PROVIDENCE (RI)
Church Militant
August 22, 2018
By David Nussman
Current RI prelate served under Wuerl in Pittsburgh, knew of abuse claims
Bishop Thomas Tobin is disclaiming responsibility for sex abuse matters during his time in the diocese of Pittsburgh under then-Bishop Donald Wuerl.
Tobin, current bishop of Providence, Rhode Island, was vicar general and general secretary of the Pittsburgh diocese in 1990 and was auxiliary bishop from 1992–96.
The Pennsylvania grand jury released August 14 faulted Wuerl for covering up clerical sex abuse and shuffling predator priests among parishes. Of the 301 priests and religious the report accuses of sexually molesting children, 99 were from Pittsburgh.
In a statement distributed to Rhode Island reporters following the release of the grand jury report, Bp. Tobin said that, in his chancery roles, he “became aware of incidents of sexual abuse when they were reported to the diocese.”
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