Archdiocese of San Francisco Remains the Only Diocese in California that has Not Released the Names of its Child Molesting Priests
The Archbishop also Recently Joined the Other California Bishops to Ask the United States Supreme Court to Overturn the CA Child Victims Act
(San Francisco, CA) – Today, in a live, moderated press conference, Jeff Anderson, along with survivor and advocate Joelle Casteix, will blast Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone and these dangerous decisions.
The Archdiocese of San Francisco is the only diocese in the state of California that has not released a list of clergy credibly accused of child sexual abuse. Each of the eleven other dioceses in California have publicly released a list of credibly accused clergy. The Archdiocese of Los Angeles released its first list of clergy accused of child molestation in 2004. Attorneys and advocates sounded the alarm during press conferences in 2018 and 2021, demanding that the Archdiocese of San Francisco list be released immediately to protect kids. In 2018, Archbishop Cordileone promised the public that he would release the names of the credibly accused clergy in the Archdiocese of San Francisco.
“San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone has chosen to stonewall the necessary disclosure of the predatory priests ignoring pleas from survivors puts children at peril, protects offenders and protects themselves,” said attorney Jeff Anderson.
Thousands of survivors in California have taken legal action under the California Child Victims Act (AB 218) against predators, schools, youth service organizations and Catholic Bishops. Hundreds of predators have been exposed through lawsuits. The Catholic bishops filed a petition with the U.S. Supreme Court asking to overturn the California Child Victims Act, which gave survivors a chance to go to court and expose dangerous predators and the institutions that protect them.
“The Archbishop’s choice to join with the other Catholic Bishops in California to challenge the California Child Victims Act not only has no legal basis, but is also an intentional attempt to silence survivors,” said Anderson.
Anderson and Casteix will demand transparency and accountability from the Archbishop for these dangerous decisions. They also will call for immediate action and demand:
- Archbishop Cordileone immediately releases of the names of the credibly accused offenders;
- Archbishop Cordileone releases the secret files held by the Archdiocese;
- The California Bishops withdraw their petition to overturn the California Child Victims Act.
Press event to be live streamed at 1:00 p.m. PT / 3:00 p.m. CST
MEDIA NOTE: Submit requests or questions to media@andersonadvocates.com.