Critics are continuing to speak out against a delay in the release of a statewide grand jury report. The report is on child sex abuse in six Catholic dioceses in Pennsylvania, including Erie. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court issued a stay on the release and explained yesterday that it needs time to review the report.

         

The loudest criticisms of the delay come from child abuse victims. The Pennsylvania Office of Victim Advocate issued a release saying, “Justice delay is justice denied.  Our survivors have waited long enough."

But, Phil Friedman, Erie defense attorney, says people should put themselves in the place of those who filed objections to the release. Friedman says there are many names included in the report that, he says, are not going to be charged with a crime. Friedman says there may not be enough evidence, or any evidence, against those people.  He said their names, perhaps, were simply mentioned by a grand jury witness even though the persons had nothing to do with any abuse.
     

Friedman says some of those people never knew their names were being mentioned, never knew that they were under investigation, and never had a chance to appear before the grand jury. He says those people have a right to due process, and have a right to protect their reputation.
     

Friedman has this to say to the people who are criticizing the delay.

"It's easy to say when you're not one of the names.  But, when you are, and you had absolutely nothing to do with this, you're not even indicated as a person who's going to be charged, I think you have an argument that your reputation is being sullied. I don't know if even the government disagrees with that,” he said.

 

Friedman says this is a very unusual case. He says a grand jury usually issues a report focusing on one, or a few, individuals who are all subject to criminal charges.  He says this report is different, it's all encompassing, and he does not know how long the delay might last.