SANTA ROSA (CA)
Press Democrat
January 18, 2019
North Coast Catholics waited a long time for their church to name all of the local priests who sexually abused children.
A list was finally released last weekend, and to his credit, Bishop Robert F. Vasa went a step further. His list of 39 priests and deacons with ties to the Diocese of Santa Rosa includes known abusers, others who were credibly accused and two former bishops who are still under review.
Vasa said about 100 children have been sexually abused since the diocese was founded in 1962, with the most recent incidents reported in 2006 and 2008.
This is unprecedented transparency for local church leaders.
Vasa followed up with a public apology for the “evil actions” and a promise to be vigilant.
“Even when I’m fairly certain that nothing untoward had occurred, I will report it to the police because that’s the route I need to take,” he said at a Monday news conference.
That is, of course, the legal standard in California.
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