Colo. Priest Sex Abuse: Attorney General Announces Investigation

DENVER, CO — The Colorado Attorney General's office announced an independent review of parish records in all three dioceses of the Catholic Church in Colorado to prepare a public report about priest sexual abuse in Colorado since 1950, AG Phil Weiser's office said Tuesday.

With the cooperation of Denver Archbishop Samuel Aquila, the project was described as a "joint initiative intended to support and comfort survivors of the sexual abuse of minors by Catholic priests."

“The sexual abuse of minors is a societal problem that demands attention and action. I am pleased the Church has recognized the need for transparency and reparations for victims," Weiser said in a press release. "This independent review promises a full evaluation and inquiry. For any victims of sexual abuse, this will provide a recognition of past wrongdoing and offer an opportunity for healing.”

The independent review will be overseen by former U.S. Attorney Robert Troyer, with the "full voluntary cooperation" of the three dioceses in Denver, Colorado Springs and Pueblo, the AG's office said on Tuesday.

Former Attorney General Cynthia Coffman initiated the review process last fall after a Pennsylvania grand jury report found that 300 priests had been convincingly accused of sexually abusing about 1,000 victims in the state's eight dioceses.

“It is my sincere hope that the independent review we announce today validates survivors of sexual abuse by priests and empowers them in their ongoing recovery," Coffman said in a press release. "All survivors deserve to be believed and supported on their road to healing. I am encouraged that the Catholic Dioceses of Colorado have voluntarily agreed to this review by an outside party that, hopefully, allows victims an opportunity to have some healing and helps the Church and its faithful move forward from a place of truth and vigilance.”

The AG's office said the review was "not a criminal investigation." If the review discovers any criminal conduct, it will be "immediately reported to the appropriate law enforcement authorities and included in the public report," the AG's office said.

The report is expected to be released by the fall of 2019.

According to the AG's office the report will include the following:

• The names of Diocesan priests with substantiated allegations of sexual abuse of minors;
• Details of the substantiated allegations of abuse, including the assignments of abusive priests and the years during which abuse is alleged to have occurred;
• A review of the historic response of the three Dioceses to allegations of abuse; and,
• A review of the Dioceses’ current policies and procedures for preventing abuse and responding to allegations of abuse.

The dioceses will pay half the fees for the independent review, with the other half being paid by "private donors identified by the Attorney General’s office," the AG's office said.

The Denver diocese has said that there has not been a credible instance of priest sexual abuse since 2002, according to the Denver Post.

But the Jesuit Central and Southern Province announced in December that a student had brought a credible claim of sexual abuse by a priest at Regis High School in Denver as recently as 2008. A total of eight priests affiliated with Regis High School had credible sexual abuse claims, the province said. Those men are not counted as employed by the Denver diocese.

The three dioceses have agreed to fund an "independent, voluntary reparations program developed and administered by two claims administrations experts," the AG's office said. The claim administrators will review individual cases – including cases that are barred by the statute of limitations – and make financial awards to victims who choose to participate. Former U.S. Senator Hank Brown will chair the committee overseeing the claims, which will be assessed by the committee without the input of the Colorado dioceses.

“My colleagues around the country have responded to the Pennsylvania Grand Jury Report in a variety of ways. Today, we are announcing a Colorado solution that is collaborative, enhances transparency, and provides victims access to support services and compensation. I want to thank the Bishops for working with my office to achieve these positive steps,” Weiser said in a statement.

“The damage inflicted upon young people and their families by sexual abuse, especially when it’s committed by a trusted person like a priest, is profound," Archbishop Avila said in a statement. "While this process will certainly include painful moments and cannot ever fully restore what was lost, we pray that it will at least begin the healing process. We also acknowledge that the bright light of transparency needs to shine on the Church’s history related to the sexual abuse of minors. With humility and repentance, we hope the programs announced today offer a path to healing for survivors and their families.”

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