Advocacy group claims Catholic Bishops were subpoenaed to produce abuse-related evidence
Denise Whitaker | KOMO News | February 13th, 2024
OLYMPIA, Wash. — New information shared with KOMO News indicates that leaders of Washington’s Catholic dioceses were subpoenaed, but KOMO directly asked the Attorney General's office, which declined to comment.
Two groups, Ending Clergy Abuse and Catholic Accountability Project (CAP) gathered outside the Attorney General's office in Olympia, calling for action.
“It's time for truth-telling. If not now – when? I'm 83 years old. I want to see change,” said Mary Dispenza, with the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests (SNAP).
Dispenza told KOMO News she was just seven when a priest raped her. She is now working alongside others demanding change and investigations by the Attorney General.
“The victims can’t do it on their own,” said Tim Law, a founding member of the Catholic Accountability Project.
Victim advocacy groups said the Washington State Attorney General's Office issued statewide subpoenas. However, Brionna Aho with the Attorney General's Office told KOMO News that the “office generally does not comment on ongoing investigations, including confirming or denying their existence.”
CAP told KOMO News that a reliable source told them subpoenas were sent to Archbishop Etienné of Seattle, Bishop Tyson of Yakima, and Bishop Daly of Spokane.
The group claims those subpoenas were sent back in August, seeking abuse-related documents and evidence. KOMO News asked the Seattle archdiocese to comment. Spokesperson Helen McClanahan responded:
"Your question is about the action of the Attorney General’s office and would be best addressed to them."
The CAP was formed of lay Catholic leaders demanding justice for survivors of clergy abuse. They penned a letter together with Ending Clergy Abuse to Attorney General Bob Ferguson and took it in person to Olympia.
KOMO News was there when they asked reception to hand deliver it up to Ferguson's office, but instead, Aho came to get it from them. Aho, when Law presented it to her and asked, “ Could you help us? Could you answer about the investigation?”
“The answer we’ve been providing today is that we don’t comment on investigations, including confirming whether they exist,” responded Aho.
That is the same response she emailed KOMO News earlier in the day.
“Why can’t he tell us that he’s receiving full cooperation from the bishops?” said Law.
While waiting for answers, the letter the group delivered to Ferguson's office, includes 4 demands:
Establish a hotline for victims
Compel church leaders to testify and produce evidence
Pursue criminal prosecutions
Issue a final, public report
“Very few victims have the capacity to speak up and be public about this, so it has to be done by their attorney their Attorney General,” said Law. The CAP also said they will present survivors of abuse in faith-based organizations and advocates calling for justice.