The bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown offered an apology and a plan for reform on Thursday, two days after the release of a grand jury report that said previous bishops concealed decades of sex abuse by dozens of priests and religious leaders in the diocese.
Bishop Mark Bartchak, who was not accused of wrongdoing, spoke at a press conference in Altoona where he apologized to victims and their families as well as members of the diocesan community and the public.
“As bishop of the diocese, I extend my most heartfelt and sincere apology,” Bartchak said. “I acknowledge there are a number of recommendations made in this report involving how we respond to allegations of abuse. I take them seriously.”
Bartchak made a commitment to transparency, with a promise to continue reporting in writing all allegations of abuse to law enforcement. He also promised to keep the public informed.
“I will publish a list of all priests who have been the subject of credible allegations, along with each priest’s current status,” Bartchak said. “The list will be posted on our website.”
The grand jury’s report credited Bartchak for taking appropriate action since assuming leadership of the diocese in 2011. Bartchak has reported allegations to law enforcement, removed priests from ministry and instituted improvements to the diocese’ training programs.
He has also met with victims.
“Their words and their pain have deeply affected me,” Bartchak said. “I pledge to them and to all families to do all that I can to ensure children are safe.”
Bartchak said these are first steps. He said he will undertake a review of all diocesan policies related to protecting children and will make necessary changes.
“This review will be comprehensive and will include our training and background check programs, the diocesan review board and communication on reporting requirements,” he said.
The grand jury report, released Tuesday by Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane, said that at least 50 priests and religious leaders had sexually abused hundreds of children over a 40 year period. During that time Bishop James Hogan and his successor Joseph Adamec, who led the diocese from 1966 to 2011, are alleged to have concealed the abuse by dismissing accusations, moving priests to new locations, mandating treatment and otherwise avoid reporting numerous instances of abuse to law enforcement.
Seven of the priests named in the report served at some point in State College and Bellefonte churches.
‘The heinous crimes these children endured are absolutely unconscionable,’ Kane said in announcing the grand jury report on Tuesday. ‘These predators desecrated a sacred trust and preyed upon their victims in the very places where they should have felt most safe. Just as troubling is the cover-up perpetrated by clergy leaders that allowed this abuse to continue for decades. They failed in our society’s most important task of protecting our children.’
No indictment was handed down by the grand jury, due to deaths of alleged abusers, inability of victims to testify and statute of limitations.
The Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape (PCAR) called for a removal of statute of limitations in sexual assault and abuse cases.
“It is exasperating and maddening to know that people who have sexually abused children — children they were trusted to protect — will go unpunished because of outdated and ineffective legislation,” PCAR CEO Delilah Rumburg said. “We have had enough. Too many children and families have had their lives, health, education, relationships and faith damaged. Pennsylvania cannot continue to keep laws on the books that allow institutions the ability to cover up crimes and leave children in the care of people known to hurt them.”
Rumburg added that survivors often take significant time to report what happened to them because of feelings of fear, confusion and shame.
“Delayed reporting is normal and should be expected,” Rumburg said. “Law enforcement officials must be given the ability to take action when victims are ready, to protect those victims and to protect our entire community.”
