Victims Want Names of Abusive Charleston Priests Published

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — Victims of childhood sexual abuse are renewing calls for the statewide Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston to publish a list of priests accused of misconduct with minors.

Local media outlets report that Barbara Dorris of Saint Louis, the outreach director for the national Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, says the release is long overdue.

There are at least five lawsuits filed in Charleston County claiming abuse dating to the 1960s. The diocese said in 2014 that 32 priests have been accused of having abused minors in its jurisdiction since 1950.

The call for releasing the names comes after the Archdiocese of Seattle released a similar list this month.

The Charleston diocese said in a statement Tuesday that the release of dead priests’ names won’t help protect children.

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