MONTEREY (CA)
KSBW TV
January 2, 2019
The Catholic Diocese of Monterey has released a list of 30 clergymen who have been “credibly accused” of abusing children going back to the 1950s.
The list documents cases dating back as far 1954 and as recently as 2009. Eighteen priests were arrested and 19 of them are now dead. None of those still living are currently active clergymen except maybe for 1 whose status was listed as “unknown”.
Most of the allegations occurred in the 1970s. The fewest in the 2000s.
In a written introduction to the report, the Diocese states that it “engaged in a review of the files of all Clergy with known allegations of sexual misconduct as well as reviewed the files of all currently active Clergy in the Diocese of Monterey to determine if there are any allegations of sexual misconduct with a child against any Clergyman currently in ministry.”
The Diocese also states that it is making the report public to promote transparency and trust.
In addition, an outside law firm was hired to review the files and to make an independent decision as to whether a clergyman’s name should be included on the list of those credibly accused.
“Clergyman” includes priests, deacons, religion men and candidates for ordination.
In order to be identified on the list as “credibly accused” of child sexual abuse, the clergymen had to meet four criteria:
1. The allegation involves clergy and
2. Involves sexual misconduct with a minor (i.e. under 18) and
3. The accusation appears credible (i.e. believable) or
4. The clergyman was dead at the time the allegation was received by the Diocese, which prevented a complete investigation, but the allegation appears plausible (i.e. alleged to have occurred at a time and in a place where the clergyman was assigned).
The Diocese divided the list of the “credibly accused” into three categories.
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