Jesuits urged to divulge names of abusing priests

At a news conference today at the entrance of Seattle University, victims of abuse by priests, and victims' attorneys and supporters urged local Jesuit leaders to disclose the names of all Jesuits in the region who have been credibly accused of abuse.

They asked Jesuit leaders, including the Rev. Stephen Sundborg, president of the Jesuit-run Seattle University, and a former leader of the Jesuit province in the Northwest, "to finally, simply, once and for all to come clear," said David Clohessy, executive director of the national Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP).

"We believe this simple step "will go very far" toward safeguarding children from abuse now and help heal the wounds of those who've been abused, Clohessy said.

Seattle University issued a statement saying it "will always disclose the names of any priest, living or deceased, whom we have reason to believe has sexually abused minors. Seattle University has zero tolerance for sexual abuse of a minor. There are no Jesuits on this campus who have been alleged or accused of child sex abuse."