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February 18, 2005
Memphis Diocese identifies suspected abusers to prosecutor
MEMPHIS, Tenn. Roman Catholic Church officials in Memphis have turned over to the prosecutor's office the names of employees suspected of sexually abusing children.
Assistant District Attorney Kevin Rardin says the list of diocese employees includes priests and contains about ten names. Rardin is the chief prosecutor of child sex abuse cases in Shelby County.
Bishop J. Terry Steib (STEEB') acknowledged in 2003 the diocese had received complaints of sexual abuse involving seven priests.
Church officials gave the prosecutor the report during an hourlong meeting yesterday.
It follows a January fifth agreement in which the diocese said it would report all past allegations of child sex abuse and any that it receives in the future. The agreement covers priests and all other church employees in Shelby County.
Father Robert Ponticello, Episcopal Vicar of the Diocese, said only that the meeting had been "productive."
Rardin said the prosecutor's office will review the files and determine whether an investigation can or should follow. He said some may be bound by the statute of limitations.
Posted by Nealus at February 18, 2005 07:11 PM
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