WASHINGTON
The Seattle Times
By Seattle Times editorial board
OPEN the secret files, Archbishop J. Peter Sartain.
The Archdiocese of Seattle last month took the long overdue act of naming 77 local clergy accused of sexual misconduct with minors. It should have happened in 2004, when a high-level review board comprised primarily of lay people suggested the diocese come clean.
Better late than never. But this was only a half-step toward repentance.
Two members of that layperson review board — former U.S. Attorney Mike McKay and former King County Superior Court Judge Terry Carroll, both prominent Catholics who’ve devoted their careers to justice — called on the archdiocese to release confidential files on the abusive priests.
Their questions are spot on. When did the abuse happened? To how many youths? At which specific parish?
Most important, the public and parishioners want to know who failed to act on credible reports of child abuse. Who knew what? And when?
Releasing the secret files would answer these questions. A full release — with the names of victims redacted — would also help heal the church and allow victims to move forward.
Other archdioceses already have opened their secret files. Portland and Los Angeles opened files as part of legal settlements. Chicago Archbishop Francis George did so voluntarily in the hopes of “bringing healing for victims.”
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