SIOUS CITY (IA)
Pilot-Tribune
January 7, 2019
By Daba Larsen
The Diocese of Sioux City on Friday issued a statement of apology to victims of sexual abuse by members of its clergy, including George McFadden, who served at Storm Lake St. Mary’s in the 1950s and faced a litany of abuse allegations.
Much of the statement responded to allegations made at a recent small rally by a victim’s organization, and defended the diocese’s record in dealing with abuse allegations.
The diocese “would first like to apologize to all victims of abuse by members of the clergy. We are working to do everything we can to help victims who come forward. We want to help them feel a sense of justice and healing,” the statement reads. “We again encourage all victims, if you have not reported past or present abuse, to please come forward.”
A victim’s assistance hotline is available by calling 712-279-5610.
“We are diligently working on the release of a list of clergy who have substantiated allegations of sexual misconduct with minors against them. We sincerely hope this will help victims in their healing,” said Susan O’Brien, Director of Communications and Development. “Coordinating this list has taken longer than we expected as we review all of our records carefully. Taking into account advice received in our meeting with the Attorney General for the State of Iowa in early December and counsel provided by dioceses that have already released lists, we have made progress on our list and have a draft.”
Other dioceses had released such lists earlier as awareness of abuse by priests grew.
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