PENNSYLVANIA
WNEP
MARCH 6, 2017, BY NIKKI KRIZE
LOCK HAVEN — A child sexual abuse bombshell rocked a Roman Catholic diocese serving parts of our area last year. On Monday, church officials announced their plan to protect the children in the diocese.
Officials with the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown must now report allegations of sexual abuse to law enforcement within 12 hours.
And the diocese, in agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s office, plans to have an outside agency investigate abuse claims.
This all comes one year after the state attorney general’s office said over the years more than 50 priests sexually abused hundreds of children, including some in Clinton County. Officials at the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown hope the changes announced Monday will protect children.
It’s hard to forget the state attorney general’s grand jury report that brought to life sexual abuse at the hands of priests within the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown.
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