Latest probe of church abuse is warranted

In an August editorial about a list of 15 priests accused of sexual abuse who had served in the Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg, we wondered whether that list represented “just the steeple of a massive cathedral of corruption and exploitation.”

That, sadly, is what was found in the Altoona-Johnstown when the state attorney general’s office conducted an investigation.

Do we see that playing out again in still another part of the state, this time Harrisburg?

It’s impossible to say from the outside.

And the Harrisburg Diocese has not been transparent or forthcoming.

Diocese officials grudgingly confirmed the names of 15 priests accused of sexual abuse who had served in this region in response to inquiries.

But we knew from previous news reports that 24 accused priests had served in the diocese.

Who were the others not included in the 15? Church officials refused to say.

Later, three more accused priests were confirmed by the diocese.

But the numbers still don’t add up. We know 18 names. But clearly there are more. How many more? Why not provide that information to the public?

Doing so shows survivors of clergy sexual abuse that the church is truly committed to full transparency about this horrible problem - and to making amends to those who have been wronged. Naming abusers validates victims’ suffering. And in some cases, it prompts other victims to come forward and tell their stories to law enforcement and church officials.

Sadly, this all too often has been the case with the church, not just in Harrisburg, but other areas of the state as well. It took two investigating grand juries and criminal charges against a monsignor to finally spur the Archdiocese of Philadelphia to change policies that for years seemed more intent on protecting the reputation and bottom line of the church - than young victims of sexual abuse.

Confession, church officials should know well, is a necessary step toward redemption.

So why has the Harrisburg diocese been so opaque?

Is that short list just the tip of the iceberg, the steeple of a cathedral of corruption?

The only way to truly find out is for law-enforcement officials to investigate and make the results of that inquiry public as happened in Altoona-Johnstown.

In August, we said the state attorney general’s official should launch an investigation.

Subpoena the Harrisburg diocese. Look at the records. Determine whether the church has acted properly in protecting parishioners from abusive priests.

Have officials engaged in the appalling practice of shuffling abusers around, which has led to criminal charges against high-ranking officials in Philadelphia and elsewhere? We need to know. Victims need to know. Well, such an investigation is underway.

Last week, news broke that the AG’s office is conducting a grand jury investigation into the Harrisburg Diocese, as well the dioceses of Allentown, Erie, Greensburg, Pittsburgh and Scranton. Good. It’s about time. After what we’ve seen in Philadelphia, Boston, Altoona and elsewhere, this investigation is well warranted.

Although the AG’s office has not commented on the inquiry, it appears to be a broad look at what’s been going on behind parish walls in Pennsylvania.

In the wake of the grand jury news, the Harrisburg diocese has simply confirmed it had been subpoenaed and reiterated that it wants to help victims of clergy sex abuse — urging them to come forward.

Amen to that.

But those words would be more convincing if the diocese had been more forthcoming all along.