AG requests documents related to potential abuse by priests at LC Catholic Diocese
New Mexico Attorney General’s Office has requested documents related to potential abuse by priests from all three Catholic dioceses in the state: Santa Fe, Gallup and Las Cruces, a spokesman from the Las Cruces Diocese confirmed.
“I welcome that and I hope that we can have a positive way forward,” Diocese of Las Cruces Bishop Oscar Cantu said. “These cases, sad as they are, are helping us to tighten our procedures so that we can always give the benefit of the doubt to the victims, to the survivors.”
ABC-7’s New Mexico Mobile Newsroom has learned the letter, dated September 4, 2018, requests access to Las Cruces diocesan personnel files, including those of clergy who previously served in the Diocese, in order to review any possible material related to the sexual abuse of minors past and present.
“I believe law enforcement failed. I believe the New Mexico legislature didn’t do a good job in having laws that protected these kinds of victims in the pass generations,” Balderas told the ABC-affiliate in Albuquerque, KOAT. “That’s an honest conversation that i want to begin to engage the entire community.”
The Diocese of Las Cruces said it currently has two pending lawsuits regarding sexual abuse with priests.
“The loss of faith in the church is very understandable. I share the anger. I share the disappointment,” Cantu said. “I am hopeful that this will be a good cleansing of a wound in the history of our church so that we can all heal together.”
The Associated Press reports the review follows a recent grand jury report stating more than 300 Catholic priests abused at least 1,000 children over the past seven decades in six Pennsylvania dioceses, and senior figures in the church hierarchy systematically covered up complaints.
The Diocese of Las Cruces is encouraging anyone who is the victim of sexual abuse by clergy or church personnel to contact Margarita Williams at 575-523-7577.
