By Nancy Phillips
Philadelphia Inquirer
October 16, 2005

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/local/states/new_jersey/counties/camden_county/12912026.htm

[See also Craig R. McCoy and Nancy Phillips, Camden Diocese Escapes Scrutiny; and Nancy Phillips and Craig R. McCoy, Profiles of 25 Priests Who Are Accused of Sexual Abuse]

To Camden Bishop Joseph A. Galante, the sex-abuse problem in the Catholic church and the hierarchy's botched handling of it over the years amount to "institutional sin."

"I think all of us have to face that this has been a part of church life and be sorry for it and face it and apologize," Galante said an interview.

Bishop Joseph A. Galante offers deep condolences to victims of clerical abuse. "In the name of the church, they deserve an apology," he said.

Galante is apologetic about the church's failings, in contrast to leaders of the Philadelphia Archdiocese, whose lawyers angrily labeled "anti-Catholic" the recent critical grand-jury report on sex abuse.

"The pain, the suffering that was inflicted on so many young people was horrible," he said. "... In the name of the church, they deserve an apology."

In one of his first acts as bishop, Galante, who took over the diocese in April 2004, wrote letters to every known abuse victim. So far, he's met with two dozen and apologized.

Galante said he was reviewing all abuse cases and weighing whether to identify publicly all the offenders.

There are 33 in all; 10 are dead.

"I know this much: They're not a threat to anybody," he said of the deceased. "My concern is about the living."

Galante helped write the bishops' charter on prevention of sexual abuse. Early on, he said he made certain that no abusive priest remained in ministry in the diocese.

The church continues to offer counseling to abusers - even those who have been defrocked.

"Just to turn somebody loose on society and say, 'Well, they're not my problem,' " would not be right, Galante said. "They're our problem. They're everybody's problem."

The Camden Diocese now reports all abuse allegations to prosecutors, no matter how old and regardless of whether the church considers the allegations credible, Galante said.

"I don't want any cover-ups," he said.

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Contact staff writer Nancy Phillips at 215-854-2254 or at nphillips@phillynews.com.