SAN ANTONIO — Catholic leaders across Texas on Thursday named hundreds of priests who've been credibly accused of preying on children in recent years and decades. San Antonio had more accused priests than any other part of the state.
A new report names nearly 60 priests and deacons in our area with a total of 140 claims of abuse. The allegations date back to 1940, with the most recent claim being from 2008.
Barbara Garcia Boehland said her son was a victim of a predator priest. She said this list is only the beginning, and wants more done.
She also hopes the released names encourage others out there to speak up.
"He was 16 years old when he was sexually abused by clergy Carlos Lozano here in San Antonio," Garcia Boehland said.
The abuse happened in the '90s. Eduardo is no longer here; he took his own life four years later when he was 20 years old.
"We have been struggling to go on each day," she said.
Carlos Lozano's name was in the report released Thursday by the Archdiocese of San Antonio. According to the report, he sexually abused several students.
Lozano died in prison.
"Where was God when my son was being raped by one of his own people?" Garcia Boehland asked. "Where was God when my son was hanging by that rope? I thought he could do miracles."
While she has lost her faith, Garcia Boehland said her son would be proud of her today for speaking out. However, she feels the list is simply not enough.
"I think there needs to be a deeper investigation," she said. "I think our district attorney and the attorney general needs to do its own investigation."
She said she does feel this report will help victims who are scared to come forward.
"If we can get the names out there, there is a chance something will be done," the mother said.
Catherine Stone is chair of the lay commission. Its six members were tasked to review the archdiocese's procedures of receiving and addressing claims of sexual abuse of minors.
"If we could produce a report, from our work, that survivors of abuse could say, 'Somebody heard me, somebody read about me, somebody substantiated what I have thought, or what I said,' that would be a success for us."
Stone said the commission's first priority were the survivors.
"People had been harmed," she said. "People had been broken, truly broken, by this abuse. We want them to know we didn't just look at this and rubber-stamp anything."
Stone said one of the main motivators for everyone on the commission is to make things right for survivors and safe for children.
Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller said another allegation was reported this week from an incident that happened decades ago. He does expect other survivors to come forward.
Archbishop Gustavo said none of the names released are currently with the archdiocese.
