‘ONGOING INVESTIGATION’

PA Bishop Called to Resign as More Abuse Allegations Emerge

Bishop Zubik is accused of covering up child sex abuse in his Pittsburgh diocese.

One of the world’s largest groups for survivors of sex abuse called on Pittsburgh Bishop David Zubik to resign Thursday, in the wake of Tuesday’s harrowing 1,356-page grand jury report on endemic clerical sexual abuse in six Pennsylvania dioceses. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that the call stems from Zubik’s refusal to admit that he was involved in the cover-up of child sexual abuse, despite “overwhelming evidence to the contrary.” In a statement cited by the Post-Gazette, the group added that “Most other U.S. bishops have admitted, at some level, in vague terms, that cover ups have happened. (We’re firmly convinced that cover ups are going on now.) In this sense, Zubik is a callous and dangerous outlier.” Zubik has rejected calls for his resignation, the Post-Gazette adds, noting that “I’m not named for any activity that would be a break of the trust that the pope places in me.” Meanwhile, Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro’s office has been flooded by additional accusations since the report’s release. Shapiro tweeted Wednesday that more than 150 people had called or emailed the hotline his office established for survivors of sexual abuse. “I’ll repeat it again,” Shapiro wrote, “this is an ongoing investigation.”