Survivor Support Community

Still Learning

Sexual abuse by priests and religious authority figures is, sadly, everywhere.

Invitations – welcoming, supportive and meaningful invitations – need to be extended to survivors to speak in every parish.

The survivors need to be included in the prayer of the faithful --- not in a token way but in the way in which a family prays for the innocent and vulnerable among them who are wounded and for whom all call upon the Most High and work for justice.

The knowledge that there are victims who committed suicide needs to become common knowledge throughout this Church. Bishops who transferred and protected priests who raped and sodomized children, if they do not resign voluntarily, must be removed by the Pope.

If these things don’t happen, the words of Pope Benedict that every Catholic has the duty to do everything possible to heal these wounds, will be what the trail of the jet fuel of Shepherd One was as it lifted into the night sky and out across the Atlantic on the evening of April 20 – a pretty sight that quickly evaporated, leaving no trace to the onlooker that it had ever been there.

For his part, survivor Bernie McDaid would go to every corner of the earth, I am sure, to speak if that is what it would take for Catholics to listen to him, work to protect children and bring forth justice.

But if every Catholic heeded Pope Benedict’s words, -- or even if every Voice of the Faithful Catholic heeded Pope Benedict’s words, Bernie McDaid wouldn’t need to travel at all. Every Catholic can have the moment of compassion and understanding Pope Benedict had with the five survivors he met. All any Catholic has to do is want such a moment and act.

A clergy sex abuse survivor assesses the papal visit

from David Clohessy, director of SNAP

 During his US trip Pope Benedict talked several times about the church’s on-going sex abuse and cover-up scandal and met for 20 minutes with five victims. It was unprecedented. It may or may not however, eventually prove significant.

We can’t confuse words and deeds. Words can bring comfort. But they cannot bring safety. And a shepherd’s first duty is to safeguard his flock, especially the most vulnerable.

Concealing clergy sex crimes isn’t just another ‘issue‘ the pope could and should “address.” Ultimately, other decision-makers influence war, inequity and hunger. On those matters, the pontiff can really only pontificate. With this crisis, however, only the pope can take swift, decisive measures to help kids at risk right now.

Our group’s mission is to heal the wounded and protect the vulnerable. Through therapy and support groups, we are helping one another recover. But we can’t make children across the globe safer. That requires action, not sympathy or promises, from the Pope.

Bishops can deal with predator priests (even though they largely do so slowly, secretly, and sporadically). Only the pope can deal with complicit bishops. He has yet to do so.

Nor has he adopted, much less implemented, a global church abuse prevention policy.

Thousands of predator priests have been suspended by bishops. But no bishops have been suspended (or even verbally rebuked) by the pope, not even the most egregious prelates who have been or are deceitful about and reckless with child predators.

Until he does, he essentially condones widespread risk, callousness and duplicity. By ignoring wrong-doing, he sanctions and even tacitly encourages wrongdoing. That is an irresponsible abrogation of his moral obligation as St. Peter’s successor.

Luke tells us “From him to whom much has been given, much is expected.” Pope Benedict has been given an extraordinary gift – oversight of one billion souls.

We do millions of innocent kids an enormous disservice if we set expectation so low for a global leader. Children need and Catholics deserve, and need, much more.

Barbara Blaine and David Clohessy are leaders in SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests

VOTF Survivor Support Working Group reports on some of the activities surrounding the Pope’s visit

Steve Sheehan

Last weekend, SNAP, Road to Recovery and A Matter of Truth joined forces in New York City both to support and comment on the visit of the Pope to that city and his remarks concerning the crimes of clergy sexual abuse within the church.

 The activities began on Friday afternoon with a press conference by SNAP in front of the cathedral at 2:00 PM followed by a gathering of survivors and supporters across the street from the cathedral. That evening from 6-9 PM a book signing and candlelight vigil was held which was attended by over 150 people,, coordinated by Robert Costello of  A Matter of Truth, at the Lott Gallery on  West 18th Street.  Autographed copies of Carmine Galasso's book, Crosses, were available for sale. On the sidewalk, by candlelight, the names of survivors, living and deceased, were read by alternating survivors and supporters, including Paul Kellen and Steve Sheehan. Introductory remarks were made by Costello, Kris Ward, David Clohessy and Barbara Blaine. Other organizations represented included BishopAccountability.org , STTOP, and the Sidewalk Affiliate, all from the Greater Boston area.

On Saturday morning, a group assembled sponsored by Re, Bob Hoatson of Road to Recovery, on Fifth Avenue as close to the cathedral as we were allowed with pictures of many of the abused children and posters calling for justice for the victims and accountability for the church hierarchy. On Sunday morning group participants stood close to the entrance to Yankee Stadium where thousands more witnessed our message.

The theme that ran through all these activities was that we were all grateful that the Pontiff spoke about the abuse and met with several survivors. However, we asked that the words be followed by decisive and ongoing actions to make the spoken words a reality. We asked that the laity and clergy emulate the Pope and follow his lead by inviting survivors into their dioceses and parishes to tell their stories and be heard directly, that the clergy cooperate fully with law enforcement agencies, and that the laity demand that their representatives in state legislatures work ardently to remove the unfair statutes of limitations that hamper the prosecution of sexual predators. 

  It was a very upbeat, and spiritually uplifting weekend for all who were there.  The NRC should be thankful to all who promoted and participated in these events. The VOTF Survivor Support Working Group was well represented throughout, and attending the candlelight vigil were Representatives Ward, Lee, Ed and Anne Wilson and Steve Sheehan.