PENNSYLVANIA
Washington Times
By The Associated Press
Thursday, March 3, 2016
ALTOONA, Pa. (AP) – The bishop of a Pennsylvania Catholic diocese apologized Thursday and promised reforms two days after the attorney general released a scathing report on clergy sex abuse of children involving allegations against dozens of priests.
“I acknowledge there are a number of recommendations made in this report involving how we respond to allegations of abuse. I take them seriously,” Bishop Mark Bartchak said from a prepared statement at a news conference.
Bartchak heads the Altoona-Johnstown diocese, home to more than 90,000 Roman Catholics in eight counties in central Pennsylvania.
A hotline Attorney General Kathleen Kane created to solicit information about additional victims has gotten more than 100 calls since she issued her 147-report based on secret diocesan archives and other sources on Tuesday.
Among other things, Bartchak promised to publish a list of all priests who are the subject of credible abuse allegations on the diocesan website, as well as their ministerial status. The bishop also promised a “full review of our diocesan policies and procedures regarding child protection and will make all changes that should be made.”
The diocese will review its training, background checks and procedures for reporting of abuse allegations to law enforcement. It will also examine the diocesan review board, whose members appointed by the bishop vet abuse allegations.
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