Bishop lists priests accused of sexually abusing minors

In a list accompanying a letter to the faithful of the Diocese of Wilmington in the Nov.16 Dialog, official newspaper of Diocese of Wilmington, the bishop also includes the names of two living priests from other dioceses who ministered here and were accused of sexual abuse elsewhere.

The list does not include when or where the abuse occurred or how many minors were involved.

Of the 20 priests listed, the names of 10 had previously been released publicly, either by the diocese or by media outlets, as The Dialog went to press. The list does not include names of any accusedreligious-order priests who worked in the diocese.In his letter, Bishop Saltarelli says he is disclosing the names after"extensive consultation" with the Diocesan Review Board, the largelylay panel formed to comply with the U.S. bishops' Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People issued in 2002.

The bishop cites the recent arrest in Syracuse, N.Y., of Francis G.DeLuca, a priest who formerly served in this diocese, as one reason he decided to publish the names. DeLuca, 77, was arrested last month andcharged with sexually abusing a Syracuse boy, now 18, for several years from when the boy was 12 or 13 until he was 17. DeLuca was removed frompublic ministry in 1993 and was allowed to retire to Syracuse, hishometown. The diocese said Oct. 26 that it has asked the Vatican topermanently remove DeLuca from the priesthood, a process known aslaicization.

"I am deeply troubled, and profoundly regret, that a priest of thisdiocese, removed from ministry so many years ago, has once againsexually abused a minor," the bishop writes. "I am deeply sorry forthis, and apologize to the victim and his family for their suffering."By disclosing the names and locations of other living priests withsubstantiated allegations against them, the bishop adds, "we perhaps insome way may help prevent or deter any further incidents."

His second reason for releasing the names, the bishop writes, "is tocontinue the efforts of our diocese to encourage victims of clericalsexual abuse to come forward and seek help. The first obligation of thechurch is to assist in the healing of these victims."

Information about the eight living diocesan priests on the list waspreviously disclosed to law enforcement agencies in Delaware andMaryland, "depending on where the alleged abuse occurred," the bishopwrites. "All of these living priests were removed from ministry between1985-2003, and the names of all but two of them were previouslydisclosed publicly by the diocese or others."

The diocese also previously informed civil authorities in Delaware orMaryland of the allegations against all of the deceased priests.

Last year the diocese reported that it had received credible orsubstantiated allegations involving 20 diocesan priests. The bishopsaid he is not releasing the names of two of those priests, bothdeceased, because "although the allegation against each of thesepriests was credible, in the judgment of the Diocesan Review Boardneither of these complaints has yet been substantiated."

The bishop says "it is with some hesitancy" that he is disclosing thenames of the deceased priests. "The priests can no longer harm anyone,and several of them died before they were accused. I regret any furthersuffering that their victims may endure as a result of this disclosureand any sorrow or embarrassment that their families and friends mayexperience." By identifying those priests, the bishop writes,"[perhaps] some of their victims may be motivated to seek help."

In his letter the bishop reports that the diocese spent $112,697 insettlements, victims' assistance and legal fees between October 2005and October 2006.

Since the U.S. bishops addressed the clergy sex-abuse scandal at ameeting in Dallas in 2002, only a handful of U.S. dioceses havereleased the names of priests and other church workers charged withsexual abuse or found to have had credible accusations against them.

Since the bishops formulated the Charter for the Protection of Childrenand Young People four years ago, four annual audits have found theDiocese of Wilmington to be in full compliance with the charter.

In his letter, Bishop Saltarelli discusses the steps the diocese hastaken to protect children, including: background checks of allemployees and volunteers who have regular contact with minors;strengthened standards of ethical behavior for church personnel andvolunteers; implementation of a Safe Environments programs withtraining of parish, school and other institutional staff in recognizingand preventing child abuse.

"The abuse of children by priests and other clergy is shocking andreprehensible," Bishop Saltarelli writes. "Victims and their familieshave suffered devastating harm. The faithful of the Church and theoverwhelming number of good priests who serve them also have sufferedthrough this crisis. I reaffirm my commitment to deal effectively andappropriately with complaints of sexual abuse of minors by priests,deacons and other Church personnel. I recommit myself to care for theemotional, pastoral and spiritual well-being of those who havesuffered, and to take all appropriate steps to prevent any furtherabuse of children and young people."