The Roman Catholic bishop of Birmingham, Alabama, Steven J Raica, has come under scrutiny for his handling of child sexual abuse allegations against priests during his prior roles in Michigan. A report by Michigan’s state attorney general revealed that Raica dismissed credible allegations of abuse against a priest in Lansing, Michigan, later settling out of court by church officials.
The report detailed how Raica received reports of at least 17 Lansing priests molesting children while he worked in the diocese. In one case, Raica dismissed allegations against a priest, John Slowey, for lack of evidence, only for the church to later find the allegation credible and settle out of court.
Additionally, Raica defended a priest with multiple claims of sexual misconduct and criminal convictions, who was later removed from ministry for sexually abusing a young adult man. The report also highlighted a lack of transparency and accountability within the church regarding clergy abuse cases.
The scandal comes amid a wider clerical molestation and cover-up scandal within the US Catholic Church, prompting many dioceses to file for bankruptcy protection. Nessel has promised to publish reports for all seven Catholic dioceses in Michigan, with charges filed in 11 clergy abuse cases leading to nine convictions.
The Birmingham diocese, with about 1.1 million residents, is facing questions about Bishop Raica’s handling of abuse cases. The incident underscores the ongoing challenges the Catholic Church faces in addressing clergy abuse and maintaining transparency within its institutions.
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