From Erie-
Northwestern Pennsylvania's Episcopal bishop today gave an update on the claims of sexual abuse against one of his predecessors.
The Right Rev. Sean W. Rowe had announced in a July pastoral letter that the Rev. Donald Davis, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Northwestern Pennsylvania from 1974 to 1991, had sexually abused four young girls while he was leader of the Erie-based diocese. Davis died in 2007.
Rowe, the current bishop, had asked other victims to come forward.
In a letter posted today on the diocese's website, Rowe said he quickly heard from five additional women but has received no more reports since then.
Rowe said three of the five had been abused by Davis as girls and two had been harassed and intimidated as adults.
"If there are other victims who are still considering whether to come forward, I urge them to contact me," Rowe said in today's letter. "As I wrote in my initial letter, I cannot undo the grievous wrongs that Bishop Davis has done, nor take away the pain of his victims, but I can do my best to ensure that this diocese continues to tell the truth and seek healing and reconciliation for those who have been harmed.
Rowe's letter can be found online at www.dionwpa.org. Victims can contact him at 456-4203 or bishop@dionwpa.org.
http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100912/NEWS02/309129865/-1/news
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