Advocates for abuse victims demand names of area priests accused of sexual misconduct

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Advocates for church abuse victims are demanding the Catholic Diocese of Charlotte release the names of priests who have been accused of sexual abuse and misconduct.

The push comes less than one week after the second-highest figure at the diocese, Monsignor Mauricio West, stepped down over allegations of sexual misconduct.

[ALSO READ: Charlotte Diocese chancellor steps down after 'credible' allegation of sexual misconduct]

"The issue is that Monsignor West is just the tip of the iceberg," said Raleigh SNAP leader Rene Anctil.

Members of the support group called the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, or SNAP, gathered outside the diocese Tuesday and read a list of priests tied to Charlotte over the years with accusations of sexual abuse.

[ALSO READ: Vatican tells U.S. bishops not to vote on proposals to address sex abuse]

SNAP members said it's time to release the names of all those facing allegations for the sake of the victims and the greater community.

"We need to know where these people are and who these people are," said Anctil.

[ALSO READ: Asheville man files report claiming 2 priests sexually assaulted him in the 1990s]

The Diocese of Charlotte released the following statement thanking SNAP for their efforts on behalf of victims: 

"The alleged abuse by priests highlighted today by SNAP appears to have taken place outside of the Diocese of Charlotte and involved priests who had some connection to the diocese but were not serving in the diocese at the time of the alleged incidents."

The Diocese of Charlotte said it will continue to review information about alleged incidents and publicizing the list is under discussion.

Cox Media Group