Grand jury in 2005 and aftermath Sexual abuse scandal in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia




1 grand jury in 2005 , aftermath

1.1 cover-up cardinals krol , bevilacqua
1.2 role of cardinal rigali in 2005
1.3 actions of bishop cistone

1.3.1 aftermath in saginaw, michigan


1.4 john mcdevitt affair
1.5 use of penile plethysmograph
1.6 mary achilles
1.7 monsignor accused , cleared





grand jury in 2005 , aftermath
cover-up cardinals krol , bevilacqua

on september 21, 2005, 10 years after death of cardinal john krol, grand jury, empaneled philadelphia district attorney lynne abraham, announced cardinal krol involved cover-up of sex scandal against accused priests throughout archdiocese, successor 1988-2003, cardinal anthony bevilacqua. sex scandals in archdiocese of boston, krol , bevilacqua transferred accused priests other parishes throughout archdiocese.


using records subpoenaed archdiocese, jury examined “secret archive” files 169 priests , 2 deacons. expose extent of abuse , continuous, concerted campaign of cover-up , jury documented 63 examples of abuse , abusers assigned @ times of attacks. grand jury demonstrated nobody prosecuted due pennsylvania’s statute of limitations , other conditions protect archdiocese being criminally accountable.


three weeks 2012 lynn trial, philadelphia inquirer editorialized clear outlines of alleged cover-up ... far bevilacqua had emerged in testimony. while judge compelled cardinal testify in closed hearing in november, 2011, before trial, neither prosecution nor defense used of testimony in trial. cardinal died in january, 2012.


role of cardinal rigali in 2005

cardinal justin francis rigali adopted policy of laicizing accused , confirmed investigations. cardinal rigali, in cooperation district attorney abraham , other district attorneys throughout archdiocese, started practice of both internal archdiocesan investigations, external criminal investigations.


cardinal rigali staunchly defended actions of 2 predecessors, krol , bevilacqua, when named sponsors of cover-up september, 2005, grand jury.


actions of bishop cistone

according 2005 investigation, while serving assistant vicar administration in 1996, joseph r. cistone involved silencing nun tried alert parishioners @ st. gabriel parish abuse priest. according report, there several other instances of priest sexual abuse cistone complicit in covering up. report indicated cistone concerned public relations ramifications of sexual abuse. report showed when sex abuse victim demanded meet cardinal bevilacqua, cistone refused request, saying allowing sex abuse victim meet cardinal set precedent. when these revelations became public, cistone expressed sorrow mistakes in judgment. however, cistone refused discuss matter further, saying, [i]t not serve purpose revisit grand jury report , endeavor recall rationale past decisions made in specific cases.


aftermath in saginaw, michigan

a week after being named lead diocese of saginaw, cistone asked mid-michigan newspaper reporter grand jury investigation , reported role in covering instances of sexual abuse. cistone expressed unhappiness how little opportunity had been given respond report, saying, unfortunately, grand jury procedure, followed in philadelphia, did not allow opportunity address such questions offer explanation or clarification. cistone expressed surprise had not been questioned grand jury report during introductory press conference , told reporter, had come up, have addressed it.


on june 9, 2009, group of survivors of clergy abuse protested cistone s appointment outside saginaw diocese office. members of survivors network of abused priests (snap) demanded cistone hold public forum explain actions described in 2005 grand jury report. snap president barbara blaine said actions had taken because, innocence of children shattered needlessly because of action , inaction of bishop. in response group s calls transparency, cistone said, if wants go , rehash church may have done based on knowledge , experience or lack of experience church had, well, s ok, s not productive. s productive can move forward.


john mcdevitt affair

a 2009 suit claims rev. john m. mcdevitt, religion teacher @ father judge high school boys, abused richard green 6 months in 1990 , 1991, according report new york post. @ time, victim s uncle, cardinal john joseph o connor, served archbishop of new york.


use of penile plethysmograph

during abuse scandal, reliability of penile plethysmograph questioned officials in archdiocese of philadelphia. later, these officials chose seek therapy @ institution plethysmograph not used. this, though officials made aware of fact test used experts , believed of value in diagnosing sexual disorders. later, grand jury found archdiocese of philadelphia s decision had effect of diminishing validity of evaluations , likelihood priest diagnosed pedophile or ephebophile.


mary achilles

in 2006, archdiocese hired mary achilles, state s first victim advocate, review treatment of victims after 2005 grand-jury report highlighted abuse more 50 priests on 50 years. achilles, among other involvements in field, has worked on subject of restorative justice professor howard zehr of eastern mennonite university.


monsignor accused , cleared

in 2011, unidentified monsignor accused of sexual abuse time vicar of christ king parish in northeast philadelphia in late 1960s, , again while principal of school in warminster, pennsylvania.


he denied both allegations, , church investigation determined charges unsubstantiated , [s]uitable ministry .








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