The New York attorney general’s office launched a civil investigation into every Catholic dioceses in the state over allegations of a possible widespread coverup of clergy sexual abuse of children.
The Charities Bureau of the Attorney General’s Office is leading the probe because church entities are non-profit institutions. The bureau will look into how the Catholic dioceses and other church entities reviewed and potentially covered up allegations of child sexual abuse by priests.
In a statement Thursday, Attorney General Barbara Underwood said “the Pennsylvania grand jury report shined a light on incredibly disturbing and depraved acts by Catholic clergy, assisted by a culture of secrecy and coverups in the dioceses.”
The grand jury report identified 301 predator priests who allegedly sexually abused over 1,000 children in six dioceses in Pennsylvania. The incidents happened over the past seven decades. The report also alleged that Catholic Church leaders committed a pattern of systemic coverup to avoid scandal.
