dsutor@tribdem.com
HOLLIDAYSBURG – On a drizzly Ash Wednesday, about a half-dozen Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests supporters congregated outside the Roman Catholic Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown’s headquarters, calling upon the local institution to provide more help and justice for victims of child sexual abuse.
The event occurred one year to the day after the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General released a grand jury report that provided details about an alleged decades-long coverup of abuse by at least 50 priests and other religious leaders, all reportedly orchestrated by former Bishops James Hogan and Joseph Adamec.
The attorney general’s office accused the diocese of maintaining a “secret archive” with information about predators, using a specific system to determine payout levels based on the type of abuse, and exploiting connections within the legal and law enforcement systems to keep accusations quiet.
Diocese officials, over the past year, have responded by holding prayer services for victims and releasing the names of priests who have been credibly accused of child sexual abuse.
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