By Catholic News Service • Posted August 6, 2018

PITTSBURGH (CNS) — Once it is released, a grand jury report on a months-long investigation into abuse claims in six Pennsylvania dioceses covering a 70-year span “will be a sad and tragic description of events that occurred within the church,” Pittsburgh Bishop David A. Zubik said Aug. 4.

“Permit me the opportunity to prepare you for the public release of this report and also to put it into some context,” he said in a letter to Catholics in the diocese. “I want you to know that our diocese has cooperated with the Attorney General’s Office and the grand jury. We have not attempted to block the report.”

Nearly 90 percent of all reported incidents of abuse in the Pittsburgh Diocese covered by the report occurred before 1990, Bishop Zubik said, but he added: “Every act of child sexual abuse is horrific, no matter how long ago it occurred.”

In the diocese today, he said, “I can assure you that there is no priest or deacon in public ministry against whom a substantiated allegation of child sexual abuse has been made.”

“For over 30 years, the Diocese of Pittsburgh has had policies in place to respond quickly and compassionately when victims of abuse have come forward,” he said.

“We respond to allegations today very differently than decades ago,” he explained.

Bishop Zubik also announced that the day the grand jury report is released, the diocese will release to the public the names of its clergy who have been accused of abuse.

With the release of the report, expected as early as Aug. 8 and no later than Aug. 14, “I continue to be deeply concerned about the victims and the ongoing pain and suffering they endure. We need to continue to pray with and for them, and to offer assistance wherever possible,” Bishop Zubik said in the letter, read at all Masses the weekend of Aug. 4 and 5.

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“Since becoming your bishop 11 years ago, I have met many times with victims of sexual abuse and their families,” Bishop Zubik said. “I have witnessed the lasting damage that abuse has caused in their lives. I, together with the dedicated staff of our diocese, continue in our efforts to support their emotional and spiritual care to help repair the harm they suffered.”

Besides the Pittsburgh Diocese, the other five dioceses that are the subject of the grand jury report are Harrisburg, Greensburg, Allentown, Scranton and Erie.

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled July 27 that a redacted version of the report should be released. In June, the court had put a hold on the full report being released because it said it needed to review challenges filed by “many individuals” named in the report.

“A number of the petitioners asserted that they were not aware of, or allowed to appear at, the proceedings before the grand jury,” the court said in its earlier opinion.

In its new ruling, the court said the report will be edited to protect the identities of those challenging its release.

Bishop Zubik in his letter reviewed the procedures the diocese has in place for addressing allegations of abuse.

“When a credible allegation is made against a member of the clergy, we take immediate action by removing the priest or deacon from ministry, and by sharing that news with you, the faithful. In addition, we inform law enforcement of all allegations of abuse,” he said.

“We have rigorous policies to protect children. If you have been employed by the church or have sought to volunteer in your parish or school, you have experienced our efforts to protect children through training programs and background checks. These steps have made a difference and continue to do so,” he said.

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“More people in the church are coming to better understand child abuse, and they are able to recognize the signs of possible abuse and the need to report it,” he added.

By releasing the diocese’s list of clergy accused of abuse, “it is my hope that doing so will further strengthen the trust that you, the faithful, have placed in our diocese and in the ministry of our priests and deacons,” Bishop Zubik said.

“In the past I truly believed that turning these names over to local law enforcement was appropriate and sufficient action. However, the conclusion of the grand jury investigation requires a higher level of transparency on our part,” he said.

“Every act of child sexual abuse is horrific, no matter how long ago it occurred,” Bishop Zubik said. “I ask that you join with me in praying for all victims and for their loved ones. If you know someone who is a victim, support them emotionally and spiritually. And if they have not already shared with us their experience of abuse, please encourage them to come forward.”

“I am also concerned that your faith may be tested,” he continued. “I ask, as you reflect on this report, that you stay close to God in prayer. And finally, I am concerned about the well-being of the vast majority of dedicated priests and deacons who bear the shame and the pain of the worst deeds of their peers. I ask that you pray for them, as well.”