Abuse Victims to Pope: Release Names of All Church Pedophiles

WCVB
February 13, 2013

www.wcvb.com/news/local/metro/Abuse-victims-to-Pope-Release-names-of-all-church-pedophiles/-/11971628/18533692/-/11d4n8c/-/index.html

[with video]

BOSTON —A group of activists in Boston on Wednesday called on outgoing Pope Benedict XVI to speak up about the sexual abuse of children by priests. The pontiff, who is 85, announced his retirement this week.

Mitchell Garabedian, a Boston attorney who has represented dozens of victims of sexual assault, said the Pope should release the names of all priests implicated in child abuse worldwide.

Garabedian said "releasing the documents, releasing the names of pedophiles, releasing the names of the bishops who were complicit is necessary so the victims can heal. It helps victims heal when they see the truth when they’re told the truth, when there is transparency.”

Robert Hoatson, a former priest who says he is also a survivor of abuse said, “we’re hearing stories that the pope broke a 600-year tradition by resigning but he didn’t break a 600-year tradition of covering up and being transparent and being honest and being open and telling us who the abusers are. And giving us all the documents relative to all the abuse that has taken place over the past 30 years at least that he’s been in charge of the congregation of the doctrine of the faith and as the pope.”

They were joined by Robert Costello, who says he survived abuse at the hands of a priest at a church in West Roxbury.

“Pope Benedict knows everything he knows where the bodies are buried, he knows who covered up what,” Costello said.

The group called on Boston Archbishop Sean O’Malley to also release a list of priests identified as abusers.

In response, Terrence Donilan, spokesman for the Archdiocese said the cardinal released a list in 2011 and added, “The Cardinal and the Archdiocese has demonstrated great care, concern and support for survivors and their families. On this holy day of Ash Wednesday we begin Lent praying for all who have been harmed by the tragedy of clergy sexual abuse and we remain committed to the protection of children now and always.”

A third survivor of abuse, Jerry Sybeck, who says past abuse caused him to attempt suicide said, “some of us take longer than others to come forward, but it’s a fight just to even get yourself to tell people you keep that secret forever. And, once you do the floodgates open.”