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SURVIVOR Community News

Bill Gately is New England Co-coordinator of SNAP (Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests) and wrote the following letter to a regional newspaper

As the systemic problem of sexual abuse continues to reveal itself within the Catholic Church, two philosophical camps have inadvertently been developed. It is the establishment of a "them vs. us" mentality; "them" being Church leaders and "us" being victims of sexual abuse and those among the laity who believe in accountability and responsibility. This adversarial divide is caused by our insistence that those who rape, molest and exploit children and those who harbor them be brought to justice. During the initial stages of their public relations debacle, some of "us" naively offered to work with "them" to develop a cooperative, transparent policy of openness, only to be told they would take care of it. But instead of looking into their collective conscience they found the culprits among the laity. They blamed the sensationalism of the media, the unscrupulous lawyers, the sex-crazed Americans and of course the gay clergy. As the "us" have fought for justice, the pontificating, the finger pointing and the cries of "Catholic bashing" have been the response of "them".

The rapists and their protectors continue to be hidden behind legal loopholes and the pervasive malady of deference to clergy. The knowledge that priests and members of the Catholic hierarchy have been raping and molesting children and vulnerable adults for centuries is still beyond our ability to fathom. The fact that every American Bishop has escaped prosecution lies beyond our collective grasp. However, what is most incredible is the fact that their blatant moral and ethical failings have become common knowledge to all but the Bishops themselves.

The recent comments by Bishop D'Arcy at a church in Brighton are a clear indication of this. These statements could be dismissed as more ecclesiastical gay bashing if they weren't so dangerous and misleading. Make no mistake, clergy sexual abuse begins with abuse of power at every level of Church hierarchy. To reduce perhaps the world's largest international child abuse secret to the simple cause and effect of gay clergy is offensive to every rational thinking individual touched by this tragedy. Such remarks present an inaccurate and unfair picture of this problem, a tact we are all too familiar with. He also undermines the good work of committed gay priests, and diminishes the suffering of the thousands of women who are also victims of abusive priests and bishops. Given the vast number of emotionally immature heterosexual clergy who abuse their power through inappropriate relationships with both sexes, these comments are extremely irresponsible and disingenuous. Bishop Wilton Gregory, the president of the National Conference of Bishops suggested erroneously that the problem is behind us. Attitudes of Bishop D'Arcy show us otherwise. Inadvertently, his comments point to a long journey on the road to recovery.

Ironically, D'Arcy's comments were spoken at a church struggling to keep its doors open in light of the recent series of potential closings. Had the bishops been protecting children and notifying parents rather than protecting molesters, perhaps some churches would not be closing.

His comments are of particular interest to me, since the priest that molested me is a heterosexual man who is now married and the father of three children; someone with the criteria D'Arcy considers preferable. The good work of the Church is dependent on quality leaders with ethics and integrity, regardless of sexual orientation. Leadership must include transparency and accountability on the part of Bishops. Gay bashing and shifting blame is not the answer.

 


LONG AWAITED BOOK ON CLERGY ABUSE - submitted by Gary Bergeron

Arc Angel Publishing announced that they will publish "Don't Call Me A Victim"- Faith Hope and Sexual Abuse in the Catholic Church by Gary Bergeron.

"This book was written by an actual survivor of the current abuse scandal that has rocked the Catholic Church. The general public has been watching this scandal unfold through newspaper headlines and television stories. "Don't Call Me A Victim" - Faith, Hope and Sexual Abuse in the Catholic Church, will give its readers a rare opportunity to view this tragedy through the eyes of someone who has lived it. It is a powerful inside look into a world most people are not aware even existed. We are grateful to be a part of it.," said Juliette Therrien of Arc Angel Publishing.

"If one survivor reads it and finds comfort in it, I've done what I set out to do," said author Gary Bergeron.

Gary Bergeron has been one of Boston's most outspoken critics in the sexual abuse scandal. In March of 2003 Bergeron, along with his then 77 year old father, also a clergy abuse survivor, traveled to Rome and became the first survivors from the United States to be recognized by the Vatican in a meeting with the Vatican's secretary of State. (back ground information).

In March of 2004 Bergeron Founded The T.R.U.S.T. Foundation, Inc. Treatment, Recovery & Understanding Sexual Trauma, a non-profit foundation formed to aid adult survivors of sexual abuse in recovery and treatment. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of each book will be donated to fund survivor support groups.

The release date for "Don't Call Me A Victim"- Faith, Hope and Sexual Abuse in the Catholic Church, is September 9, 2004.This date marks the one-year anniversary of the largest sexual abuse settlement reached against the Catholic Church. For more information visit www.arcangelpublishing.com


Survivor support activist Steve Sheehan reflects on the "The Healing Tree" - one year later in "The Healing Tree Revisited"

On the first day of this month, I was walking down Commonwealth Avenue in Brighton, Mass., and found myself standing in front of the healing tree. Readers may remember this tree from an article that appeared in the August 2003 issue of In the Vineyard.

The tree itself appears not to have changed very much. It may be a little taller, a little fuller, a little greener, but only the most discerning eye would notice. What is significant is that its location has changed. No, it has not physically moved from its former location. The change relates to its surroundings. No longer does it flourish in the shadow of the mansion that served as the imperial residence of the cardinal archbishop of the archdiocese of Boston. The bishop no longer resides there.

The archbishop has moved to a rectory on the grounds of Holy Cross Cathedral, and the mansion and its surrounding estate have been sold to Boston College to raise funds to pay for financial settlements to the survivors of clergy abuse.

When I first reported on the healing tree, survivor Steven Lynch had just completed a ten-day vigil of fasting and meditating in front of the regal residence. One might have questioned the effectiveness of such a vigil as the diocesan leadership paid little attention to him. Nonetheless, Steven Lynch, the other survivors and supporters from Voice of the Faithful are still in evidence demanding justice, accountability and transparency from the hierarchy, while the imposing edifice, which represented the archdiocese, has ceased to exist as such.

The message that the healing tree brought to me on this day, and which I wish to share with you, is that the seemingly impenetrable fortification representing the might of the archdiocese and its disdain for our wounded brothers and sisters has been penetrated by the seemingly powerless few who have stood vigil over the past painful years and have refused to be bullied into silence and oblivion. Truth is strength and speaking truth to power is always the indicated activity, not in the expectation that it will always succeed, but in the knowledge that it is the right thing to do.

The tree still stands. The survivors remain steadfast. Voice of the Faithful must remain true to our promise to support those who have suffered and continue to suffer so much. The Church must change and become responsive to the needs of the pilgrim people of God, in fulfillment of the promise of Jesus Christ.

The tree will continue to bear witness.

 

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In the Vineyard
August 2004
Volume 3, Issue 8

Page One

VOTF on Boston Common

AFFILIATE NEWS

Reports From the Field

Events, Opportunities & News

Sing a New Song

Letters to the Editor

COUNCIL Coverage

Printer Friendly Version (WORD)

In the Vineyard Archives

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