Names of child sex abusers among Seattle clergy released

SEATTLE — The names of child sex abusers among Seattle clergy and religious service members was released in 2016 by the Archdiocese of Seattle.

All named individuals have served or resided in western Washington – and have allegations that were either admitted, established or determined credible, according to the archdiocese.

Those on the list served between 1923 and 2008.

KEY DEVELOPMENTS:

Archdiocese of Seattle released list of child sex abusers among clergy.
Those named served 1923 – 2008.
30 archdiocesan & 16 religious priests, 14 religious brothers, one religious sister, two deacons & 14 priests from other dioceses.
Fewer than 4 percent of priests of Archdiocese of Seattle who served during time span covered were named in list.
Scroll down to see map of of churches, schools & hospitals in Wash. where child sex abusers, serving as priests, worked on assignment.

>> Find, read the entire list of named child sex abusers.

Seattle Archbishop J. Peter Sartain apologized on behalf of those who abused minors.

“I will continue to pray for all survivors of sexual abuse, and deeply regret that vulnerable individuals in the Church’s care have been harmed,” wrote Sartain in an attached letter.

Fewer than 4 percent of the priests of the Archdiocese of Seattle who served during the time span covered were named in the list.

>> Read the letter from Archbishop of Seattle, J. Peter Sartain.

Sartain, who became Archbishop of Seattle in Dec. of 2010, said it was a priority to familiarize himself with the issue of sexual abuse of minors and to learn of the area’s historic responses.

According to Sartain’s letter, the Archdiocese of Seattle was one of the first in the country to publicly acknowledge the devastating impact of this type of abuse and undertake significant preventative measures.

The named members on the list have served or resided in the Archdiocese of Seattle.

Among those listed are 30 archdiocesan and 16 religious priests, 14 religious brothers, one religious sister, two deacons and 14 priests from other dioceses.

Asked if there was the Archdiocese of Seattle was under any legal pressure to release the list, spokesman Greg Magnoni said, “No.” He said it took a former FBI agent two years to scour church records.

“The review that we did was comprehensive. All the files that are germane to this issue were researched and reviewed. I would say that with the files that we currently have, the records we currently have, this list is complete,” Magnoni said.

After being stonewalled by the church for so long, survivors are skeptical.

“I don’t think the list is complete,” said Mary Dispenza of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests. “I think it would be an error for us to think that, because there are lots of reasons why any organization would try to put the minimum.”

Any survivors of sex abuse who have not previously come forward are encouraged to do so – by contacting the Archdiocese of Seattle’s Pastoral Outreach Coordinator at 1-800-446-7762 or email at hotline@seattlesearch.org.

>> Details of service, assignments of named child sex abusers.

The following archdiocesan priests are listed in the disclosure: