A map of the Archdiocese of Anchorage in Alaska. Map courtesy of Creative Commons (RNS) — The Archdiocese of Anchorage is launching an independent commission on sexual abuse to review all personnel files of those who have served in the region since 1966 and plans to release names of any Catholic church workers in their purview with credible sexual misconduct claims against them. The move mirrors that of other U.S. dioceses that have launched similar efforts in an attempt to respond to the ongoing sexual abuse crisis in the Catholic Church. The Alaskan announcement came just hours after Virginia’s attorney general declared his state would also begin examining accusations of child sex abuse in local dioceses. The archdiocese announced its commission Wednesday morning (Oct. 24), saying it was created by a decree the previous day by Archbishop Paul D. Etienne. It plans to review not only the files of priests and religious workers — both men and women — but also allegations of sexual misconduct by lay volunteers and employees reported to the archdiocese. In a separate open letter to the archdiocese, Etienne said the review was in response to the Pennsylvania grand jury report released in August that […]
