The New Mexico Attorney General’s Office is seeking all documents related to potential abuse by priests and other clergy from all Catholic dioceses – Santa Fe, Gallup and Las Cruces – in New Mexico.
“Attorney General (Hector) Balderas has sent investigative demands to all three dioceses in New Mexico requiring full disclosure and full transparency,” AG spokesman David Carl said. “The Catholic Church in New Mexico needs to fully reconcile and support survivors by revealing the magnitude of sexual abuse and subsequent cover-up by church leaders in order to restore faith and trust in the community,” Carl said.
The Catholic Diocese of Las Cruces confirmed it received a letter from Balderas requesting documents in a review of possible cases of sexual abuse.
“We welcome this opportunity to cooperate with Attorney General Balderas,” Bishop Oscar Cantú said. “Having an independent authority reviewing our files can foster greater confidence in the transparency and accountability of the Diocese of Las Cruces.”
The attorney general sent letters Tuesday to Las Cruces Bishop Cantú, Gallup Bishop James Wall and Archbishop of Santa Fe John Wester seeking the documents.
“I am writing to express my continued concern and assert that it is time to demand full disclosure and full transparency, I am focusing my efforts on assisting the victims of clergy sexual abuse,” Balderas said in the letter.
Read more at Albuquerque Journal