71 names of clergy accused of child sex abuse in Harrisburg diocese released

HARRISBURG (PA)
Penn Live

August 1, 2018

By Ivey DeJesus

In an unprecedented and stunning move, the head of the Diocese of Harrisburg on Wednesday ordered the removal from diocesan property the names of all former diocesan bishops who over the decades failed to protect children from sexually predatory priests.

Just weeks ahead of a bombshell report into clergy sex abuse in the Catholic Church in Pennsylvania, Bishop Ronald Gainer on Wednesday said that all names of bishops dating back to 1947 will be removed from buildings, halls and rooms.

Gainer said “anyone accused of sexual misconduct will have his name removed from any place of honor” throughout the diocese.

“The decision to remove names of bishops and clerics may prove to be controversial, but as bishops, I strongly believe that leaders of the diocese must hold themselves to a higher standard and must yield honorary symbols in the interest of healing.”

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