At least seven states across the country have started investigating sexual-abuse claims by clergy or have laid the groundwork for such inquiries, marking a new wave of intensified scrutiny of allegations made against Roman Catholic priests and church officials.
On Sept. 6, New York and New Jersey were the latest states to join the growing list. New York Attorney General Barbara Underwood issued subpoenas to all eight of the state’s Catholic dioceses for documents of sex-abuse allegations and other related papers. At the same time, New Jersey state Attorney General Gurbir Grewal announced the forming of a new task force that will investigate allegations of clergy sexual abuse, as well as any cover-up efforts by church officials.
