PITTSBURGH (PA)
Penn Live
9/27/2005, 6:47 p.m. ET
By SEAN D. HAMILL
The Associated Press
PITTSBURGH (AP) — During a private meeting Tuesday with three clergy sex abuse victims, Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala Jr. did not rule out convening a grand jury similar to one that investigated the Philadelphia Archdiocese.
The impromptu, hour-long meeting with Zappala surprised and pleased members of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, or SNAP, who had only hoped to leave a letter with the county's top prosecutor.
"It was a real honest exchange," said David Clohessy, SNAP's national director and himself a victim of abuse by a priest. "We just hope we see some real concrete follow up."
He said Zappala promised to read the 418-page report released by a grand jury last week that roundly criticized how the Philadelphia Archdiocese dealt with sexual abuse allegations.
"I hope he uses his bully pulpit and makes a public comment about it," Clohessy said.
In an interview after the meeting, Zappala said he wasn't sure a grand jury was warranted in Allegheny County, but he will ask his counterpart in Philadelphia "why it was warranted there."