Catholic abuse probe stirs talk of New Mexico investigation
After a Pennsylvania grand jury released a massive and scathing report on the Catholic Church’s systemic cover-up of child sexual abuse by its religious leaders in that state, lawyers representing abuse survivors in New Mexico requested a similar investigation be launched here.
An Albuquerque-based law firm called on New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas to impanel a grand jury in the state to “shine a harsh spotlight on their crimes, and the institutional cover-up that went on for decades and decades, spreading tentacles even into state and local government,” according to a Aug.
28 letter.
The Brad D. Hall law firm has represented more than
100 survivors over clerical sexual abuse over the past seven years, levying accusations against priests who served in Taos County, most notably the late Father Michael O’Brien. At least 18 of the firm’s lawsuits against the Archdiocese of Santa Fe have dealt specifically with O’Brien, who served in Ranchos de Taos from 1980-81 and in Questa from 1987-89, based on archives.
A statewide grand jury could be empowered to investigate child sexual abuse by priests in the archdiocese as well as the dioceses of Gallup, Las Cruces and potentially El Paso, according to the firm.
Balderas “can seek to answer the unanswered questions that continue to linger in the minds of this state’s many Catholic citizens, and allow the grand jury to point the way toward key reform,” the letter read. “Deep-rooted reform won’t come from the Church.”
Balderas’ office has responded to Hall’s letter: “The Attorney General is very troubled by additional evidence in the Investigative Grand Jury Report, which reveals that the diocese participated in a broader conspiracy to hide priests or cover up sexual abuse resulting in victimization of New Mexicans,” said David Carl, press secretary for the attorney general.
“As such, the (office) is working closely with the Pennsylvania Attorney General to identify gaps in legal protections and will increase efforts to prioritize strengthening laws and reporting requirements aimed at preventing these large-scale tragedies moving forward. The Attorney General has not ruled out any avenues toward seeking justice for victims,” Carl said.
Pope Francis wrote a letter to the Catholic community in response to the Pennsylvania report, saying, “Even though it can be said that most of these cases belong to the past, nonetheless, as time goes on, we have come to know the pain of many of the victims. We have realized that these wounds never disappear and that they require us forcefully to condemn these atrocities and join forces in uprooting this culture of death; these wounds never go away.”