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PRIESTS. THERE IS MUCH -- THERE IS NOT MUCH THEY CAN DO TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE. THE DIOCESE OF DES MOINES STOOD IN FRONT OF THE PRESS TO PUBLICLY APOLOGIZE. AS THEY RELEASED THE NAMES OF NINE PRIESTS CREDIBLY ACCUSED OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE, MOST ARE DEAD B TWO ARE STILL ALIVE AND LIVING IN IOWA. THE ALLEGATIONS SPAN FROM THE 1950’S TO THE 1990’S. THE BISHO SAID HE FELT THE PUBLIC STILL NEEDED TO KNOW. >> WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE ESTABLISHED THE ABILITY FOR VICTIMS TO COME FORWARD AND TO CONTINUE HEALING. AND HER SHOW WE ARE AS TRANSPARENT AS WE POSSIBLY CAN BE ABOUT THIS ISSUE. ABUSE IS ABUSE. HANNAH: A LIFELONG CATHOLIC AND THE POLICE CHIEF IS PART OF THE REVIEW BOARD THAT SUBSTANTIATED 44 INDIVIDUAL CLAIMS AGAINST THESE NINE MEN. >> THE PROBLEM WITH SITUATIONS LIKE THIS IS THEY ARE STILL HIS -- THEY ARE SO HISTORICAL IN NATURE, THEY HAVE GONE BEYOND THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS. HANNAH: WHICH IS WHY THE BISHOP SAYS THEY HAVE A ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY. THE DIOCESE ENCOURAGES ANY VICTIMS TO CONTACT LAW ENFORCEMENT AS THEY ADMIT THEIR WORK IS NOT DONE. >> WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE

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The Diocese of Des Moines on Thursday released the names of nine priests it says are credibly accused of sexually abusing children -- an effort to be transparent and create an environment in which victims feel more comfortable coming forward -- but little can be done to hold those accused accountable.A diocesan committee, which is comprised of local clergy, a retired teacher, a counselor, a lawyer, a police chief and a judge, investigated 44 substantiated claims of sexual abuse that reportedly spanned from 1950 to 1997.The Diocese of Des Moines oversees Catholic parishes in central and southwestern Iowa. Most of the churches and Catholic schools on the list are in two major metropolitan areas, Des Moines and Council Bluffs.The priests also served smaller communities, such as Perry, Winterset, Red Oak, Creston and Cumming.Only two accused priests are still alive and living in Iowa: the Rev. Howard Fitzgerald, who lives outside the diocese, and the Rev. Leonard Kenkel, who lives in a senior care facility in Harlan. Both have since been removed from ministry.The priests who have since died are: the Revs. Dennis Mangan, who died in 1976; Francis Zuch, who died in 1993; Albert Wilwerding, who died in 2004; Paul Connelly, who died in 2007; John Ryan, who died in 2010; Richard Wagner, who died in 2012; and Phil Hobt, who died in 2017.Seven of the priests had already been tied to abuse allegations, including Wilwerding, Ryan and Wagner, who were all defrocked in 2003 after allegations against them were found credible.Wilwerding, who faces the highest number of allegations against him with 25 victims, practiced as a priest for 25 years, serving in Des Moines, Council Bluffs and several other communities. He spent most of his time in Milo, but church officials said his abuse allegations include his entire 25-year service as a priest.RELATED: Bishop of Des Moines calls sexual abuse, cover-up 'shameful'Diocese list of 28 accused priests yields only 1 still living in IowaReport says church covered up Iowa priest's abuse of 50 boysClerby abuse sheds light on statute of limitations debateRyan faces the second-most allegations, with six victims, and he was allowed to serve for 38 years, including time at Dowling Catholic High School, from the 1950s to the early 1980s.Bishop Richard Pates told reporters at a news conference Thursday that he hopes the release of the list will facilitate healing."We wanted to make sure we establish the ability for victims to come forward and also to contribute to their healing to show that we are transparent as possible as we possibly can be about this issue," Pates said, adding that he shares "the anger and frustration" over recent reports of abuse by clergy.Waukee Police Chief John Quinn, a lifelong Catholic who serves on the diocese's Allegations Review Board, said there were 44 individual and substantiated claims against the nine men, none of whom were ever criminally charged."Abuse is abuse," Quinn said. "It doesn't matter who makes it, who does it. It's illegal. The problems with situations like this, they're so historical in nature in that they're beyond the statute of limitations, meaning that they can't be entered into the judicial process for accountability."Pates said the diocese has adopted a zero-tolerance policy in which a clergy member with any credible claim against him will immediately be removed from public ministry. The diocese encourages all victims to contact law enforcement."We're doing everything we can, and we won't stand comfortable until we've eliminated this scourge in our diocese," Pates said.The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, or SNAP, said that while it is grateful the Diocese of Des Moines published a list of clergy accused of abuse, it wants more to be done to protect children in the diocese and help survivors heal.The organization called on Pates to publish the names of priests and nuns who worked in the Des Moines Diocese who have also been credibly accused of child sex abuse but weren't members of the dioceses. SNAP asked Pates to detail what the diocese did when it first received allegations of abuse.SNAP asked that Pates request the Iowa attorney general's office to conduct its own investigation into clergy sex abuse, a request made in 17 other states.There was legislation introduced in the Senate this year that would have given child sex abuse survivors more time to come forward, but it is ineligible for further consideration this legislative session.The Diocese of Des Moines follows the Diocese of Sioux City's lead, which in February identified 28 priests who have been the subject of credible allegations of sexual abuse involving minors. Officials said the priests sexually abused more than 100 boys and girls while working for the diocese.The diocese said it had paid $4.7 million in legal settlements to 58 individuals since 2002.“You don’t meet heroes very often, but if you talk to these survivors, you do,” said Patrick Hopkins, a Des Moines-area attorney who represents victims of clergy sex abuse. “People keep this repressed until they get to be some age when their mind has developed and they’re sufficiently mature that they can deal with the issue.” He said coming forward isn’t easy for victims, but as the list of accused clergy grows, so does the list of victims. Hopkins said victims often suffer from alcoholism, addictions and marital problems later in life. He added that the clergy abuse was seen as a moral failing and “this was always a crime.” While the diocese said it has conducted more than 18,000 criminal background checks, longtime private detective Craig Brooks said more steps need to be taken to prevent clergy sex abuse. "You get some basic information, but it's not enough," he said. "If you're checking on somebody, you really want to dig deep. I'm talking about talking to friends, relatives, where he's lived."Beyond the diocese's efforts, Brooks said anyone who needs to check someone's past should use multiple databases, especially when working with children."You can do a criminal background," Brooks said. "It doesn't mean there's nothing hidden in his past. That's how you dig it up -- by going out, knocking on doors, asking questions and not leaving one stone unturned."