Diocese of San Jose Releases Statement Following New Charges on Ex-priest
By Alexa Mae Asperin
Diocese of San Jose Bishop Patrick McGrath is speaking out after new charges were announced against former priest Hernan Toro. 90-year-old Toro is currently jailed on accusations of molesting two girls between 2011 and 2015. He is one of 15 former priests within the Diocese of San Jose who have been found credibly accused of sexually abusing children. The statement from the Diocese of San Jose is as follows: "Bishop McGrath is saddened and infuriated that additional innocent children are the recent victims of horrific acts by Hernan Toro, who was permanently banned from ministry in 1990. Bishop is relieved that the parents had the courage to notify law enforcement and that the authorities have arrested Toro. Diocese was notified of the additional charges and Toro's location Friday afternoon. Prior to the Dallas Charter (more about The Charter can be found in FAQ #8), these cases were handled differently based on the clinical psychological standards at the time of their convictions. We now know, based on the current psychological best practices, that returning these men to ministry was a misguided attempt at rehabilitation and the Diocese has abolished this practice as part of Zero Tolerance established by the Dallas Charter of 2002. The Diocese thanks the members of the media for bringing these charges to our attention as it leads to a safer environment for all. We encourage any victims/survivors of abuse by clergy, who have not previously come forward, to do so by contacting the local law enforcement – police department or sheriff’s office – and then to make a report to our Office for the Protection of Children at 408-983-0113 or opcva.ethicspoint.com. The identities of victims are always kept confidential."
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