Santa Rosa Diocese releases names of clergy it believes were child sex abusers

In this Dec. 1, 2012 photo, a silhouette of a crucifix and a stained glass window is seen inside a Catholic Church in New Orleans. Catholic groups are decrying a recent Louisiana Supreme Court decision that reaches into the most sanctified of Catholic places, the confessional booth. The high court has revived a sex abuse lawsuit in which parents are suing a priest and a local diocese for not reporting the alleged abuse when the teenager told the priest about it, and the ruling could have a priest asked to testify about what was said in a private confession. The Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights says the ruling leaves the priest choosing between prison and excommunication, in a case that has grabbed attention in heavily Catholic south Louisiana. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) less In this Dec. 1, 2012 photo, a silhouette of a crucifix and a stained glass window is seen inside a Catholic Church in New Orleans. Catholic groups are decrying a recent Louisiana Supreme Court decision that ... more Photo: Gerald Herbert / Associated Press 2012 Photo: Gerald Herbert / Associated Press 2012 Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Santa Rosa Diocese releases names of clergy it believes were child sex abusers 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Santa Rosa has released a list of 39 clergymen it says have been credibly accused or convicted of sexually abusing about 100 children, calling them “the evil actions of priests and bishops.”

More than half of those on the list released Saturday night — at least 23 — are deceased, and Robert Vasa, bishop of the diocese, said in the North Coast Catholic newspaper that none of the priests or deacons on the list are still serving in the diocese.

The names, which include four clergymen convicted of sexual offenses, were released in the newspaper. Many of them are already well-known through public accusations, admissions or investigations disclosed in the media or on the internet. Included on the list are 14 men who were accused of child sexual abuse in other locations but did not face allegations in the Santa Rosa diocese.

Melanie Sakoda, a Bay Area representative of the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests, said the release of the names is helpful despite the passage of time and the death of many on the list.

“There’s still a value to it,” she said. “Whether they’re dead or not, their victims may not be. They were a lot younger. A lot of survivors think they’re the only ones who’ve been abused. When lists come out, they realize they’re not alone. It’s a step in the healing process to know that it was not your fault.”

The release, the latest in the Bay Area, comes amid a wave of similar disclosures across the country after a Pennsylvania grand jury report in August accused the Catholic church of a systemic cover-up of child sex abuse by diocesan leaders in that state and at the Vatican.

The Diocese of San Jose in October released the names of 15 priests the church believes to be child sexual abusers. The Monterey Diocese released names of 30 abusers earlier this month. The Oakland Diocese had planned to disclose names by Thanksgiving but pushed the release into this year. The Archdiocese of San Francisco has not announced a decision on releasing names, but officials in November said they would review 4,000-plus personnel files for any cases of abuse.

Vasa said in a statement that he was releasing the names “to give all victims of clerical sexual abuse the assurance that they have been heard and that the church is very much concerned for their well-being and healing.”

The document offers scant details, if any, of what each man has been accused of and when and how it occurred. Vasa said that’s because many of the cases are decades old. The list includes information on each suspected abuser’s status but in five cases it was not known if they were working as priests.

SNAP’s Sakoda said the Santa Rosa Diocese was fairly thorough in its list, including not only priests and listing clergy accused of child sexual abuse outside of the diocese. But she said the list should have included any sexual abuse of adult victims as well as any incidents involving nuns or secular church officials.

Sakoda said she hopes the list will become a permanent fixture on the diocese’s website, and will be updated and placed in an easy-to-find location.

Childhood sexual assault suspects named The Roman Catholic Diocese of Santa Rosa released a list of 39 clergy who were convicted of or credibly accused of sexual assault against children: http://bit.ly/santarosadiocese

“People should be able to find their abusers’ names,” she said.

Sakoda also urged any victims who don’t see their abusers’ names on the list to contact SNAP, the state Attorney General’s office or the media to report them.

The list can be found in a release from the diocese, prefaced by a statement from Vasa, or in the North Coast Catholic newsletter.

The Santa Rosa Diocese covers an area of 11,700 square miles in six counties and includes nearly 180,000 members.

Michael Cabanatuan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mcabanatuan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ctuan