Priests' Child Sex Abuse: PA Grand Jury Report Released

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court on Tuesday released a redacted version of a grand jury investigation into allegations of child sexual abuse by Catholic priests and clergy in six Pennsylvania dioceses and the report pulled no punches. Priests "were raping little boys and girls and the men of God who were responsible for them not only did nothing: They hid it all," the report stated.

More than 300 “predator priests” were identified in the dioceses of Pittsburgh, Greensburg, Allentown, Erie, Harrisburg and Scranton, including 99 in Pittsburgh. Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro discussed the report in detail during a news conference in Harrisburg.

"We subpoenaed, and reviewed, half a million pages of internal diocesan documents. They contained credible allegations against over three hundred predator priests," Shapiro said. "Over one thousand child victims were
identifiable from the church’s own records. We believe that the real number, of children whose records were lost, or who were afraid ever to come forward, is in the thousands.”

Shapiro related several particularly abhorrent examples of the abuse, including one in which a boy in the Pittsburgh diocese was forced to stand on a bed in a rectory, strip naked and pose as Christ on the cross for priests. "They took photos of their victim, adding them to a collection of child pornography which they produced and shared on church grounds," he said.

The report is scathing in its assessment of the Pittsburgh diocese.

"The grand jury uncovered evidence of sexual abuse of minors committed by dozens of priests in the Diocese of Pittsburgh," the report stated. "This sexual abuse included grooming and fondling of genitals and/or intimate body parts, as well as (penetration). The evidence also showed that diocesan administrators, including the bishops, had knowledge of this conduct yet regularly placed the priests in ministry after the diocese was on notice that a complaint of child sexual abuse had been made. This conduct was enabling to offenders and endangered the welfare of children."

Furthermore, "The evidence demonstrated that the diocese had discussions with lawyers regarding the sexual conduct or priests with children and made settlements with the victims. These settlements contained confidentiality agreements forbidding victims from speaking out about their abuse under threat of some penalty, such as legal action to recover previously paid settlement monies.

"Finally, the grand jury received evidence that several diocesan administrators, including the bishops, often dissuaded victims from reporting to police or conducted their own deficient, biased investigation without reporting crimes against children to the proper authorities."

At a news conference in Pittsburgh after Shapiro spoke, Pittsburgh Bishop David Zubik apologized for the grand jury's findings.

"We cannot bury our heads in the sand. There were instances in the past, as outlined in this report, when the Church acted in ways that did not respond effectively to victims," he said. "Swift and firm responses to
allegations should have started long before they did. For that I express profound regret."

Cardinal Donald Wuerl of Washington. D.C., who preceded Zubik as Pittsburgh's bishop, said he recognized the report was critical of some of his actions. But he said in a statement, "I believe the report confirms that I acted with diligence, with concern, for the victims and to prevent future acts of abuse. "

The Diocese of Pittsburgh priests identified by the Grand Jury:

1) Redacted

2) James R. Adams

3) James L. Armstrong

4) John M. Bauer

5) John E. Brueckner

6) Leo Burchianti

7) Robert Castelucci

8) Mauro James Cautela

9) Charles J. Chatt

10) Anthony J. Cipolla

11) John P. Connor

12) John David Crowley

13) Richard Deakin

14) Ferdinand B. Demsher

15) Myles Eric Diskin

16) Richard J. Dorsch

17) David F. Dzermejko

18) Redacted

19) John P. Fitzgerald

20) Joseph M. Ganter

21) John A. Genizer

22) Charles R. Ginder

23) James G. Graham

24) William Hildebrand

25) John S. Hoehl

26) James Hopkins

27) John J. Huber

28) Edward G. Huff

41) Redacted

42) Albert Leonard

43) Casimir F. Lewandowski

44) John P. Maloney

45) Julius May

46) Dominic McGee

47) Donald W. Mcllvane

48) Thomas McKenna

49) Albert McMahon

50) John H. McMahon

51) Frank Meder

52) Redacted

53) Arthur R. Merrell

54) Redacted

55) Joseph Mueller

56) Lawrence O'Connell

57) Thomas M. O'Donnell

58) William P. O'Malley, III

59) Ernest Paone

60) George Parme

61) Paul E. Pindel

62) Pittsburgh Priest #1

63) Francis Pucci

64) John W. Rebel

65) Raymond R. Rhoden

66) Carl Roemele

67) Michael C. Romero

68) Oswald E. Romero

69) David Scharf

70) Richard Scherer

71) Raymond T. Schultz

72) Francis Siler

73) Rudolph M. Silvers

74) Edward P. Smith

75) James E. Somma

76) Bartley A. Sorensen

77) Robert E. Spangenberg

78) Paul G. Spisak

79) Lawrence F. Stebler

80) Richard Gerard Terdine

81) Redacted

82) Charles Thomas

83) John William Wellinger

84) Joseph S. Wichmanowski

85) George A. Wilt

86) Robert G. Wolk

87) William B Yockey

88) Theodore P. Zabowski

89) George Zirwas

90) Richard Zula

91-99) Pittsburgh Priests #2-10

Access the entire grand jury report here.

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