SAN BERNARDINO (CA)
Daily Bulletin
By Stacia Glenn
Staff Writer
SAN BERNARDINO - Hundreds of voices echoed throughout Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral on Sunday, pledging to safeguard their children from the sexual abuse that has rocked the Catholic Church.
April is Sexual Abuse Awareness month, and a memory of the clergy-abuse scandal is still imprinted on many minds. A 2004 report by the U.S. Catholic Church said 10,667 individuals have accused 4,392 priests of sexual abuse. At least 15 accused priests have been part of the Diocese of San Bernardino.
"Abuse gets in the way of that abundant life God wants us to lead. We recognize our need to confront abuse ... and especially the way it affects our children," said the Rev. Paul C. Granillo, a diocese spokesman.
Since the abuse came to light three years ago, the local diocese, which serves 1 million Roman Catholics in San Bernardino and Riverside counties, has worked to restore trust. The diocese now fingerprints all priests, employees and volunteers. For the past two years, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has found the diocese in compliance with the American Church's Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People.
But the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests continues to chastise the diocese for not doing enough.
Posted by kshaw at April 18, 2005 06:17 AM