CHARLOTTE — Bishop Peter Jugis issued a statement in response to information presented by two representatives from Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) in a press conference they conducted April 2 across from the Diocese of Charlotte Pastoral Center.
Rene Anctil and Wendy May, now of Raleigh, are both survivors of childhood sexual abuse by clergy that occurred outside of the Diocese of Charlotte.
They distributed information with the names of five priests who have been accused of abuse that occurred outside the Charlotte diocese.
The names have previously surfaced in lawsuits or on lists of clergy with credible allegations published by other dioceses.
“The Diocese of Charlotte would like to thank SNAP for its efforts on behalf of the victims of sexual abuse and urges anyone who has been a victim of abuse to report it to the authorities,” Bishop Jugis said in a statement issued April 2.
“As we have done since the passage of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People in 2002, we will review this and any new information about alleged incidents of abuse or misconduct that comes to us from any source to determine if a credible allegation exists.”
Anctil suggested that April, which is Child Abuse Prevention Month, is an opportune time for the diocese to show its concern for the welfare of children by making public a list of credibly accused clergy.
Bishop Jugis noted that since 2002, the diocese has made public all allegations of clergy sexual abuse of minors within the diocese that have been determined to be credible following investigation by the diocese’s Lay Review Board.
He has said publication of a list of other credibly accused clergy is under discussion.
— SueAnn Howell, senior reporter
Pictured: Rene Anctil and Wendy May talk to reporters across the street from the Diocese of Charlotte's Pastoral Center in Charlotte April 2. (Photo by SueAnn Howell, Catholic News Herald)