COVINGTON (KY)
Cincinnati Post
By Paul A. Long
Post staff reporter
A national organization of victims sexually abused by priests is criticizing the $120 million agreement reached with the Diocese of Covington to settle a class-action lawsuit because it does not release any church records.
Officials of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests - SNAP - have sent a letter to Special Judge John Potter, asking him to force the diocese to disclose the names of all priests who have abused children or teenagers.
The letter said the issue is a matter of public safety - through the release of such records in other dioceses, former abusive priests have been found in jobs that put them in contact with young children.
"In the interest of public safety, we hope that you will do all you can to make sure that church officials are not enabled to hide these horrific crimes again, re-victimize those already hurt, and keep kids at risk of abuse," said the letter, signed by two members of the organization's West Coast region.
It's the first major criticism of the settlement, announced Friday, of a suit alleging a 50-year cover-up by diocesan officials of priestly sexual abuse. The agreement calls for a $120 million settlement fund, the largest yet from any diocese in America since the Roman Catholic Church's sexual-abuse crisis erupted some 15 years ago.
Posted by kshaw at June 8, 2005 07:44 AM