Statement from Elk County Catholic School System regarding the April 6, 2018, Diocese of Erie press conference
Elk County Catholic School System is deeply committed to the safety and security of our students, faculty, and staff. We adhere to strict standards and follow all state and Diocesan standards in crafting our policies to comply with best practices in the education field.
With regard to recent developments, the Diocese of Erie has revised its Policy for the Protection of Children and Youth. The revision calls for the publication of names of people who have been credibly named in past allegations of abuse. ECCSS supports Bishop Lawrence Persico’s revision to this policy and is committed to offering our assistance in any investigation. Bishop Persico has said that the goal is to get to the truth, to protect children and to provide healing for victims. We join him in pursuit of that goal.
According to Bishop Persico’s statement: “The Diocese of Erie is one of six Pennsylvania dioceses that was subpoenaed by the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s office in September 2016. With the help of outside lawyers and investigators, we have reviewed any files we could find that had anything to do with inappropriate behavior by people — both clergy and lay — working for the diocese itself, as well as any Catholic school or agency in the diocese, between 1947 and 2018.”
As Bishop Persico pointed out in his statement, the details surrounding these individual cases are in the hands of the state attorney general. The current administration of ECCSS cannot provide more information because we simply do not know the results of the investigation. We are not conducting it ourselves. Independent agencies are conducting it. Bishop Persico anticipates that the attorney general will eventually release more details as the investigation winds down. In the meantime, we pray for comfort for those who are hurting, that they may find strength and peace in God’s love.
Finally, we share the following important statement from the Diocese of Erie, which encourages anyone who experienced or knows of abuse to report it to authorities who can help people heal and achieve a sense of justice:
Statement of the Diocese of Erie on the protection of children and vulnerable adults
Pastoral care and compassion for victims, as well as the protection of children and vulnerable adults, is a top priority of the Diocese of Erie. The diocese encourages anyone who has experienced sexual abuse or misconduct by a member of the clergy or any employee or volunteer of the church to contact law enforcement. To report abuse to the independent investigators retained by the Diocese of Erie, email ErieRCD@KLGates.com. In addition, victims or concerned individuals can report abuse to ChildLine, an outreach of the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, by calling 800-932- 0313. The line is open 24/7, and callers may choose to remain anonymous. Victims also are welcome to contact the diocese directly to report abuse at 814.451.1543. Counseling assistance is available for victims and/or their families through the diocesan victim assistance coordinator, Dr. Robert Nelsen, who can be reached at 814.451.1521.
For more details on how the Erie Diocese, its churches, and its schools are cooperating with the statewide grand jury investigation, see Bishop Persico’s full statement here: http://eriercd.org/pdf/Statement4-16-18.pdf.
