McALLEN (TX)
The Monitor
February 2, 2019
By Cristina M. Garcia
The Cameron County District Attorney’s Office announced its plans Friday to launch an “inquiry” into the Catholic Diocese of Brownsville’s list of 13 priests the church deemed “credibly accused” of sexually assaulting children in Hidalgo and Cameron counties.
“Our office will be conducting an inquiry into this matter to determine what criminal justice actions may or need to be taken in response to this disclosure,” Cameron County District Attorney Luis Saenz said in a statement, adding his office reviewed the diocese’s list of clergy members who “have been accused of sexual abuse of children while they served in the Rio Grande Valley.”
The Brownsville diocese, encompassing the Rio Grande Valley, released its list of clergy members Thursday, an action taken simultaneously with all other Catholic dioceses in Texas.
All of the seven living priests on the list were assigned to churches in Hidalgo and Cameron Counties. The six other priests on the list have died.
An investigation would mean the district attorney’s office can subpoena testimony or records in the Catholic Church’s possession in preparation for a potential criminal case against the accused priests, according to Patti Koo of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priest, or SNAP, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting victims.
“This is exactly what we want,” Koo said.
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