Media Statements

A three-month investigation into cases of clergy sex crimes and cover ups by Cincinnati journalists has revealed disturbing facts and secrets, including that more than half of the accused priests in the tri-state area have never been publicly listed by Catholic officials.

A formerly high-ranking Alaskan Catholic official – once accused of molesting and threatening to kill a ten year old – just dodged criminal charges. We call on every current and former Alaska church employee to take steps to help police and urge others who may have seen, suspected or suffered crimes by the cleric so he might be charged again, convicted and kept away from children and the vulnerable.

Three Jesuit priests in New Mexico have been named in newly filed lawsuits for clergy sexual abuse. One of them was still an active clergyman until this complaint was filed. We applaud the brave survivors who brought forth these claims and hope the news inspires other victims, witnesses, and whistle-blowers to come forward to police and prosecutors.

Once again, Catholic officials are trying to avoid consequences for clergy sexual abuse and cover-ups by attempting to prevent all survivors from having their day in court. We hope this latest legal maneuver fails and that victims throughout New York can continue to exercise their legal rights.

A Franciscan brother who has been convicted of child sexual abuse has quietly moved from California — where he was a registered sex offender — to Oregon, where he is not required to register. We call on Catholic bishops in Portland and Los Angeles to warn the public about him and seek out others who may have seen, suspected or suffered his crimes.

We’re thrilled by the decision by the Wyandotte County District Attorney’s office to re-try a Kansas City archdiocese priest whose previous trial ended in a hung jury. We believe this move will help keep children in Kansas safer and sends the message that abuse will not be tolerated. 

A new report is giving strength to rumors that the top Catholic official in Buffalo may soon be resigning. Regardless of whether or not this happens, we hope that that there will still be an investigation into the multiple scandals and lies that have come out of the Diocese of Buffalo.

Another Belleville area priest has pled guilty to child sex crimes but this matter can’t be considered over. Bishop Edward Braxton and his staff must use their resources to find out whether the cleric hurt children and should be charged with more crimes. And the guilty priest must be kept away from children for as long as possible, so we urge the judge to put the safety of children first when it’s time for sentencing.

An accused priest from the Diocese of Steubenville, Elwood Bernas, until recently had a job near Seattle that gave him access to vulnerable young people.  We call on bishops in both states to aggressively seek out anyone else he may have been hurt to warn police, prosecutors, parents and the public about him.

An abusive priest from Louisiana now lives in Texas where he’s reportedly ‘well-liked,’ probably because few know that he is a credibly accused child molester, according to Catholic officials. We call on bishops in both states to aggressively seek out anyone else he may have hurt and to warn police, prosecutors, parents and the public about him.