CHARLOTTE (NC)
Charlotte Observer
January 10, 2019
By Tim Funk
Dozens of Catholic dioceses and religious orders across the country have, in recent months, released lists of priests who have been credibly accused of child sex abuse over the years.
In North Carolina, the 54-county Raleigh diocese published its list in October. But the Charlotte diocese, which includes the rest of the state, hasn’t yet.
The state’s attorney general, Josh Stein, says the Charlotte diocese should follow the lead of the others. “I believe that transparency is important,” Stein told the Observer, “not only for families that came into contact with the named priest, but to restore confidence in the institution itself.”
The Charlotte diocese remains undecided about whether to join that “stampede,” as its spokesman called the big increase in such lists since August. That’s when a Pennsylvania grand jury report shocked many Catholics by identifying nearly 300 “predator priests” in that state going back decades.
Why no list so far from Charlotte?
For starters, said David Hains, who speaks for Charlotte Bishop Peter Jugis, there’s concern that a list might further hurt victims.
“There is no empirical evidence that publishing a list brings comfort or aid to a victim,” he said. “(Some Catholic priests) have obviously done a lot to harm victims. We don’t want to pile on and do more.”
The diocese is also torn about what should and should not be on such a list. “There is no standardized approach,” said Hains.
Should the list include, for example, any deceased priest who was accused after he died? “There’s no way that he can defend himself,” Hains said.
But about 60 percent of the 1,000-plus priests named in lists released since August are dead, according to an examination by the Associated Press.
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