Every Catholic Diocese in New York Just Got a Subpoena

Could the bombshell report about sexual abuse among Catholic priests in Pennsylvania lead to similar allegations in New York state? We'll know soon enough. State Attorney General Barbara Underwood has issued subpoenas to all eight dioceses in the state for information on how they handled reports of sexual abuse over the years, reports the AP. Underwood's office will team with district attorneys throughout the state to look into whether the church covered up for abusive priests, as was the case in Pennsylvania. Underwood also encouraged victims or witnesses to come forward to file complaints at ag.ny.gov/ClergyAbuse or to call a hotline at (800) 771-7755.

“The Pennsylvania grand jury report shined a light on incredibly disturbing and depraved acts by Catholic clergy, assisted by a culture of secrecy and cover ups in the dioceses," said Underwood, per the New York Times. "Victims in New York deserve to be heard as well." The Washington Post, however, points out one big caveat: In Pennsylvania, most of the cases were well beyond the statute of limitations for criminal prosecution, and the same could be true of cases in New York. (More New York state stories.)