Diocese Statement on New Demands
SAN DIEGO (January 2, 2020) – While we cannot respond to specific information in these lawsuits, five of the six men named in today’s press conference were known sexual predators whose names have been posted on our website . All are deceased. Two belonged to Catholic orders (Koerner and Brown) and were not priests of the diocese. The sixth, Alexander Pinter, worked briefly in San Diego in the early 1960s, then moved to the Diocese of Oakland. The Diocese of Oakland posted Pinter’s name on its list of priests who had been accused, but the Diocese of San Diego never received a complaint about him.
At least one of these men was rightly sentenced to prison for their crimes. We offer our deepest apologies and prayers to his victims and to all victims of clergy sexual abuse.
Notwithstanding legal issues, we have a moral obligation to provide help to any victim-survivor of abuse and we urge your attorney to contact us so we can arrange for counseling at our expense. There are no preconditions and this offer continues regardless of whether a lawsuit is filed against the diocese.
Child sexual abuse is an act of evil, no matter when it occurs. As a result of reforms implemented beginning in 2002 — including mandatory training for all clergy and all diocesan employees, annual training for students in Catholic schools and religious formation programs, strict background checks and enhanced oversight — there has not been a new incident of child abuse reported in nearly 20 years.
Information about the steps the diocese has taken to prevent and report abuse can be found on our website at www.safeinourdiocese.org .
Finally, we encourage any victim-survivor of sexual abuse to participate in the Independent Compensation Program established last year as an additional avenue to file a legal claim. There is no cost or obligation to victims, it is confidential, and they do not have to be US citizens. If they participate in this bilingual program and decline an offer of compensation, they have not given up their right to pursue their claim in court. In most cases, a qualifying victim will receive an offer of compensation within 90 days of filing their claim.
Contact : Aida Bustos – 619-850-1384 Mobile