Working Group Reports

Supporting Our Priests

Priests and Survivors Come Together

From Peter Davey VOTF - East Bay area in California

VOTF, East Bay held our June General Meeting Monday, June 28th. We had put together a panel of three local priests and one from the Bronx, NY Msgr Harry Byrne. Unfortunately, Msg. Byrne could not make it due to illness.

The subject of meeting was National Review Board Report. The purpose of meeting was threefold: support survivors of abuse, support priests of integrity and continue healing. Jim Jenkins, a member of our SC, put together five questions based upon data suggested in the NRB report. Jenkins is a clinical psychologist and well versed on the subject.

During the two-hour session, the panelists discussed and answered questions regarding selection of candidates for priesthood, their screening, background checks; how our diocese deals with civil authorities when an allegation is made against a priest, work with survivors, how the diocese continues to monitor abusers when they are released back into society.

A number of survivors attended. Some stood and thanked us for having such an open meeting. One young man in particular said he had not been inside of a Catholic church in years. (We held a meeting in St. Joseph the Worker Church, Berkeley) and he was grateful. Their comments alone made the entire evening worthwhile! We are thankful for the courage and honesty of our priest panelists Frs. Dan Danielson, Declan Deane and Tim Stier.

And, what an attendance we had- 300! Panelists received a standing ovation. The Spirit is working in the East Bay.

Priests of Integrity Forum

"The State of The Catholic Church in Chicago Today" as discussed at a Priests of Integrity Forum held at Holy Family Parish in Inverness, Illinois on May 3, 2004 This report was written by VOTF member Jim Accurso and transcribed by Lisa Mersereau

On the evening of May 3rd, 2004 a "Priests of Integrity" forum allowed several Chicago-area priests the opportunity to share their feelings and insights on their lives as men of God and the current state of affairs in the Archdiocese of Chicago. This unique event took place at Holy Family Church in Inverness, IL before an audience of more than 200 concerned Catholics.

After an opening prayer, Terry O'Connor, the Chicago Regional Director of Voices of the Faithful (VOTF) made a few brief remarks regarding how the evening's priest forum came about before introducing moderator Bill Hinz. The panelists were then given the opportunity to speak on their backgrounds, qualifications and current assignments.

Now and Then
The evening's first question to the panel asked for a comparison of their priestly lives in Chicago under Cardinal Francis George to that of the era under Cardinal Joseph Bernardin.

The first priest to speak noted a major difference in "the rise of Parish councils and qualified lay staffs that promote a relational position between the priest and the laity. However," he continued, "the bishops seem a little lost because they don't know what to do with the local communities that have them." Another echoed a well-known complaint saying he "believes that the Archdiocese needs to be more unified and bring together the larger parishes, as there is no sense of a larger church." For me," he continued, "the parish is where there is life."

One feels that there is a certain amount of tension between the bishop and priests under George, stating "parochialism seems to have re-entered the Archdiocese of Chicago; there seems to be a move to punish creative priests who are encouraging the laity, compared to the Bernardin era where everyone strived to work together as one." Another said he currently feels that the Church "is both a contradiction and a paradox." As the bishops inquire about and, then, are told what people want, "It is obvious that they really don't want to know." As a result, he "struggles in his ministry on many different levels, with the more creative ways of being Church being done in an almost underground way." Thus, he finds himself failing to talk about the real issues, "like how the local church today needs to be faithful to Church teaching."

Another said "I have great hope for the Church as I see a lot of growth within the laity and a transformation of the people who want to have a voice within the Church. The Cardinals can't stop these folks." Another pastor lamented: "We are stuck. The Church doesn't know how to get back on its feet right now, and is not preparing for the future. I am concerned that the Bishops will sacrifice the whole for their comfort zones. I often take questions from my parishioners dealing with the lack of young people, and I think it's the style of leadership within the Catholic Church that is keeping the younger Catholics away."

One priest said that he often feels like crawling under a rock after "people make unkind comments or stare," when he's wearing his collar in public. Another candidly noted that for him, it "was sometimes difficult-and stressful-being a priest, but that there was nothing else I would want to do. I need the brotherhood of my fellow priests to challenge and help me to remain healthy, otherwise, I feel the people I am trying to serve will suffer." To validate this comment, another mentioned that he "has a group of fellow priests that he socializes with all the time; it's a shame that, for some reason, the younger priests don't seem to have these same bonds."

"The Holy Spirit Was Truly With Him"
The evening's second question to the panel asked if the priests felt the lay review board was a good solution to a complex problem.

