Pennsylvania officials allege widespread abuse

Pennsylvania officials allege widespread abuse

PITTSBURGH — On Aug. 14 Pennsylvania officials unveiled a report detailing accusations that Catholic priests sexually abused more than 1,000 children since the 1940s and that church officials shielded the abusers.

The 884-page state grand jury report took two years to complete and goes back seven decades. It cites allegations against 301 priests, clergy and lay teachers, 99 of whom served in the Diocese of Pittsburgh, and suggests a consistent pattern of higher ranking church officials having knowledge of the abuse and covering it up.

Some of the priests included in the report already have been convicted of sexual assault, according to Pittsburgh’s CBS affiliate KDKA.

In a press conference, the leader of the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh, Bishop David Zubik, denied any cover up. He said 90 percent of the cases cited in the report occurred before 1990 and that the church has since made changes to protect children. He said no priest or deacon with a credible allegation against them is in active ministry today. (TAB)