PENNSYLVANIA
StateCollege.com
About 150 calls have been made to a hotline to report information related to abuse by religious leaders in the Altoona-Johnstown Diocese, Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane said today.
The phone line, manned by investigators from the attorney general’s office, was established last week when a 147-page grand jury report was released detailing child sexual abuse by dozens of priests over at least 40 years and allegedly concealed by diocese leaders. The report included priests who served at State College and Bellefonte churches.
“The victims need to be heard,” Kane said. “In many cases, they have waited years to speak about the abuse they suffered. We want to assure them that they will be taken seriously.”
Kane said many of the calls have been placed by individuals who had not previously spoken with investigators and said they were abused by religious leaders in the diocese. Numerous calls were from senior citizens.
The hotline — 888-538-8541 — is answered by investigators from 8 a.m.-9 p.m.
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