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Court blocks release of Catholic priest grand jury report

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court on Wednesday blocked the release of a grand jury report on child sexual abuse in six Catholics dioceses statewide, including the Diocese of Erie.

The court’s order reads:

“And now, this 20th day of June, 2018, the Applications for Stay are GRANTED. The Honorable Norman A. Krumenacker, III, and the Office of the Attorney General are enjoined from releasing Report No. 1 of the 40th Statewide Investigating Grand Jury pending further order of this Court.

The instant order is unsealed. All other materials at these docket numbers are not presently publicly available.”

The Erie Diocese released a statement in reaction to the court order Wednesday evening. The diocese says they did not seek a stay, and they support the release of the report.

The statement reads:

“Bishop Lawerence Persico and the Diocese of Erie did not seek a stay of the publication of the grand jury report, and thus cannot comment on the merits of the legal arguments of others. As demonstrated from the recent revisions to our Policy for the Protection of Children, we are committed to transparency.

We anxiously await the Supreme Court’s decision on this matter, and support the release of the report which will give victims a voice. Until the report is released, we will continue our efforts to identify abusers and provide counseling and assistance to victims.”

Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro originally said in a May statement that he planned to release the report by the end of June.

Shapiro issued another statement shortly after the court’s ruling.

“Just moments ago, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania accepted legal challenges to the issuing of a grand jury report detailing widespread sexual abuse within the Catholic Church. In an unsealed order, the Supreme Court has issued a stay of proceedings to review and decide those challenges,” Shapiro said. “My legal team and I will continue fighting tirelessly to make sure the victims of this abuse are able to tell their stories and the findings of this investigation are made public to the people of Pennsylvania.”

A former City of Warren priest is among a list released by the Erie Diocese of priests who are no longer allowed to engage in public ministry or represent themselves as priests.

The diocese listed 51 priests and other employees and volunteers, living and dead, who had been “credibly accused of actions that, in the diocese’s judgment, disqualify that person from working with children,” according to the Friday release, and another three who are currently under investigation by law enforcement.

Fr. Salvatore P. Luzzi, who served as priest at St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church in Warren from 1979 through 1995 is among the list of living priests. Luzzi is “forbidden to function as a priest.”

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