US Officials Open Catholic Clergy Abuse Investigation in Pennsylvania
美國官員對賓州天主教神職人員性侵案件開啟調查
Federal officials in the United States are investigating child sexual abuse inside the Roman Catholic Church.
據報道,美國聯邦官員正在調查羅馬天主教會內部發(fā)生的兒童性侵事件。
The Associated Press reports that the Federal Bureau of Investigation has officially demanded documents and statements from church leaders in Pennsylvania. The orders were presented to church officials last week, the AP says.
美聯社報道稱,聯邦調查局已經正式要求賓州教會領袖提供文件和供述。美聯社稱這些命令已于上周提交給教會官員。
In August, a grand jury released a report about such accusations. The report accused 301 priests in Pennsylvania of sexually abusing more than 1,000 children over 70 years. It also said that high-level church officials hid the activities to protect the accused.
今年8月,一家大陪審團發(fā)布了關于此類指控的報告。該報告指控賓州的301名牧師70多年來對超過1000名兒童進行了性侵。報告還稱教會高層領袖掩蓋了這種行為以保護被告。
Federal government lawyers, called prosecutors, are now taking action. That is what two people who were not permitted to discuss the investigation told AP. They spoke to the AP on the condition that the news group would keep their identities secret.
被稱為檢察官的聯邦政府律師現在正在采取行動。這是兩位不被允許討論這次調查的人士告訴美聯社的。他們向美聯社發(fā)表了講話,條件是這家新聞機構對他們的身份保密。
Marci Hamilton is a University of Pennsylvania professor and leader of Child USA, a nonprofit research group for child abuse prevention.
馬爾奇.漢密爾頓(Marci Hamilton)是賓州大學教授以及Child USA的領導人,這是一家預防兒童性侵的非營利性研究組織。
She said such action would be important. "The federal government has so far been utterly silent on the Catholic cases," she added.
她說,這樣的舉動很重要。她補充表示,“聯邦政府到目前為止還對這些天主教案件完全保持沉默。”
U.S. Attorney William McSwain of Philadelphia released the orders for the documents and statements by Catholic officials. He said he wants to know if officials such as priests, bishops, seminarians or other Catholic leaders carried out any federal crimes.
美國費城的檢察官威廉·麥克斯韋恩(William McSwain)下令要求天主教官員提供文件和供述。他說,他想知道牧師、主教、修士等官員或其他天主教領袖是否犯下了任何聯邦罪行。
Such crimes could include taking children across state lines for illegal purposes, sending sexual images or messages electronically or ordering anyone not to contact police. McSwain also said he wants to know if Catholic officials moved suspected abusers to other areas or used money or other possessions as part of such wrongdoing.
這類犯罪可能包括出于非法目的帶兒童跨越州界、以電子方式發(fā)送性圖片或信息,或是下令任何人不要報警。麥克斯韋恩還表示,他想知道天主教官員是否將性侵嫌犯轉移到其它地區(qū),或是將錢或其它財產作為這類不法行為的一部分。
The order seeks private church records. The AP's unidentified individuals said government lawyers are also seeking records on the local Church's organization and finances. Details of where clergy worked and the treatment of priests are also being sought.
該命令要求調查教會的不公開記錄。美聯社的這些身份不明人士表示,檢察官還在調查當地教會的組織和財務方面的記錄,并且還在調查神職人員的工作地點和牧師的待遇這些詳細信息。
The Pennsylvania grand jury report was almost 900 pages. It found that church leaders systematically hid evidence of wrongdoing.
賓州大陪審團的報告有近900頁。它發(fā)現了教會領袖系統(tǒng)掩蓋不法行為的證據。
However, the report said only two priests could be charged because of time limits on legal action for such crimes. Many accused priests have already died.
然而,該報告稱,由于這類犯罪的法律訴訟時限,只能對兩名牧師提出指控。許多被指控的牧師已經過世。
Legal experts said local Roman Catholic Churches could possibly be charged under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, or RICO. That federal law, passed by Congress in 1970, is meant to fight organized crime.
法律專家表示,當地羅馬天主教會可能會受到“反詐騙及腐敗組織法”的指控。國會于1970年通過的這一聯邦法案旨在打擊有組織犯罪。
I'm Caty Weaver.
凱蒂·韋弗報道。
Federal officials in the United States are investigating child sexual abuse inside the Roman Catholic Church.
The Associated Press reports that the Federal Bureau of Investigation has officially demanded documents and statements from church leaders in Pennsylvania. The orders were presented to church officials last week, the AP says.
In August, a grand jury released a report about such accusations. The report accused 301 priests in Pennsylvania of sexually abusing more than 1,000 children over 70 years. It also said that high-level church officials hid the activities to protect the accused.
Federal government lawyers, called prosecutors, are now taking action. That is what two people who were not permitted to discuss the investigation told AP. They spoke to the AP on the condition that the news group would keep their identities secret.
Marci Hamilton is a University of Pennsylvania professor and leader of Child USA, a nonprofit research group for child abuse prevention.
She said such action would be important. "The federal government has so far been utterly silent on the Catholic cases," she added.
U.S. Attorney William McSwain of Philadelphia released the orders for the documents and statements by Catholic officials. He said he wants to know if officials such as priests, bishops, seminarians or other Catholic leaders carried out any federal crimes.
Such crimes could include taking children across state lines for illegal purposes, sending sexual images or messages electronically or ordering anyone not to contact police. McSwain also said he wants to know if Catholic officials moved suspected abusers to other areas or used money or other possessions as part of such wrongdoing.
The order seeks private church records. The AP’s unidentified individuals said government lawyers are also seeking records on the local Church’s organization and finances. Details of where clergy worked and the treatment of priests are also being sought.
The Pennsylvania grand jury report was almost 900 pages. It found that church leaders systematically hid evidence of wrongdoing.
However, the report said only two priests could be charged because of time limits on legal action for such crimes. Many accused priests have already died.
Legal experts said local Roman Catholic Churches could possibly be charged under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, or RICO. That federal law, passed by Congress in 1970, is meant to fight organized crime.
I’m Caty Weaver.
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Words in This Story
grand jury - n. a group of people who look at the evidence against someone who has been accused of a crime in order to decide if there should be a trial?
utterly - adj. complete and total?