AUSTIN (TX)
KUT Radio News
January 31, 2019
By Laura Rice
On Thursday, 15 Texas Catholic dioceses plan to release a list of bishops, priests and other Catholic clergy who, according to the church itself, have been “credibly accused of sexually assaulting minors.”
The list is reported to include those alleged of abuse as far back as the 1950s; for many of these cases, it’s the first time they’re getting any public scrutiny. There are more than 4.5 million Catholic Texans, according to the Texas Almanac, and it’s the single largest religious community in the state.
The church itself is making the determination of whether an accusation is credible or not, and the release of the list doesn’t mean any criminal charges have been filed against the alleged abusers. In a church newsletter obtained by Houston TV station KPRC, which is set for release on Sunday, church leaders appear to anticipate fallout among parishioners. “There is no excuse for such acts, and clergy should be held to the highest standard.”
Many have been waiting for this day since last October when the church announced it was preparing the list. Patti Koo leads the San Antonio chapter of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests. Despite the potential fallout from the lists, Koo says it will also be an empowering experience for abuse survivors.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.