美国国家公共电台 NPR Report Reveals Widespread Sexual Abuse By Over 300 Priests In Pennsylvania

 

AUDIE CORNISH, HOST:

We begin this hour with a report of widespread clergy¹ sex abuse in Catholic churches throughout Pennsylvania. A grand jury investigation² released today gives details on 301 priests who allegedly abused more than 1,000 children. Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro says the abuse and the cover-up went all the way up to the Vatican.

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JOSH SHAPIRO: There have been other reports about child sex abuse within the Catholic Church but never on this scale. For many of us, those earlier stories happened someplace else. Now we know the truth. It happened everywhere.

CORNISH: For more on this investigation, we turn to Katie Meyer of member station WITF. And a warning - we will be discussing some disturbing details. Katie joins us from Harrisburg. And, Katie, what more can you tell us just about the scope of this and the time span?

KATIE MEYER, BYLINE³: Sure. So the grand jury spent about two years looking into these allegations. It covered six dioceses across Pennsylvania, and the instances of abuse date back to the 1940s. The grand jury also says it thinks there are significantly more than the 1,000 victims it named because the cover-ups were so widespread and so thorough.

CORNISH: What details have you learned about these allegations?

MEYER: So in every one of the diocese, there are some really graphic⁴ stories of abuse. And one that was particularly striking was in Pittsburgh. There were - there was a case there. At least four priests forced at least one underage boy to pose naked on a bed in the rectory and pose as Christ on the cross. They took pictures of him, and they shared them amongst themselves on church grounds. This was part of a collection of child pornography that the priests kept. And there were other specific stories, too. Some of them were more shocking than that one.

CORNISH: So the report actually names these priests as abusers. Does it identify anyone else?

MEYER: Yes. So there are a number of higher-ranking church officials that are in here. This includes monsignors. There are bishops⁶, assistant bishops. There are cardinals⁸. The attorney general noted⁹ there were a couple officials who were promoted during and after they covered up abuse. And one of those, high-profile Cardinal⁷ Donald Wuerl - he served as the bishop⁵ of Pittsburgh at the time, and he's now the archbishop of Washington, D.C.

CORNISH: Now, I understand there were also a number of people who said they didn't want this report released. Tell us who they were.

MEYER: So about a dozen anonymous¹⁰ clergy members petitioned the state Supreme¹¹ Court to block the report from coming out. They said they were named in the investigation, and so by doing that, it denied them due process 'cause they hadn't been charged with a crime. The state Supreme Court did want the report to come out, but it said it would release a redacted version, so it blacked out some names.

CORNISH: Katie, much of this abuse happened years ago, and we know that the statute¹² of limitations can run out on prosecution¹³. How is that being addressed in this case?

MEYER: The attorney general says in any case where the statute of limitations hasn't expired, prosecutions¹⁴ are underway now. But the report makes a number of recommendations to change state law so more prosecution can happen when the clock has already run out. So the state could, if it chooses, open up a two-year window for people whose abuse is outside of the statute of limitations. But it's unclear if that will happen. There's been some significant pushback from lawmakers who say that would be unfair to the Catholic Church and could bankrupt churches.

CORNISH: Reporter Katie Meyer of member station WITF, thank you.

MEYER: Thank you.

1 clergy   

n.[总称]牧师，神职人员

参考例句：

• I could heartily wish that more of our country clergy would follow this example.我衷心希望，我国有更多的牧师效法这个榜样。
• All the local clergy attended the ceremony.当地所有的牧师出席了仪式。

2 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

3 byline   

n.署名；v.署名

参考例句：

• His byline was absent as well.他的署名也不见了。
• We wish to thank the author of this article which carries no byline.我们要感谢这篇文章的那位没有署名的作者。

4 graphic   

adj.生动的，形象的，绘画的，文字的，图表的

参考例句：

• The book gave a graphic description of the war.这本书生动地描述了战争的情况。
• Distinguish important text items in lists with graphic icons.用图标来区分重要的文本项。

5 bishop   

n.主教，（国际象棋）象

参考例句：

• He was a bishop who was held in reverence by all.他是一位被大家都尊敬的主教。
• Two years after his death the bishop was canonised.主教逝世两年后被正式封为圣者。

6 bishops   

（基督教某些教派管辖大教区的）主教( bishop的名词复数 )； （国际象棋的）象

参考例句：

• Each player has two bishops at the start of the game. 棋赛开始时，每名棋手有两只象。
• "Only sheriffs and bishops and rich people and kings, and such like. “他劫富济贫，抢的都是郡长、主教、国王之类的富人。

7 cardinal   

n.(天主教的)红衣主教；adj.首要的，基本的

参考例句：

• This is a matter of cardinal significance.这是非常重要的事。
• The Cardinal coloured with vexation. 红衣主教感到恼火，脸涨得通红。

8 cardinals   

红衣主教( cardinal的名词复数 )； 红衣凤头鸟（见于北美，雄鸟为鲜红色）； 基数

参考例句：

• cardinals in scarlet robes 身披红袍的枢机主教
• A conclave of cardinals was held to elect the new Pope. 红衣主教团举行了秘密会议来选举新教皇。

9 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

10 anonymous   

adj.无名的；匿名的；无特色的

参考例句：

• Sending anonymous letters is a cowardly act.寄匿名信是懦夫的行为。
• The author wishes to remain anonymous.作者希望姓名不公开。

11 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

12 statute   

n.成文法，法令，法规；章程，规则，条例

参考例句：

• Protection for the consumer is laid down by statute.保障消费者利益已在法令里作了规定。
• The next section will consider this environmental statute in detail.下一部分将详细论述环境法令的问题。

13 prosecution   

n.起诉，告发，检举，执行，经营

参考例句：

• The Smiths brought a prosecution against the organizers.史密斯家对组织者们提出起诉。
• He attempts to rebut the assertion made by the prosecution witness.他试图反驳原告方证人所作的断言。

14 prosecutions   

起诉( prosecution的名词复数 )； 原告； 实施； 从事

参考例句：

• It is the duty of the Attorney-General to institute prosecutions. 检察总长负责提起公诉。
• Since World War II, the government has been active in its antitrust prosecutions. 第二次世界大战以来，政府积极地进行着反对托拉斯的检举活动。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件