AUSTIN (TX)
KXAN
October 14, 2018
By Madison Hever
By Jan. 31, 2019, the Catholic Church will release names of clergy members in Texas who have been credibly accused of sexually abusing children.
“We realize how important it is that we do all we can to prevent future abuse,” said Emily Hurlimann, the Director of Ethics and Integrity in Ministry for the Austin Diocese.
The list will name clergy members dating back to 1950 and Bishop Joe Vásquez says that by releasing the list, people can move forward in healing and it will create more trust in the Church.
“The sexual abuse of minors is a terrible thing. It’s a sin, but it’s a crime as well,” Vásquez said.
Hurlimann says that the Ethics and Integrity in Ministry program was put in place in 2002 to protect and help victims who have been sexually abused.
“Our program is focused on two different aspects: protecting children, preventing abuse from happening in the future, and then also for those that have experienced abuse in the past,” she said. “We’re supporting them, helping them report their stories and providing support for them as needed.”
The Catholic Diocese of Austin says it will be looking to hire outside investigators to help with compiling the list of victims by the deadline. Vásquez says that by hiring outside investigators, independent of the church, it will not be able to keep cases under wraps.
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