HARRISBURG (PA)
Penn Live
April 5, 2018
By Christine Vendel
Activists and survivors have spent years calling for Catholic Church dioceses to release the names of priests accused of sexually abusing children.
They argued the move would increase transparency, help victims heal and prevent abusers from living anonymously in neighborhoods amid unsuspecting families.
Most dioceses across the country have resisted releasing public lists, but some have obliged. Last month, the Buffalo Diocese in New York released a list of 42 names. Two days later, the Erie Diocese in Pennsylvania pledged to follow suit with its own list that could be released any day now.
The announcement came amid news that a two-year grand jury probe is coming to a close after examining how Erie and five other Pennsylvania dioceses handled accusations against priests.
Erie’s announcement sent shockwaves through dioceses across Pennsylvania that are now grappling with whether they, too, should create a public list and, if so, who should make the cut?
Such lists can cover a wide range of possibilities including any priest ever accused by anyone to including only priests who have been criminally prosecuted.
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