If anyone in the state has an allegation about child sexual abuse that happened in the past by a Catholic priest, Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi wants to know about it.
Bondi's office has set up what it calls a Stop Abuse Complaint Form and posted it online.
Bondi said Thursday that at least 15 victims of abuse have already come forward to state authorities.
She said her office has already talked to the seven bishops who oversee Roman Catholic dioceses in the state. She also said that authorities are preparing to issue subpoenas in the case.
“Any priest that would exploit a position of power and trust to abuse a child is a disgrace to the church and a threat to society,” Bondi said in a statement. “I am calling on victims and anyone with information about potential abuse to please report it to my office. Victim information will be kept confidential in accordance with state law.”
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is assisting the Florida Attorney General's Office.
“FDLE will work with the Office of Statewide Prosecution and State Attorneys to independently review records of the Catholic Church to ensure any allegations have been reported and investigated,” FDLE Commissioner Rick Swearingen said in a news release.
Bondi's office said she decided to set up the tip page after a grand jury report in Pennsylvania detailed allegations of past sexual abuse by more than 300 priests.
Bondi said the tip page is part of an ongoing investigation into all seven Catholic dioceses in the state.
Bondi stressed that if someone is being abused currently they need to call 911.
The Diocese of Palm Beach said it welcomes the state inquiry and issued this statement:
The Diocese of Palm Beach will fully engage with the Florida Attorney General in an inquiry pertaining to the protection of young people. We are very pleased that Florida is initiating an effort which pertains not only to the Church but to all organizations and institutions. In fact, the Diocese of Palm Beach has been cooperating with the State Attorney even before the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops established the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People in 2002, by directly reporting an allegation of abuse to that office, no matter how long ago it may have occurred.
The protection of young people is a priority for the Diocese of Palm Beach, which will be evident to the State personnel as they review the Diocesan policies and procedures. We have always been in full compliance with the Charter as evidenced by the extensive independent professional audit conducted each year. We welcome the opportunity to share our safety initiatives and zero tolerance policy. The Diocese of Palm Beach is optimistic that the proactive policies and procedures in effect will aid the State in assisting other organizations and institutions in providing protocols for the protection of children and young people.
The Diocese of Palm Beach is committed to sustaining its comprehensive initiatives to protect young people and to utilizing the most useful developments in the field of child protection. Currently, all Diocese of Palm Beach church personnel (priests, deacons, religious, seminarians, deacon aspirants, employees, independent contractors, and those volunteers whose duties include contact with minors) are required to submit a Level 2 criminal background investigation, which is updated every five years. This policy applies even if an individual has been cleared through an FBI or FDLE check conducted by their employer or another non-Diocesan entity. In addition, all church personnel, are required to successfully complete safe environment training through the VIRTUS training program. They also must sign and comply with the Diocese’s Code of Pastoral Conduct.
To learn more about the Diocese of Palm Beach’s continued commitment to the safety of young people please visit www.diocesepb.org/safe-environments. As always, the hotline to report abuse is available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, at 1-800-96ABUSE (1-800-962-2873). A Diocesan hotline for reporting abuse by any church personnel is also available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, at (561) 801-0999.
Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.
