BUFFALO – The Department of Justice is looking into the Diocese of Buffalo as part of an investigation into abuse by priests.
The Archdiocese of Philadelphia, and the dioceses of Allentown, Erie, Greensburg, Harrisburg, Pittsburgh and Scranton acknowledged on Thursday they also had received federal subpoenas.
Several groups that represent abuse survivors said this appears to be the first federal action of this size and scope into sexual abuse by the Catholic clergy in the United States.
The federal action founded credible evidence that 301 “predator priests” abused more than 1,000 children in six dioceses since 1947.
The statute of limitations had run out on most of the crimes, and only two priests have been charged as a result of the two-year-long investigation.
The report has prompted officials in several other states to open inquiries into allegations of sexual misconduct by the Catholic Church.
