“Those who have suffered are his priority, and the Church wants to listen to them to root out this tragic horror.”

The state’s attorney general said that his office’s two-year investigation identified 301 priests who abused children and more than 1,000 victims.

It appears “there was somebody [who] dropped the ball.”

Bishop Edward Scharfenberger said, “we have reached a point where bishops alone investigating bishops is not the answer.”

Pope Francis has revised the church’s catechism to state that the death penalty is no longer admissible.

“We join with all those demanding the end of a culture that ignores or tolerates sexual abuse of Catholic sisters or any other adult or minor perpetrated by those in positions of trust in the church community.”

“Anyone accused of sexual misconduct will have his name removed from any place of honor.”

Some experts believe that while many seminaries have established policies to protect adults studying to be priests and members of religious communities, seminary culture sometimes remains an obstacle to protecting them from predatory behavior.

When allegations first surfaced regarding then-Cardinal McCarrick last month, some church officials called for new regulations and policies that apply to charges of misconduct and mismanagement against bishops. But in his letter, Bishop Scharfenberger said such changes alone will not be enough to address the church’s failings.

Father Rossi says he recently shared his story with his bishop, who supports his decision to speak out, and with his parish.