My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Today we are releasing the names of priests who have been credibly accused of sexual abuse or misconduct involving a minor since 2008.
This list brings up-to-date “The Report to the People of God.” First published in 2004 and updated in 2005 and 2008, the report documents more than 70 years of allegations of abuse against priests in the Archdiocese.
This was a sad and shameful chapter in our history. But it was also a time of reform.
In the past two decades, we have put in place an effective system for reporting and investigating suspected abuse by priests and for removing offenders from ministry. We have also established an extensive program of education and background checks to make sure our children are safe and cared for in our parishes, schools and ministries.
What we release today shows that in the past 10 years, there have been two cases of misconduct by priests of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles that involve current minors. These cases were previously made public, at the time the allegations were first received.
In each of these two cases, the priest was immediately removed from ministry and the allegations against him were reported to law enforcement. The allegations were then investigated by the Archdiocese and the findings reviewed by our independent oversight board. Upon receiving the board’s conclusions that the accusations were substantiated, we initiated procedures to assure that these two priests would never again be entrusted with ministry.
We owe it to the victim-survivors of abuse to be fully transparent in listing the names of those who perpetrate this abuse.
And again I want to make this appeal: if you, or anyone you know, has suffered abuse by a priest or someone affiliated with the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, I urge you to call our Victims Assistance Ministry at (800) 355-2545 or visit our website: protect.la-archdiocese.org.
In coming forward, you have my assurance that your voice will be heard, and you will find compassion and understanding. The one you allege to have hurt you will be removed from ministry while your allegations are fully investigated by law enforcement and by our oversight board.
To every one of you who has suffered abuse at the hands of a priest, I am truly sorry. Nothing can undo the violence done to you or restore the innocence and trust that was taken from you. I am humbled by your courage and ashamed at how the church has let you down.
On behalf of the church, I ask your forgiveness, while understanding how hard it is to forgive when one has suffered such deep wounds at the hands of those you should have been able to trust.
With the assistance of courageous abuse survivors, and through the dedicated commitment of church leaders, staff, and volunteers, we have witnessed a dramatic reduction in incidences of abuse over the last two decades, in Los Angeles and across the country.
Still, every case of child sexual abuse is one too many, a crime committed against an innocent soul, a sin that cries out to heaven for justice, reparation, and healing.
We must remain committed and vigilant at every level of the church to creating safe environments for our children and reporting and investigating allegations of misconduct and removing perpetrators from ministry.
The healing of victims and survivors of abuse — every one of you — is my priority.
Finding the ability to trust again is a slow and difficult journey. But I promise I will walk that journey with you, along with the whole family of God here in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
May we find hope in Jesus Christ, may the Blessed Virgin Mary be a mother to us all, and may God grant us peace.
Archbishop José H. Gomez is the fifth and current archbishop of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Visit his website at www.archbishopgomez.org. You can follow Archbishop Gomez daily via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
[PHOTOGRAPH: Archbishop José H. Gomez, pictured with Dr. Heather Banis, victims assistance ministry coordinator for the archdiocese, addresses the media at a press conference Dec. 6. (PABLO KAY/ANGELUS)]
