U.S.

Washington Archdiocese Lists 31 Priests Accused Of Sexual Abuse

The alleged abuse dates back to 1948.

Washington Archdiocese Lists 31 Priests Accused Of Sexual Abuse
Archdiocese of Washington
SMS

The Archdiocese of Washington posted a list of 31 priests it says have been "credibly accused of sexual abuse of minors." The alleged abuse dates back to 1948. 

On Monday, embattled Cardinal Donald Wuerl said the list was a "painful reminder of the grave sins committed by clergy, the pain inflicted on innocent young people, and the harm done to the Church's faithful." 

He also noted that there haven't been any sexual abuse allegations against a priest in the archdiocese in almost two decades. 

This is just the latest sexual abuse scandal the Catholic Church has faced.

In August, a Pennsylvania grand jury released a report accusing Wuerl of reassigning and reinstating some priests accused of abusing children during the years he served as the bishop of Pittsburgh. 

That report also accused over 300 priests of sexually abusing more than 1,000 children. 

Pope Francis accepted Wuerl's resignation on Friday but asked Wuerl to stay on as an apostolic administrator until his successor's chosen.