The first responder felt good about the lay review board as "it shows that the laity can finally be permitted to take the lead in the governance of the church." He tempered that by saying: "I know priests who needed to be removed but, to do so through the press is not fair." The second to answer reminisced that "the Holy Spirit was really present with Bernardin when he established a review board long before the 2002 sex abuse scandal broke in the press." Concurring, another said that he, too, felt Bernardin "had a special calling with regard to victims of sexual abuse, and embraced them."

Still another felt that "some things could have been avoided if the bishops had listened to Bernardin when he first brought it up; however, they apparently felt they could handle their own dioceses on a case-by-case basis." He went on to say that "it is not only the injustice of the situation that makes me angry, it is also the lack of reality that seems to be present at the bishops' level." Then, he very pointedly speculated that "perhaps those who tumbled during the 2002 sex abuse scandal were some of the ones who fought Bernardin the hardest ten years ago when he wanted to establish a national policy."

Zero Tolerance Was Wrong
The evening's third question to the panel asked if the zero tolerance policy initially established by the bishops was a good solution.

The first to respondent felt not, saying, "Zero tolerance is a problem that focused a lot on priests because they're on the front lines. That might have been fine if the bishops took some responsibility themselves, but they haven't shown any accountability with regard to the sex abuse scandal. A small number of bishops don't get it and the problem with this is that it allows them to paint the picture for everyone else." Continuing to note his displeasure, he added "once a priest is asked to leave the Church, there is no way to monitor and possibly prosecute him. Now he's out in society where he could harm someone else. It is better to keep them within the Church where they can get help and where they can be monitored and kept away from children. Also, zero tolerance makes the Church less responsible."

Similarly, another noted that he "feels betrayed," observing that "the relationship between the bishops and us is at an all time low. Brother to brother has turned into a manager/employee relationship." Contemplating a possible remedy to this difficult situation, this priest continued that "if the bishops were accountable-and perhaps if the laity spoke out more-they would be forced to listen." Another felt "the style of leadership employed by the bishops is troubling. What came out of Dallas is that the system has abused the abused, yet, no one confronts it." Confiding that "many of us priests were angry with the abusers and with the bishops," another noted that "we also disagreed with the zero tolerance policy because it failed to focus on all abuse, as it did not allow for healing of all those who have been victimized." Feeling that "there is a lot of scapegoating going on here," another said he felt that "lines were blurred and people were guilty before having a chance to speak, even if allegations were unfounded. Priests were judged in the press and considered guilty regardless of the credibility of the person making an old allegation."

"The Spirit Is Alive"
The evening's fourth and final question to the panel asked the priests to describe what types of support they desire from the laity.

One indicated that he doesn't need any additional help as he "already receives their incredible support," and when people feel his struggle, "I am encouraged to keep doing what I am doing." Another saw this event as support, and it shows that there are people "who are on our side. The best way the laity can support priests is by becoming personally involved in the mission of the Lord." Yet another sees himself as "a witness to a laity that goes out of their way to make sure my fellow priests and I are affirmed. They always ask what they can do for me and if I am taking time for myself." One pastor sees some in his congregation evangelizing more, which is good, "because those on the fringe will listen to and trust some of my more active parishioners before they will listen to or trust me." Another says he's "often in need of assistance, especially when situations arise regarding women or homosexuals, who struggle within the Church system." Speaking to the adage that people dialogue at different levels and in different ways, one panelist said that "there seems to be a fear of dialogue higher up within the Church. Everyone needs to be respected and integrated in the Church, as Jesus was all about respect and integration of all of the faithful." Many panelists agreed with this-and the following-observation of they're "all in the mess together, and thankfully the Spirit is alive in that mess."

"The structure in which authority is exercised, in addition to dialogue, is in need of changes that need to come from the very top, starting with our current, non-collegial Pope John Paul II," one remarked. Concurring, another felt that "the current structures will topple like the Berlin Wall once everyone examines their true calling and asks how they are uniquely gifted to attend to the needs around them." Still another felt that "we should try and establish true collegiality and build structures so all people can work together." Coming some 90 minutes after the first insight, the last comment brought this "Priests of Integrity" forum full-circle by hopefully reminding those present that "the life and nourishment of the Church comes from the roots, which is each parish." With that, Mr. Hinz thanked the panelists for their participation and candor. Attendees adjourned to Holy Family's narthex for some refreshments and light conversation.

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