PHILADELPHIA (PA)
KYW Radio
October 18, 2018
By Steve Tawa
Word of the federal grand jury subpoenas issued to dioceses across Pennsylvania has spread quickly among those impacted by the Catholic clergy sex abuse scandal.
Michael McDonnell, a survivor of sex abuse by two priests in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, said up until now, victims and advocates have been blocked by “a systemic cover-up by the Roman Catholic Church.”
“It’s been extremely difficult to get them to accept responsibility and to be held accountable. It’s a monumental occurrence,” he said.
McDonnell alluded to the structure of the Catholic Church itself, wherein the upper hierarchy had served at one point of time or another in various dioceses across the commonwealth.
“No one knew more, and no one did less than these bishops, auxiliary bishops and archbishops,” he added.
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