PENNSYLVANIA
Tribune-Review
BY JASON CATO | Saturday, March 5, 2016
Decades of silence by the Roman Catholic Church regarding child sexual abuse by priests has given way to an era of atonement, as public apologies and condemnation come from local dioceses up to the Vatican.
But that isn’t enough for some. The church needs to name priests suspected of abuse, like those outed last week in a 147-page grand jury report about the Altoona-Johnstown diocese, so more go to prison, said David Clohessy, national director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests.
“More words, clearer words, sadder words — it’s all words, and words protect no one. Decisive actions protect kids,” said Clohessy, expressing a desire for local dioceses to post online the names of priests accused of sexually abusing children. “They often are fixated on PR, policies, panels and protocols that look terrific on paper but essentially are worthless.
“Sincerity must be judged by actions, not words.”
Leaders of the Catholic Church in Pittsburgh and Greensburg said they are committed to stopping sexual abuse and righting decades of wrongs.
“I would hope in every diocese we realize we can never do enough to keep this horror from occurring,” said Pittsburgh Bishop David Zubik, who will host a special “Service of Apology” March 21 in St. Paul Cathedral in Oakland.
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