286 Clerics ‘Credibly Accused’ of Sex Abuse Called Out by Texas Diocese
Texas Catholic dioceses released a list of 286 clerics “credibly accused” of sexual abuse in fulfillment of their October pledge to name the accused by January’s end.
The list is comprised of data from 14 dioceses across Texas whose bishops pledged, in the wake of Pennsylvania’s grand jury report on clergy sex abuse, to examine church documents and publicly out those credibly accused.
Cardinal Daniel DiNardo on release of clergy sex abuse list: ‘I extend my deepest regret for the harm that has been done… there is no excuse for the actions of those credibly accused of such sins…” #khou11 #htownrush pic.twitter.com/JFo6NYGgOH
— Jeremy Rogalski (@JRogalskiKHOU) January 31, 2019
The list, released Tuesday, includes accusations dating back to the 1950s.
The Archdiocese of San Antonio released the most names of “credibly accused” priests with a total of 56.
Amid avalanche of “credibly accused” clerics in 15 Texas Sees, links to complete lists of names and Dioceses posted here: https://t.co/nj0eG2MoQn
— Rich Raho (@RichRaho) January 31, 2019
The Diocese of Laredo, by comparison, had no names to contribute, as it was established in 2000, only two years before the U.S. Catholic Church implemented new policies for preventing and reporting child sexual abuse.
While several states have launched investigations into their Catholic churches and into individual dioceses concerning sexual abuse, Marc Rylander, spokesperson for the Texas attorney general’s office, said that Texas law prevented such an investigation into the state’s dioceses.
Texas Catholic dioceses released a list of 286 clerics “credibly accused” of sexual abuse in fulfillment of their October pledge to name the accused by January’s end. https://t.co/LqFl2wmnY3
— Navtan Kumar (@navtankumar) February 2, 2019
“There should be no safer place, not only in Texas, but on earth, than the local church. But every state is set up differently. Every state has different statutes,” Rylander said, according to Crux Now.
“Some states have the ability to go into an issue where there are reports like these and blow the whole thing up and prosecute and take down. In Texas, the law is set up differently.
Cardinal Daniel DiNardo releases a list of clergy members under investigation. @FOX26Houston #HouNews #Houston pic.twitter.com/zy5BgBFPwb
— Lindsey Henry FOX 26 (@LindseyFOX26) February 1, 2019
“We have to rely on local district attorneys from the 254 counties in our state to either refer the case to us or ask for our assistance as they investigate and prosecute these cases,” he added.
State and federal authorities have, however, launched an investigation into the offices of Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of Montgomery County in connection with a case of alleged sexual abuse in response to such a request.
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