Abuse group visits Charleston Diocese

Asks for names of Catholic clergy, staff sex offenders to be released

Asks for names of Catholic clergy, staff sex offenders to be released

Representatives from the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests passed through the Lowcountry on Friday to ask the Catholic Diocese of Charleston to release the names of all Catholic clergy and staff known to be sexual offenders.

Ann Brentwood, SNAP's Southeastern U.S. director, said the recent class settlement is not likely to benefit all those who were victimized in the diocese. Many fail to step forward, she said, and many remain unaware of the settlement if they live out of state. The terms of the settlement agreement required that notices be published only in South Carolina.

SNAP's appearance in Charleston, one of several stops on an advocacy tour of the South, was meant to draw attention to the issue and encourage victims to speak out.

Settlements are good and bad, she said. They potentially help victims, but they typically close the case, forbidding further legal action.

"When they settle, we don't get access to information anymore," she said.

Meanwhile, Brentwood said, some perpetrators are going about their lives. Perhaps they have left the church, perhaps they have been reassigned to another diocese. People deserve to know their whereabouts, she said.

"We're asking the administrator (of the Diocese of Charleston) who they are, where they are and what their status is," Brentwood said. "I think it's the responsibility of the diocese to tell the people."

Diocese spokesman Steve Gajdosik said all known cases of sexual abuse have already been reported to authorities. He said it is inappropriate to publicize unsubstantiated allegations.

"Would it be a just thing for the diocese, as soon as anyone calls with any allegation against any employee, to rush to provide the public with that name?" he said. "If it's not a credible allegation, then it shouldn't be (made) public."