NORTH DAKOTA
InForum
By Archie Ingersoll
FARGO – Over the years, nearly 30 Roman Catholic dioceses around the country have publicly disclosed a list naming priests accused of sexually abusing children.
Sometimes these lists held no surprises – the priests named were already known as alleged predators. But often these lists revealed new names, shedding light on dark corners of the church.
Airing these names is a step Catholic officials usually take only when faced with a court order or some other external pressure. But regardless of the motivation, victim advocates say publicizing the names for all to see is crucial because it can prevent future abuse and can help survivors heal.
In the past few years, Minnesota has seen several dioceses forced to release lists of accused priests due to lawsuits filed as a result of a temporary suspension of the state’s civil statute of limitations in child sexual abuse cases.
Most U.S. dioceses, however, have not coughed up a list.
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