Alabama and Mississippi Diocese to release names of clergy named as abusers

MOBILE, Ala. (AP) – A Roman Catholic leader says church offices in Alabama and Mississippi will release the names of clergy members accused of sexually abusing minors.

A statement from Archbishop Thomas J. Rodi of Mobile says each of the four Catholic dioceses in the two states will release the names of people who were removed from ministry after being accused of abuse.

Diocese offices are located in Birmingham plus Jackson and Biloxi in Mississippi, and the archdiocese is in Mobile.

Rodi’s statement says the Mobile office will release names involved in accusations dating back to 1950.

The statement was released Thursday by Rodi. It does not say when the names will be made public. It says clergy personnel files from nearly seven decades are being examined.