PENNSYLVANIA- Two bishops from a small diocese helped hide the abuse of hundreds of children according to the grand jury.
A 147-page report issued on Tuesday by the Grand Jury explained the sexual abuse case in Altoona-Johnstown Diocese in Pennsylvania. This town is home to almost 100,000 Catholics, the abuse of the children was done by more than 50 priests and other relevant religious leaders, Over a period of 40 years according to the report.
The evidence is based on a secret archive held in the diocesan that was obtained during a search warrant over this summer. “Over many years, hundreds of children have fallen victim to child predators wrapped in the authority and integrity of an honorable faith,” the report said.
Bishop James Hogan and Joseph Adamec were especially criticized in the report. Hogan headed the diocese from 1966 to 1986, he died in 2005. Adamec succeeded him and retired in 2011. No criminal charges are being filed, since some of the 50 abusers have died, the statute of limitations has expired and most of the victims are too traumatized to testify, assured Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane.
Adamec refused to testify before the grand jury. But in a court filing, his attorney said the accusations against the retired 80-year-old bishop, were unfounded. Since he required 14 priests under his watch to go under psychiatric evaluation and nine of them were removed from ministry, five were reinstated and never re- offended, wrote Adamec’s attorney.
Among the findings in the report, there was a “pay-out chart” to help guide how much the victims will receive from the church as a part of a cover- up, the grand jury said. The diocese previous bishops, placed their desire to avoid public scandal and over the well- being of the victims.
Source: The Washington Post