PENNSYLVANIA
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
PETER SMITH
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
MAY 16, 2018
Roman Catholic Bishop Lawrence Persico of Erie says he will “forgo any legal challenges “ to a statewide grand jury investigating sexual abuse in his and five other dioceses across Pennsylvania.
Bishop Persico met Wednesday with Attorney General Josh Shapiro, whose office is investigating the dioceses in conjunction with a statewide grand jury.
It is unclear from statements from Bishop Persico and from Mr. Shapiro what sort of legal challenge a diocese could mount to a grand jury proceeding if it chose to do so.
The 40th statewide grand jury, convening in Pittsburgh, is believed to have wrapped up its proceedings last month and to be preparing a wide-ranging report on abuse in most of the state’s dioceses over the past seven decades.
“I realize that the grand jury report will contain information that will be difficult for all of us to hear, but in order for us to focus on the future, we have to have a solid knowledge of the past,” Bishop Persico said Wednesday in his statement. “The grand jury investigation and its report will provide a voice for the victims. We must listen to that voice and learn from it as we move forward.”
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