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PRINTER'S NO. 4019
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
1072
Session of
2018
INTRODUCED BY BURNS, MURT, TAI, DALEY, CONKLIN AND SCHWEYER,
SEPTEMBER 21, 2018
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2018
A RESOLUTION
Requesting that the United States Attorney General conduct a
comprehensive, nationwide investigation into child sexual
abuse within the Catholic Church and related institutional
cover-ups.
WHEREAS, All children in the United States have a right to
safety and freedom from physical, mental, emotional and sexual
abuse; and
WHEREAS, The Attorney General of the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania recently completed a sweeping grand jury
investigation into the alleged sexual abuse of children in six
Catholic dioceses in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; and
WHEREAS, The 40th Statewide Investigating Grand Jury Report
1, Interim -- Redacted indicates that more than 300 priests
sexually abused more than 1,000 identifiable victims over a 70-
year period; and
WHEREAS, The grand jury report details horrific abuse,
including rape, assault and production of child pornography; and
WHEREAS, The grand jury report asserts that priests, bishops
and other church leaders methodically covered up reported
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incidents; and
WHEREAS, The grand jury report further asserts that offenders
shamed or coerced abused children into silence; and
WHEREAS, The Philadelphia Investigating Grand Jury Report
into Allegations of Clergy Sexual Abuse in The Archdiocese of
Philadelphia, issued in 2005, documented rampant sexual abuse
and coordinated cover-ups by archdiocesan priests and officials;
and
WHEREAS, A 2011 Report of the County Investigating Grand Jury
XXIII indicated that Philadelphia archdiocesan leaders failed to
implement Pennsylvania Victim Advocate recommendations and
failed to protect children from clergy-perpetrated sexual abuse;
and
WHEREAS, The 37th Statewide Investigating Grand Jury
empaneled in 2014 reported that hundreds of children had been
sexually abused by at least 50 different priests in the Diocese
of Altoona-Johnstown; and
WHEREAS, The report stated: "As wolves disguised as the
shepherds themselves-these men stole the innocence of children
by sexually preying upon the most innocent and vulnerable
members of our society and of the Catholic faith"; and
WHEREAS, A 2004 study by the John Jay College of Criminal
Justice attempted to examine this issue nationally, but the
study relied on church records and reports by bishops without
broad inquiry into institutional dynamics; and
WHEREAS, The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops,
the governing body for priests then under investigation, funded
more than half the cost of the $1.8 million study; and
WHEREAS, An independent Federal body without ties to the
Catholic Church is the only entity equipped to pursue a fair,
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thorough investigation of abuse that has likely occurred in
parishes across the United States; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania request that the United States
Attorney General conduct a comprehensive, nationwide
investigation into child sexual abuse within the Catholic Church
and related institutional cover-ups; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the investigation identify:
(1) efforts by church personnel to cover up child sexual
abuse claims;
(2) settlement of victims' claims with secret civil
agreements or payouts; and
(3) retention of accused clergy in church ministries and
administration;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to
the President of the United States, the United States Attorney
General and each member of Congress from Pennsylvania.
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