Diocese Promises Release Of Names Of Alleged Abusers

The names of those credibly accused of sexual abuse within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend will soon be known.

Bishop Kevin Rhoades made the promise Friday afternoon, during a press conference called in response to the Pennsylvia grand jury report detailing decades of sexual abuse within the Catholic Church there.

“If the Pennsylvania grand jury report taught us anything, it’s that victims deserve to see the names of their abusers made public for all to see, for everyone to know the pain caused by these priests.”

Rhoads, a former bishop in the Diocese of Harrisburg in Pennsylvania, appeared in the grand jury report in reference to two priests accused of abuse in the decades prior to his installation as bishop there.

In one instance, he urged the Vatican to defrock one of the priests. In the second, Rhoades supported a decision to leave the priest in ministry but to be removed from all service, and to be prevented from presenting himself as a priest in public. That priest was gravely ill and had had repented, Rhoades said.

Rhoades says releasing the names is a practice only one in four diocese within the Catholic Church observe.

“It is my hope, that by releasing these names, the innocent victims of these horrific and heartbreaking crimes can finally begin the process of healing.”

He estimates the release of the names could take at least two weeks.

Rhoades has served as the bishop of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend since 2010. He replaced Bishop John D'Arcy.