Oklahoma City Archdiocese to disclose clergy abuse reviews
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August 31, 2018
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The Archdiocese of Oklahoma City has released plans to disclose all credible allegations of child sexual abuse by priests who have served under it.
The Archdiocesan Review Board on Wednesday approved two reports proposed by Archbishop Paul Coakley and Chancellor Michael Scaperlanda. The board was created in 2002 as part of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, a set of procedures established by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops to address child sexual abuse allegations.
The first report will include a review of priests' files from 1960 to 2018 and should be completed in 10 to 12 weeks, Coakley said. A second report that covers files before 1960 will be issued at a later time, the Oklahoman reported.
"An internal and independent review of previous allegations is a good place to start," Coakley said. "No matter how painful this process may become, I am committed to reviewing and sharing the specifics of these cases."
The archdiocese's disclosure plans call for Scaperlanda to review every file for priests who have served in the Oklahoma City Archdiocese since 1960. Any file with an abuse or child sexual abuse allegation will be turned over to attorney Ron Shinn for independent review, according to the archdiocese.
Shinn's law firm will then issue a report with the information from each case and provide an analysis of the archdiocese's responses and actions over the years. The report will be published online and sent to all priests, deacons and parish staff, according to church officials.
The announcement comes weeks after the release of after a scathing Pennsylvania grand jury report that found that about 300 Catholic priests in that state abused at least 1,000 children over the past 70 years.
"This is a very dark moment in the history of our beautiful, but wounded, Catholic Church," Coakley said. "We are called to prayer and penance for the purification of the Church and our bishops and priests must set the example."
Incidences of past or present abuse can be reported to the Abuse of Minors Pastoral Response Hotline, the archdiocese said. Individuals must report an incident or suspicion of child sexual abuse to law enforcement under state law.
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Information from: The Oklahoman, http://www.newsok.com
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