SAN DIEGO (CA)
NBC 7 TV
August 13, 2019
By Christina Bravo and Melissa Adan
Thousands of San Diego clergy members will meet Tuesday for a first-of-its-kind gathering to address sexual abuse of children within the church.
Bishop Robert W. McElroy has called for more than 2,500 San Diego area priests, teachers and administrators to attend a mandatory meeting with District Attorney Summer Stephan at the University of San Diego.
It is the first time in its history the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego has called every member of the church to order.
The meeting focuses on the steps the church is taking to address the abuse of children and was called to address the responsibilities clergy members have in reporting alleged abuse, according to the diocese.
“In our own day, the Church’s blindness to, tolerance of, and participation in the patterns of sexual abuse of minors by clerics constitute the most grievous sin in the life of the Church, a sin that we must recognize, understand and eradicate,” McElroy planned to say, according to prepared remarks.
As part of the effort to address abuse, the Bishop is expected to announce Tuesday the diocese would ban all private communication and direct social media interaction between priests and minors.
McElroy also notes the need for the Catholic Church to play an active role in educating children and parents about the prevalence of abuse and provide resources to combat what he called “an epidemic in our society.”
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