PROVIDENCE (RI)
NBC 10
POSTED: 6:16 pm EDT August 16, 2005
UPDATED: 6:39 pm EDT August 16, 2005
The NBC 10 I-Team has learned that criminal background checks have been requested for more than 10,000 employees of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence, including priests.
In addition, the I-Team has uncovered a new allegation of sex abuse of a minor by a Catholic priest.
Following the most recent Conference of Catholic Bishops in Dallas in June, sweeping changes were made for checking the criminal backgrounds of priests.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence is the second-largest private employer in the state, with more than 10,000 workers, including priests and deacons. For the first time, men of the cloth will be checked for previous crimes.
"Article 13 of the charter expanded that also to include priests and bishops and deacons," Providence Diocese Monsignor John Darcy said.
Darcy said following the sex abuse scandals of the past -- especially in Boston and Providence -- the criminal background checks will go a long way to restore the faith of the doubting faithful in their priests and deacons.
Posted by kshaw at August 16, 2005 06:09 PM