Religion   

Archdiocese Of New York Names 120 Clergy 'Credibly Accused' Of Child Sex Abuse

           

           

                   

   

       

           

                St. Patrick's Cathedral is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York, which has released a list of 120 clergy members "credibly accused" of child sexual abuse.                                                           

       

               

                    Spencer Platt/Getty Images           

  

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York released the names on Friday of 115 priests and five deacons who have been "credibly accused" of sexually abusing children.

In a letter to members and family of the archdiocese, New York's archbishop, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, asked forgiveness "for the failings of those clergy and bishops who should have provided for the safety of our young people but instead betrayed the trust placed in them by God and by the faithful."

The disclosure from one of the largest archdioceses in the nation follows similar revelations in recent months that further exposed the depth of a decades-long abuse crisis in Catholic communities across the United States. Last August, for example, a grand jury investigation revealed widespread sexual abuse by more than 300 priests in Pennsylvania. In February, Roman Catholic bishops in New Jersey  and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn also provided lists totaling nearly 300 clergy members who faced accusations of sexual assault.

The revelations have come as the Catholic Church continues to face criticism that it systematically covered up allegations of child sex abuse by clergy members.

Included in the release from the New York Archdiocese were the names of 53 priests and deacons who were credibly accused of abuse, admitted to abuse, were convicted of a crime related to abuse or were involved in a civil settlement. Most on the list were removed from ministry, deceased or both, the church said.