An advocate for victims of clergy sex abuse is speaking out against Erie Catholic Bishop Lawrence Persico.

Bob Hoatson of the Road to Recovery, says he is not happy with a statement released by Persico last week.

The statement coming after the diocese paid a $2 million settlement to a victim of defrocked priest David Poulson.

Persico repeating earlier statements, saying he was not aware of concerns about Poulson's behavior until January 2018.

Former Bishop Donald  Trautman wrote a memo dealing with concerns about Poulson in 2010. But he has said the information was sketchy, and said there was no cover up.

Persico maintains no concerns about Poulson were voiced to him when he became bishop in 2012.

Persico said as soon as he got that information he took action.

But the advocate says Persico should have known the contents of the personnel files of the diocese and taken against against Poulson years earlier.

Hoatson said, "We want Bishop Persico to come out and tell us why if he is claiming he did not know what was in the file, why didn't he if not."

Perisco said he asked  District Attorney Jack Daneri to review the files after he took over as bishop but that review was not finished because the files were turned over to the grand jury investigating clergy sex abuse around the state.

Persico said the diocese's law firm also reviewed the files and alerted him to concerns about Poulson early in 2018.