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KBI: 74 Clergy Abuse Investigations Underway in 33 Kansas Counties

Statue of Jesus in a Kansas Catholic church (Photo by J. Schafer)
Statue of Jesus in a Kansas Catholic church (Photo by J. Schafer)

 

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Bureau of Investigation says agents have opened 74 investigations in 33 counties into alleged sexual abuse by members of the Catholic clergy.  The KBI said it initiated the investigations after it received 119 reports from people who said they were victims of abuse. The agency announced in February that it had appointed a task force of six agents to begin reviewing allegations of abuse by Catholic clergy.  The KBI's brief update Tuesday did not provide details about the investigations, and KBI spokeswoman Melissa Underwood said no arrests have been made yet.  The Archdiocese of Kansas City, Kansas, and the Diocese of Salina reported earlier this year that they had substantiated credible allegations of abuse against 50 clergy dating back as far as 1907.  The KBI's brief update, released today (TUE), did not provide details about the investigations, and KBI spokeswoman Melissa Underwood said no arrests have been made yet.  

The Archdiocese of Kansas City, Kansas, and the Diocese of Salina reported earlier this year that they had substantiated credible allegations of abuse against 50 clergy dating back as far as 1907.  The Dodge City Diocese previously published the names of four priests against whom the Diocesan Review Board had received complaints that were substantiated.  Those priests were John Haberthier, Donald Straub, Orestes Huerta, and Mario Islas. None of these priests were engaged in ministry at the time the complaints were received by the Diocesan Review Board.  

Read more about this story, from the Kansas News Service.
 

 

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