ERIE. — More than five women who claim they were sexually abused by Erie's former Episcopal bishop have contacted the diocese since its current bishop went public with news of his predecessor's transgressions, the bishop said Tuesday.

In a statement, the Rev. Sean Rowe said the additional complaints have come in the days following Sunday's reading of a letter at services about the Rev. Donald Davis.

Davis was the bishop of the diocese from 1974 until 1991; he died in 2007 at age 78.

"In the days to come, I may hear from more," Rowe said. "All of these women are in my prayers, and I ask that you include them in yours."

One woman said in an e-mail to the diocese obtained by the Erie Times-News that the bishop stuck his tongue in her mouth at a church camp and later asked her to go to his cabin.

The girl, now grown, did not go to his cabin and instead hid in some bushes.

The woman wished to remain anonymous. She told the newspaper she was glad that Rowe admitted the abuse by Davis.

"I'm glad they have a bishop now that's owning up to it," the woman told the paper.

Rowe first heard about the abuse in March, when a woman called to tell him Davis had abused her. He decided to go public with the information because he hoped more victims, if they existed, would come forward.