Thirty-one names on Youngstown Diocese clergy abuse list

The Youngstown Diocese is making public a list of priests who have been removed from their ministries over credible allegations of sexual abuse.

At a 10 am Tuesday news conference, Bishop George Murry announced that of the more than 1,000 men who have been priests and other religious leaders in the five-county diocese since it was founded in 1943, 31 men have been found to have had credible inappropriate incidents.

Bishop Murry said former FBI agents investigated 73 complaints about alleged abuse in the Diocese.

The investigators make recommendations to the bishop and a board made of attorneys, Catholic and Lutheran pastors, representatives from Children Services and others. 

Bishop Murry tells 21 News that legal counsel advised the diocese to only release the names of the priests, and not what parishes they worked at, or when they served there. 

However, Murry says he has since chosen to defy legal counsel and will furnish a list of the parishes each priest or clergyperson worked at. 21 News will be providing an update once those parishes are made public. 

Clergy of the Diocese of Youngstown against whom credible, substantiated allegations of sexual abuse of a minor have been made:

Clergy of the Diocese of Youngstown against whom credible allegations of sexual abuse of a minor have been made after the accused was deceased:

Clergy from Religious Orders against whom credible, substantiated allegations of sexual abuse of a minor have been made while serving in the Diocese of Youngstown:

Clergy from other Dioceses against whom credible, substantiated allegations of sexual abuse of a minor have been made and who have subsequently reside in the territory of the  Diocese of Youngstown.     

Non-Clergy from Religious Orders against whom credible, substantiated allegations of sexual abuse of a minor have been made while employed in the Diocese of Youngstown:

The bishop has said that all of the parishes and schools where the priests in question had been stationed were notified in writing and were invited to contact the diocese if they knew of someone who had been abused or abused themselves.

The Bishop is asking anyone who has been abused to come forward and speak with the diocese victim assistance coordinator retired Sergeant Delphine Baldwin-Casey at 330-718-1388.”

Bishop Murry says he has welcomed Mahoning County Prosecutor Paul Gains to review files that the Diocese has on priests who have been credibly accused of sexual abuse.

Bishop Murry said that in many cases, victims declined to prosecute their alleged abusers. Instead, saying they just wanted them out of the ministry.

Below is a portion of the news release from the Diocese:

Bishop George V. Murry, S.J., of the Catholic Diocese of Youngstown has announced the list of names of those who have served in the Diocese of Youngstown since its establishment in 1943 who have been credibly accused of sexual abuse of a minor and who have been reported to civil authorities.

Bishop Murry states, “I am very sorry that the Church has failed to act aggressively to eliminate this evil. I humbly ask forgiveness from the victims and their families for the grave mistakes the Church has made.”

For the purpose of this list a “credible accusation” against a priest or deacon who has served in the Diocese of Youngstown is an accusation that, after a thorough investigation and review of available information, appears more likely true than not in the judgment of the Diocesan Review Board, and is accepted as credible by the bishop.

The Diocese of Youngstown is committed to comply with local law enforcement and with the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People established by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in 2002. The Charter contains a comprehensive set of procedures for addressing allegations of sexual abuse of minors by Catholic clergy, along with areas that assist the diocese in efforts to provide preventive measures designed to keep minors safe from harm now and in the future. Also included are guidelines for reconciliation, healing and accountability.

Through ongoing education, the Diocese of Youngstown strives to empower people to create and maintain safe environments for our children and youth. Bishop Murry explained, “that as painful as the process of voluntary disclosure of names is for parishioners where these men served, this is one way that we can offer support and dignity to the survivors of clergy sexual abuse and their families.”

This list will be supplemented based upon any future determinations of credible allegations.

Youngstown is one of several dioceses around the country promising to release the names of clergy members accused of abuse.