Bishop Jaime Soto released the following statement today after the joint announcement by the California Catholic Conference and Washington, DC Attorney Kenneth Feinberg that 6 California (arch)dioceses have asked Feinberg to create and administer an Independent Victims Compensation Program to provide material help and support to Victim/Survivors of priestly sexual abuse. The six (arch)dioceses are Sacramento, Fresno, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Orange and San Diego. Copies of that announcement, an FAQ and related materials are available here.

SACRAMENTO—Bishop Jaime Soto today published a list of 44 priests and 2 permanent deacons from the Diocese of Sacramento that have been credibly accused of sexually abusing 130 minors or young adults, aged 25 and under. The list is based on a review of the personnel records of nearly 1,500 bishops, priests and permanent deacons conducted by diocesan staff and an independent consulting firm retained by the diocese. It spans seven decades, from 1950 to the present time.

“This list is heartbreaking. It is a sickening and sobering account of the history of sex abuse by clergy in our diocese,” said Bishop Soto. “It is repulsive to see the evil acts that were perpetrated upon innocent children and young people entrusted to our care.