JUNEAU - The Diocese of Juneau has ordered an independent review of all sexual misconduct allegations involving people associated with the church.
The diocese announced Wednesday that Catholic Bishop Andrew Bellisario has assembled a three-person commission to review personnel files of all clergy since the diocese was established in 1951, the Juneau Empire reported.
The investigation was not prompted by any specific misconduct allegations, said Dominique Johnson, director of communications for the diocese.
"It's for transparency to make sure there's nothing in the personnel files," Johnson said. "A lot of other dioceses across the country are doing the same thing right now."
The Archdiocese of Anchorage launched a similar review in October.
The commission includes former Juneau Superior Court Judge Patricia Collins, former Ketchikan Superior Court Judge Thomas Schulz and retired Juneau Police Lt. Kris Sell. They will begin their investigation next month, aiming to wrap it up by June.
After the probe is completed, the commission is expected to produce a report that will include the names of all those found to have credible sexual misconduct allegations against them.
The commission will look for any violation of state, federal or canon law involving children or vulnerable adults and any improper handling of those cases. Employees and volunteers of the diocese will also be subject to the review.
The report will be submitted to Bellisario and the president of the Diocesan Review Board for the Protection of Children, Young People, and Vulnerable Adults. Bellisario will also publish the names of those implicated, the diocese said.