SAN DIEGO (CA)
NBCSanDiego.com
POSTED: 6:00 pm PDT June 8, 2005
UPDATED: 9:00 pm PDT June 8, 2005
SAN DIEGO -- A full-page advertisement ran in The San Diego Union Tribune Wednesday urging the San Diego diocese to come clean about past allegations of sexual abuse.
The letter was signed by victims of alleged sexual abuse in the church. It asked that the diocese release all documents relating to abuse by clergy over the last 60 years. It also asked the diocese to stop legal maneuvering on cases that have already been filed.
"The public's safety is what's on the table," said Jaime Romo, of the Survivor's Network of those Abused by Priests. "The bishops have said they would be transparent, and they have not been."
Three years ago, the statute of limitations on filing a sex abuse case against the church was lifted, clearing the way for some 140 cases to be filed in the San Diego's diocese alone, NBC 7/39 reported. Last month, the diocese went to court to challenge that law, claiming it is unconstitutional and unfairly singles out the church.
Wednesday, the catholic diocese released a statement saying the diocese wants to reach fair financial settlements with victims of clergy sexual abuse.
Posted by kshaw at June 9, 2005 06:26 AM