Bishop Rozanski Abuse CoverUp
SPRINGFIELD — Olan Horne, a long-time advocate for clergy sexual abuse victims, has filed an allegation that Springfield Bishop Mitchell T. Rozanski engaged in a cover-up with the Catholic Bishops Abuse Reporting Service.
Horne said his complaint is not solely based on a recent investigation by retired Judge John Velis that determined how the Springfield Diocese handled allegations of abuse against the late Bishop Christopher J. Weldon was “greatly flawed.”
Horne said his evidence includes other cases in which he said alleged clergy sexual abuse was only addressed by the diocese and made public after prolonged advocacy by victims and their supporters.
“That report is only one slice of the pie,” said Horne of the Velis report. “We see behaviors by people working with the bishop again and again.”
Horne termed such behaviors as “deny, delay, and cover up.”
Rozanski named Velis to investigate claims against Weldon last June after meeting with the alleged survivor whose account to the diocesan review board was in dispute.