Petitioners Want Wuerl's Name Removed From North Catholic

CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, PA - An online petition to remove Cardinal Donald Wuerl’s name from North Catholic High School quickly is gaining momentum and had attracted nearly 1,700 signatures as of Thursday morning.

The petition drive began after Tuesday’s release of a scathing grand jury report identifying more than 300 predator priests who sexually abused children in six Pennsylvania dioceses. Ninety-nine of the priests were from Pittsburgh.

The report was highly critical of how Wuerl, now a cardinal in Washington, D.C., handled sexual abuse allegations when he was Pittsburgh’s bishop. Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro has accused Wuerl and his successor, current Pittsburgh Bishop Daivd Zubik, of covering up the rapes of children by priests.

Both men have denied any cover-up occurred.

- What do you think? Should Wuerl’s name be removed from the school? Leave your thoughts in the comments section. -

Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic High School opened in Cranberry in 2014. Before that, the school was located in Troy Hill and bore no individual’s name.

The petition, purportedly started by North Catholic alumni, states that Wuerl “does not deserve to have a prestigious school named after him.”

“This will directly impact students currently enrolled in the school, (and) will also impact the legacy of the school - not to mention, those that were hurt while he looked away.”

Photo: Getty Images.

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