Catholic Bishops Hid Sex Abuse Of Hundreds Of PA Children: Grand Jury

A Pennsylvania grand jury implicated more than 50 priests and religious leaders who have served at churches across the state in a sex-abuse scandal dating back 40 years.

The Pennsylvania Attorney General announced the findings of a two-year investigation into the Roman Catholic Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown Tuesday, saying hundreds of children were subjected to abuse that was masked by two bishops who averted probes into the claims and created a “payout chart” to quietly compensate victims based on the level of abuse.

A 147-page grand jury report made public Tuesday describes a predatory abattoir of youthful innocence in which boys were hypnotized and made to drink alcohol to soften them up for priests to molest and rape. Witnesses say one priest molested the children while listening to Bill Cosby records. Some were abused in their sleep, investigators found. Others were forced to go nude beneath their robes so a priest could grope their genitals, the report revealed.

Criminal charges are not being filed because many of the priests accused of abuse have died and the statute of limitations has expired.

• SEE ALSO: PA Catholic Church Abuse: 50 Leaders, 100s of Children, 40 Years: 0 Criminal Charges

Investigators say the scandal was covered up by two of the diocese’s bishops, who together have headed the diocese since 1966. One of the bishops even created a “pay out chart” detailing cash payments to be given to victims based on the type of the abuse reported.

“Predator after predator” came before the grand jury to testify, with many of the alleged predators saying this was the first time law enforcement ever questioned them.

Victims, male and female children as young as 6, reported genital fondling and said they were forced to participate in or watch masturbation, the report said. Children said they were forced to perform or receive oral sex from priests and some reported being anally raped.

The grand jury heard evidence alcohol and pornography were provided to children. Additionally, the report reveals the abuse was reported by family members to law enforcement, including the Pennsylvania State Police. Charges were not pressed and leaders at the diocese instead “assured” investigators the priests in question would be removed and institutionalized.

Bishop James Hogan and Bishop Joseph Adamec did not report the behavior, the investigation revealed. Instead they chose to “shield the institution and themselves,” the report said.

“Because of their choices and failed leadership, hundreds of children suffered,” according to the grand jury report.

The details of the accusations are revealed in detail in the grand jury report. Priests allegedly used alcohol and hypnosis to coerce children into the sexual behavior, which happened in rectories, parish offices, cars and on trips, the pages and pages of findings reveal.

Children recalled specific details, including one priest who would “grope” children while listening to Bill Cosby comedy albums. That same priest, Father George Koharchik, admitted to the grand jury he was “close to” a dozen children. Koharchik said he viewed the sexual encounters as emotional connections and he “certainly” did not think of it as predatory.

In many cases, priests continued to minister following molestation allegations. For example, Monsignor Thomas Mabon was accused of molesting an altar boy at St. Mary’s Church in Hollidaysburg but was allowed to return to active ministry after “treatment” that would require him to “self report those things that he felt were issues,” witnesses testified to the grand jury.

In another startling testimony, witnesses say Monsignor Francis McCaa preyed on a child who sought solace after his father’s death. McCaa, a “highly respected” religious leader in his community who died in 2007, was billed a “monster” by investigators.

The grand jury alleges McCaa would victimize altar boys, making them take their pants off under their cassocks so he could reach under “to touch and squeeze” their genitals.

“Nearly every known victim indicated that Father McCaa sexually offended on them in almost every interaction which would permit physical contact,” the report said.

As part of an effort to cover up the abuse, Bishop Adamec created a “pay out chart,” the investigation found.

For example, victims who were fondled above clothing were given $10,000 to $25,000. Those who were subjected to fondling under clothing or masturbation received $15,000 to $40,000. Victims made to perform or receive oral sex received $25,000 to $75,000 under the bishop’s payout chart. Rape victims were supposed to receive $50,000 to $175,000, the grand jury found.

The payout chart had footnotes outlining “factors to consider for valuation within a range.” Those factors included duration of abuse, age of victims, use of alcohol or drugs and the psychological impact of the abuse on the individual.

The bishops avoided investigation into the claims and instead would use code words like “sick leave” and “nervous exhaustion” to justify moving alleged predator priests to another location, the grand jury found.

Saint John Vianney Center in Downingtown was one location used to “provide cover” for bishops, the report said.

As a result of the investigation, the grand jury is recommending abolishing the statute of limitations for sexual offenses against minors and is urging the state General Assembly to suspend the civil statute of limitations on sexual abuse claims.

The following priests are implicated in the scandal:

• Monsignor Francis Ackerson
• Father David Arsenault
• Father Joseph Bender
• Father Peter Bodenschatz
• Father Charles Bodziak
• Father John Boyle
• Father James Bunn
• Monsignor Harold Burkhardt
• Father Thomas Carroll
• Father Martin Cingle
• Father Dennis Coleman
• Father James Coveney
• Father William Crouse
• Father Mario Fabbri
• Father Elwood Figurelle
• Father Joseph Gaborek
• Father Bernard Grattan
• Father Leonard Inman
• Father Robert Kelly
• Father William Kovach
• Monsignor Anthony Little
• Father Francis Luddy
• Monsignor Thomas Mabon
• Monsignor Joseph D. Maurizio
• Monsignor Francis McCaa
• Father Marin McCamley
• Father Regis Myers
• Father Daniel O’Friel
• Father John Palko
• Father Gerard Ream
• Father William Rosensteel
• Father James Skupien
• Father Joseph Strittmatter
• Father Benedict Wolfe

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