PITTSBURGH (PA)
KDKA
Sep 27, 2005 5:37 pm US/Eastern
Pittsburgh (KDKA) A grand jury in Philadelphia issued a blistering report about child sexual abuse by Catholic priests in their diocese last week.
A former Pittsburgh bishop is being held accountable.
A group representing victims was lobbying prosecutors in Pittsburgh to convene a grand jury on similar cases.
The group calls itself "Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests," or "SNAP."
The Philadelphia grand jury's report was damning - particularly the actions of former Pittsburgh Bishop, now Cardinal, Anthony Bevilaqua. The investigation found that during Bevilaqua's time as leader of the archdiocese there he allegedly covered up dozens of cases of priests sexually abusing children.
SNAP members were passing out flyers in Oakland before noon mass at St. Paul Cathedral.
“Only a fool would believe that somehow Bevilaqua's behavior changed radically when he went to Philadelphia,” said SNAP director David Clohessy. “Of course, he was doing the same things here.”
Juliann Bortz of Allentown contends that she was molested at age 13 by a Catholic priest and that it still haunts her.
“He took his collar off and said, 'while we're here don't call me Father, call me Frank,” said Juliann Bortz, one of the alleged victims. “Oh it affected every part of my life.