NEWS RELEASE
The following is a statement from the Catholic bishops of Iowa regarding the release of a report from the state Attorney General:
Two years ago, the Iowa Attorney General asked the state’s four Catholic dioceses to submit documents related to clergy sexual abuse for a third-party review.
In the interest of transparency and accountability each diocese complied with the Attorney General’s request.
The report on the Attorney General’s review of cases was released today and will be studied for suggestions on how the efforts of the Catholic Church might be improved.
The Catholic Church is committed to do all that is humanly possible to protect minors from the sin and crime of clergy sexual abuse, and to promote healing.
Policies and procedures in place provide for responding to each allegation, cooperating with civil authorities, removing offenders from ministry, and being held accountable.
The Catholic bishops of Iowa are Bishop Thomas Zinkula of Davenport, Bishop William Joensen of Des Moines, Archbishop Michael Jackels of Dubuque, and Bishop R. Walker Nickless of Sioux City.
