Pittsburgh Diocese also plans to name priests and deacons accused of sexually abusing children

Aug. 05--The Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh says it too will be releasing the names of clergy against whom allegations of child sexual abuse of a minor have been made.

The announcement was made in a letter to from Bishop David Zubik that was distributed this weekend to be read in all parishes.

Zubik said the names will be made public when the report of a grand jury that has been investigation child sexual abuse in six Pennsylvania dioceses is made public.

"You can expect that the Grand Jury's report, once released, will be a sad and tragic description of events that occurred within the church," he wrote.

The grand jury report could be released as early as this week, and no later than Aug. 14.

Zubik's letter comes three days after Bishop Ronald Gainer of the Diocese of Harrisburg released the names of 71 priests and religious who have been accused of sexual abuse over the years. Gainer said he had intended to release the list in 2016, but was asked to delay that while the grand jury investigation was continuing.

Gainer also ordered that the names of anyone accused, and of any bishops who served since 1947, be removed from any places of honor on diocese property.

The Allentown diocese also said this week it would make public the names of accused clergy on the day the grand jury report is released. The Diocese of Erie earlier this year became the first to make such a list public.

Zubik, in his letter, noted that 90 percent of all reported incidents of abuse in the Pittsburgh diocese occurred before 1990.

"We respond to allegations today very differently than decades ago," he said. Once an allegation is made, he said immediate action is taken to remove the priest or deacon from ministry. None of the accused on the diocese list is today in active ministry, he said.

"Every act of child sexual abuse is horrific, no matter how long ago it occurred. I ask that you join with me in praying for all victims and for their loved ones," he wrote in the letter.

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