Harrisburg Diocese releases list of 71 clergy accused of child sex abuse

 

(Harrisburg) — The leader of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg released a list of clergy accused child sex abuse.

The list includes allegations dating back to 1947, and it names 71 clergy members. More than half of those men are already dead.

“I want to take this opportunity to express my sadness that youth under the church’s supervision were abused,” Bishop Ronald Gainer said. “Many of those victimized as children continue, as survivors, to suffer from the harm they experienced.”

He apologized to survivors of the abuse and the public for abuses that took place and church officials who failed to protect children.

The Diocese will remove names of these accused clergy members from buildings, facilities, rooms and memorials. In addition, Bishop Gainer said they will also remove the names of bishops from buildings because church leadership did not take adequate measures when handling allegations of inappropriate behavior and abuse. 

This decision will not alter the name of Bishop McDevitt High School. The Diocese does not have any records of abuse allegations from Bishop McDevitt’s tenure from 1916-1935. 

“This is not a list of people who we are calling sexual abusers,” Diocese attorney Matthew Haverstick said. “This is a list of accusations. We chose to be overinclusive. This list compiles, as far back as we have in our records, every individual against whom an allegation was made and that allegation subsequently was not disproven by law enforcement.”

Prior to 2002, the diocese entered into agreements with survivors of child sex abuse, including confidentiality agreements. Gainer is waiving those confidentiality provisions “so that the survivors can feel free to tell their stories.”

Gainer offered his assurances the diocese received guidance from experts in law enforcement and child protection, and has done everything in its power to put into place all of the safeguards necessary to provide for the well-being and protection of the children entrusted to its care.

“Any accusation against any diocesan personnel is reported immediately to law enforcement,” Bishop Gainer said.

Read the list (story continues below):

The timing of this announcement comes shortly before a grand jury’s report into child sexual abuse in six Pennsylvania Roman Catholic dioceses — including Harrisburg. A redacted version of that report is expected to made public August 8th.

Earlier this week, the state Supreme Court named McKean County Judge John Cleland to serve as special master.

The court late last week ordered the release of the report, but said names and other identifying information will have to be blacked out regarding priests and others who are challenging the report’s accuracy and fairness as it pertains to them.

The report focuses on allegations of child sexual abuse, and the Supreme Court says it identifies more than 300 “predator priests.”