My dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:
As you know, there is a Statewide Grand Jury Report on clergy sexual abuse in six Catholic dioceses in Pennsylvania, including the Diocese of Allentown. The release of that Report has been held up because of legal challenges. No one knows how long the Report will be delayed, so I am writing today to provide you with some information on this important issue.
I would like you to know that the Diocese of Allentown has cooperated with the Grand Jury and the Attorney General, and has done absolutely nothing to delay or block the Report, or to support anyone who is trying to do so.
In fact, my sincere wish is that the Report is released as soon as possible. The information it contains will be difficult to hear. However, this information does need to be heard, and it needs to be used by all of us to accomplish our shared goal: the elimination of child abuse in the Church and wherever it occurs in society.
I am certain that this delay has been heartbreaking for the victims and survivors of abuse, some of whom have courageously told their stories to the Grand Jury. My heart goes out to them, and I pray every day that they will soon be on a path to healing.
What is important to understand is that most incidents of abuse in the Allentown Diocese date back decades, and offending priests are either no longer in active ministry or are deceased. In the past, the Church did not always deal with abuse and abusers in the way it does now.
Much has changed since that time. Today, in the event of an allegation of abuse, we take immediate action to notify law enforcement and remove the priest from ministry, and we deal with the issue transparently in cooperation with law enforcement. Victims and survivors are heard and cared for, perpetrators are held accountable, and children are protected.
Regardless of when the Grand Jury Report is issued, we will use the information it contains to improve even further our robust protocols, safeguards, background checks, and training, all designed to prevent abuse from occurring, and to protect children and young people.
Our first priority is, and always will be, to keep our children safe.
Wishing you and your family all the blessings and faith of the Holy Family, especially in difficult times, I am
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Most Reverend Alfred A. Schlert
Bishop of Allentown
