By Reporting Marty Griffin
CBS Pittsburgh
December 15, 2011
http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2011/12/14/new-details-emerge-after-priest-arrested-on-child-porn-charges/
[with video]
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PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – A local priest who was arrested on child pornography charges was allegedly traveling overseas to an area notorious for its sex industry.
Sources close to the investigation told the KDKA Investigators that Fr. Bartl Sorensen travelled to Amsterdam several times.
This information, along with thousands of new images found in Fr. Sorensen’s bedroom has investigators concerned he may have had sexual contact with children.
According to sources, investigators are now looking through thousands of pornographic images found following a search of the rectory at St. John Fisher Church.
Numerous photo albums depicting local boys at Catholic Church functions including picnics and swim parties were also allegedly found.
Sources told KDAA-TV’s Marty Griffin that Fr. Sorensen took several trips alone to Amsterdam which is a European city noted for, among other things, its sex trade industry.
Griffin talked to Pittsburgh Catholic Diocese Bishop David Zubik before police found this new information.
“All of the information that I have, .there is no indication there was ever any kind of personal interaction with children,” Bishop Zubik said.
Fr. Sorensen was arrested Saturday night at St. John Fisher Church in Churchill. He told detectives he was looking at photographs of young boys and admitted he has other pornographic literature as well.
The bishop calls the allegations sickening and said he wants all 206 parishes in the diocese and their computers to be monitored.
“I had a conversation with the district attorney and I talked to him about my concerns that the diocese’s computers could be used in the workplace for regular pornography,” Bishop Zubik said.
While the diocese tries to determine how to find close to a $1 million to put that plan into place, sources confirmed that federal investigators are likely to take over the Fr. Sorensen case.
According to Griffin’s sources, federal prosecution of the case brings with it mandatory sentencing for this case. Considering the evidence the FBI is looking at right now, Fr. Sorensen would most likely spend the rest of his life in prison if found guilty.
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