ERIE (PA)
Penn Live
April 6, 2018
By Teresa Bonner
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Erie, is publishing a list of 34 priests and 17 lay people against whom credible accusations of sexual abuse or other inappropriate behavior have been leveled.
It’s the first time the diocese has revealed the names of those accused of abuse.
Bishop Lawrence Persico began the news conference by addressing victims of abuse.
“I would like to express my sincere sorrow and apologies for the sexual abuse that has occurred within the church, particularly here, within the Diocese of Erie,” he said, noting that he has spoken with some victims.
“It is appalling to learn what they went through,” he said. “Abuse is traumatic enough but it is earth-shattering when it is perpetrated by someone in a position of trust.”
The move comes as a grand jury run by the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s office investigates how the Erie diocese, the Diocese of Harrisburg and four others in Pennsylvania have handled misconduct allegations against priests.
“We don’t know when the grand jury report will be forthcoming,” Persico said, “but I am sure it will be a sobering moment for all of us.
The diocese began the process of examining its past in 2016, which was the year that a grand jury report into child sexual abuse by clergy in the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown was made public. At that time, the diocese invited the district attorney to view its records.
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