Voice of the Faithful Focus – A brief update highlighting both a problem in our church and some progress being made as we work together to Keep the Faith, Change the Church.

Progress

Ann and Ray Higgins of Santa Barbara CA have shown how two people can make a difference in our Church and in our world. After learning that their son had been abused by a Franciscan monk at St. Anthony’s in Santa Barbara, the Higgins helped lead the charge that forced the Franciscans to conduct an official inquiry into sexual abuse. They discovered that 25 percent of the priests and brothers assigned to St. Anthony’s over a 23-year period were sexual predators. Today, the Higgins are still reaching out to victims of clergy sexual abuse and offering them free therapy. They have recently formed the Therapy Trust for Victims of Clergy Abuse which is funded by donations from survivors who have received financial settlements from the St. Anthony suit. For more information, click here.

Problem

The diocese of Spokane WA headed by Bishop William Skylstad, President of the USCCB, recently emerged from bankruptcy proceedings. But unlike the Archdiocese of Portland Oregon which came out of bankruptcy a few days before, Spokane refused to release the personnel records which would have revealed the numerous diocese officials who had cooperated in these heinous crimes by transferring known abusers from parish to parish ever since the 1930s. That Skylstad had once shared a residence with a priest who has admitted to abusing dozens of boys makes the need for accountability and transparency all the more vital. For VOTF’s statement click here.

For a news account, click here.

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