Florida Attorney General Launches Tip Site to Report Past Child Sex Abuse Allegations by Catholic Priests

Office of Statewide Prosecution to launch the investigation

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Attorney General Pam Bondi launched a tip site for people to report allegations of past child sex abuse by Catholic priests in Florida. The tip site is part of Bondi’s ongoing investigation into all seven Catholic dioceses in the state. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is assisting with the statewide investigation.

“Any priest that would exploit a position of power and trust to abuse a child is a disgrace to the church and a threat to society,” said  Bondi.

“I am calling on victims and anyone with information about potential abuse to please report it to my office. Victim information will be kept confidential in accordance with state law.”

“FDLE will work with the Office of Statewide Prosecution and State Attorneys to independently review records of the Catholic Church to ensure any allegations have been reported and investigated,” said FDLE Commissioner Rick Swearingen.

“I thank Attorney General Bondi for her commitment in keeping Florida families safe.”

The site is for reporting allegations of past abuse by Catholic priests in Florida. Anyone reporting ongoing abuse should call 911 or the Florida Department of Children and Families Abuse Hotline at 1(800) 96-ABUSE.

Bondi instructed her Office of Statewide Prosecution to launch the investigation following the Pennsylvania Grand Jury Report detailing decades of child sex abuse by Catholic priests in Pennsylvania.

The grand jury identified 301 Catholic priests who abused children, detailed accounts of more than 1,000 child victims in Pennsylvania and claimed senior church officials, bishops and monsignors helped cover up priest abuse.

Tips for past abuse can be reported HERE. All victim information will be kept confidential.

To view the news conference, click here.

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