ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - The Latest on state investigations into alleged clergy sex abuse in the Catholic Church (all times local):
3:15 p.m.
The Roman Catholic Church in New Jersey says it will cooperate with a new investigation of sex abuse in the church’s dioceses.
New Jersey Catholic Conference executive director Patrick Brannigan says the group welcomes the investigation and will “cooperate fully.”
The conference represents the state’s bishops.
New Jersey on Thursday said it would be launching its own investigation of sex abuse by clergy. It followed word that New York had issued subpoenas in a similar investigation there.
The investigations come after a grand jury in Pennsylvania found widespread abuse of more than 1,000 children by about 300 priests.
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2:55 p.m.
New Jersey is joining New York in announcing it will conduct an investigation of sex abuse by clergy in the state’s Roman Catholic dioceses.
Attorney General Gurbir Grewal said Thursday that he is establishing a task force to be headed by a former county prosecutor.
The group is authorized to present evidence to a state grand jury and will have the power of subpoenas to compel testimony and the production of documents.
The announcement comes three weeks after a grand jury investigation found rampant sexual abuse of more than 1,000 children by about 300 priests in Pennsylvania.
Earlier Thursday, New York’s attorney general subpoenaed the state’s eight Catholic dioceses as part of a probe in sex abuse allegations.
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1:24 p.m.
New York Attorney General Barbara Underwood has subpoenaed all eight Roman Catholic dioceses in the state as part of an investigation into the handling of sex abuse allegations.
A law enforcement source familiar with the investigation but not authorized to speak publicly told The Associated Press the subpoenas went out Thursday.
The subpoenas seek documents relating to abuse allegations, payments to victims or findings from internal church investigations.
Underwood’s office is pursuing a civil investigation into the church’s response to abuse reports and has also reached out to local prosecutors authorized to convene grand juries or pursue criminal investigations.
Church officials say they will cooperate.
The announcement comes three weeks after a grand jury investigation found rampant sexual abuse of more than 1,000 children by about 300 priests in Pennsylvania
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1 p.m.
New York Attorney General Barbara Underwood has subpoenaed all eight Roman Catholic dioceses in the state as part of her office’s investigation into the church’s handling of sex abuse allegations.
A law enforcement source familiar with the investigation but not authorized to speak publicly told The Associated Press the subpoenas went out Thursday.
The subpoenas seek documents relating to sexual abuse allegations, financial payments to possible victims or the findings from internal church investigations.
Underwood’s office is pursuing a civil investigation into how church leaders responded to reports of abuse.
Messages left with diocesan officials were not immediately returned.
The announcement comes three weeks after a grand jury investigation found rampant sexual abuse of more than 1,000 children by about 300 priests in Pennsylvania.
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