From Erie-
A former bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Northwestern Pennsylvania sexually abused at least four girls while he was leader of the Erie-based diocese.
The abuse by the Rev. Donald Davis was made public today by the diocese's current bishop, the Right Rev. Sean Rowe, who learned of the abuse earlier this year from one of the victims.
"Our first goal is to tell the truth," Rowe told the Erie Times-News today.
Davis, who was bishop of the diocese from 1974 to 1991, died in 2007.
In a pastoral letter read today after services in each of the 13-county diocese's 34 churches, Rowe apologized for what Davis did. Rowe asked other victims to come forward and contact him at 456-4203 or bishop@dionwpa.org.
"Sexual abuse in any form is abhorrent in any community, and as your bishop, I feel particular pain that one of my predecessors betrayed the trust and innocence of children," Rowe said in the pastoral letter. "On behalf of the church, I offer an abject apology to Bishop Davis' victims, their families, and everyone whose trust in the church has been violated, and I ask for your forgiveness."
More here-
http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100711/NEWS02/307119880
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