Catholic church in SC names priests accused of sex abuse

CHARLESTON, S.C. — The Catholic diocese in South Carolina has released a list of 42 priests with ties to the state who have been credibly accused of sexually abusing children.

[LINK: Priests with credible allegations of sexual misconduct or abuse of minors]

The Charleston Diocese released the list Friday afternoon. All but 11 of the priests on the list have died. The list doesn't specify the parishes or institutions where the priests served.

At least one priest has ties to the Charlotte area. Father James Sharple served at churches in York and Lancaster counties. He was ordained in 1946 and died in 1974.

"It is with a heavy heart and in the spirit of transparency and accountability that I, based on the recommendations of the independent Sexual Abuse Advisory Board of the Diocese of Charleston, release the names of those clergy who have been credibly accused of sexual misconduct or abuse involving a minor," Bishop Robert E. Guglielmone said. "It is my fervent hope and prayer that publishing this list will help bring healing to the victims and their families who have been so grievously harmed by the betrayal of priests and Church leadership."

The Diocese of Charlotte has not committed to providing the same list of priests.

The list was broken into four parts. Twenty-one priests served in South Carolina. Others were named in a class-action settlement over abuse, had abuse claims from a diocese outside South Carolina or were a visiting priest to the state.

Dioceses across the country have been releasing lists of priests accused of abusing children since a grand jury investigation in Pennsylvania last year identified nearly 300 "predator priests" going back nearly 70 years.

Associated Press