Survivors and advocates respond to AG Ferguson’s announcement of court order to obtain abuse evidence from Archbishop Étienne
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MAY 9, 2024
CONTACT:
Tim Law
Catholic Accountability Project Founding Member
Ending Clergy Abuse (ECA) Board Member
206-412-0165
timalaw@aol.com
Mary Dispenza
Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) Northwest Director
Catholic Accountability Project Founding Member
425-941-6001
mcdispenza@comcast.net
Survivors and advocates of the Catholic Accountability Project (CAP) praise Attorney General Bob Ferguson for his announcement that his office is seeking a court order to obtain abuse-related documents and evidence from Washington State’s three Catholic dioceses, led by Archbishop Étienne of Seattle. Ferguson announced that the Washington State bishops have not shared any documents or evidence of abuse that has not already been made public after sending subpoenas to the bishops both last summer and this spring.
CAP urges Ferguson to also subpoena the state’s religious orders for documents related to widespread sexual abuse by their clergy members in Washington State. Three such orders have published lists of offenders, many of whom also served in Washington State’s diocesan parishes:
The Jesuits West have named 133 abusive clergy
The Edmund Rice Christian Brothers of North America have listed 49 abusive clergy
The Franciscan Friars Conference of Santa Barbara have listed 76 abusive clergy
At Ferguson’s press conference this morning, CAP members urged the Attorney General to additionally use diplomatic means to obtain documents and evidence from the Vatican archive. Per Church law, all abuse cases and related documents and evidence are required to be shared with the Vatican. In 2019, Pope Francis lifted papal secrecy, requiring that Catholic bishops cooperate with law enforcement by sharing evidence of abuse. Archbishop Étienne is not just refusing to cooperate with the Attorney General’s office, but violating the Pope’s policy.
CAP members met with US Ambassador to the Holy See Joe Donnelly last October to discuss his office’s facilitation of the transfer of abuse-related documents and evidence to US law enforcement from the Vatican.
Survivors and advocates are encouraged to hear that Attorney General Ferguson has promised to protect whistleblowers with information about abuse and its institutional concealment by calling 833-952-6277.
CAP is urging victims, concerned Catholics, and whistleblowers to report their abuse, and share their experiences and concerns, as well as any other relevant documents and evidence by calling this number.
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