A new Catholic sexual abuse report released by Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser names nine additional priests accused of abuse.

These names were not originally included in the list of priests accused of abuse released in October 2019, which was based on a review of church records in the Denver, Colorado Springs, and Pueblo dioceses. The initial review was launched after a major Pennsylvania grand jury report dropped in 2018 with allegations of more than 300 priests accused of abuse, along with at least 1,000 children who had been abused through seven decades. The Pennsylvania report prompted investigations of priests across the country.

The new report names an additional nine priests accused of abuse, six of whom are dead. The others had previously been removed from priesthood or are already retired.

One of the newly named priests accused of abuse was well known in the Denver area for helping the city’s houseless. The late Rev. Charles B. Woodrich—also known as Father Woody—even had a day shelter for Denver’s houseless people named in his honor after his death in 1991.

After the leaders at Haven of Hope (formerly Father Woody’s Haven of Hope) learned of the allegations against the deceased priest, his name was removed from the organization’s name, according to board President Don Gallegos said in an emailed statement.

“The only thing that matters is the work we are doing,” Gallegos wrote, according to 9News.com. “We must protect the work at all costs so it can continue. With that said we have always strived to be a Haven of Hope, this won’t change. We are moving forward as Haven of Hope where, ‘We are not here to Judge; we are here to serve.’ We are not associated with the Catholic Church, or any other organization. Our funding comes solely from private donors and foundations.”

This new report was created by looking at instances of abuse that had been reported either to Weiser’s office or to a reparations program funded by the church after the Oct. 2019 report. The investigation found credible claims of the abuse of 46 more children by a total of 25 priests. 16 of these priests accused of abuse had been named in last year’s report, though they were found to have abused more children than previously known.

In total, these reports have found 212 children to have been abused by 52 diocesan priests spanning decades. While the incidents of abuse are from anywhere between 1950 and 1999, the majority of the reported abuse took place in the 1960s.

Colorado does not give its attorney generals the power to convene a grand jury, so Weiser reached an agreement with the church to conduct a voluntary review of church records. The church also created a victims’ compensation fund for those who had been abused by priests. During the course of the program, $7.3 million has been paid out to 79 people.

Denver Archbishop Samuel Aquila, Denver Bishop Jorge Rodriguez, Colorado Springs Bishop Michael Sheridan, and Pueblo Bishop Stephen Berg said in a joint statement that they hope this review, along with the compensation process, have been able to provide justice and healing for survivors of abuse and sexual assault.

“We remain heart-broken by the pain they have endured, we again offer our deepest apologies for the past failures of the Church, and we promise that we will always pray for continued healing for them and their families,” they said.

The review was conducted by former U.S. Attorney Bob Troyer, who also gave the church recommendations of certain changes moving forward, including providing victim-assistance coordinators as well as encouraging people to report their abuse to law enforcement directly rather than just relying on the church’s processes.

Filing a Catholic Sex Abuse Lawsuit

If you are a survivor of childhood sex abuse by a Catholic priest or other Catholic leader, even if the abuse occurred years or even decades ago, you may be eligible to file a lawsuit and pursue compensation. Of course, filing a lawsuit cannot take away the pain and trauma caused by this kind of abuse, but it can at least help to provide monetary compensation, as well as hold those responsible accountable for their actions.

Filing a lawsuit can be a daunting prospect, so Top Class Actions has laid the groundwork by connecting you with an experienced attorney. Consulting an attorney can help you determine if you have a claim, navigate the complexities of litigation, and maximize your potential compensation.