PENNSYLVANIA District attorney's probe of church abuse grows aggressive, witnesses say
The focus is whether church officials failed to protect children.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Prosecutors examining how the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia handled clergy accused of molesting children have been seeking out alleged victims and questioning church officials in what some say is an increasingly aggressive investigation.
Church officials, experts on sexual abuse and people who allege they were molested by priests have been called to testify before a grand jury convened more than two years ago by Philadelphia District Attorney Lynne Abraham to review both new and decades-old allegations involving city priests.
It is examining whether church officials failed to report accusations against clergy or knowingly reassigned them to new parishes without taking steps to protect children.
Both Abraham's office and the archdiocese declined to discuss the probe this week, but witnesses asked to testify before the panel said prosecutors appear to be accelerating their work.
"I've been impressed at their lack of fear," said the Rev. Thomas Doyle, a canon lawyer who has been an outspoken national critic of the church's handling of abuse cases, and who has appeared before the grand jury several times to help interpret the church's record-keeping system.
Who's testified
Cardinal Anthony J. Bevilacqua, who retired as Philadelphia's archbishop last year, has also appeared before the grand jury, as have other church officials, according to a person with knowledge of the case who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The cardinal's appearances before the panel were first reported last week by The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Attorneys Richard Serbin and Jay Abramowitch, who represent several people suing the archdiocese over alleged abuse, said a number of their clients have either appeared before the grand jury or met with detectives investigating the case.
John McDonnell, who says he was molested along with his two brothers by a priest in the late 1950s, confirmed that he was among those who had testified.