SURVIVOR COMMUNITY UPDATE

Steve Sheehan reports on the Boston, MA "Accountability March" held Sunday, February 29, 2004. The purpose of the march was to call on Governor Romney to convene an independent panel to assess the public safety crisis created by the Catholic bishops of the four dioceses of Massachusetts. The March was organized by the Coalition of Catholics and Survivors (CCS) and co-sponsored by CCS, Call to Action/New England, and SNAP, New England.

Steve's report is followed by a tribute to Patrick McSorley who died last week. Patrick was a victim of convicted abuser John Geoghan.

They beat the drum slowly in Boston on February 29, 2004.

The drum beat for 30 minutes on the sidewalk in front of the Cathedral of the Holy Cross.

Each beat of the drum accompanied the name of a Boston priest accused of abusing children they were ordained to serve and shepherd.

Each beat of the drum echoed the pain of the survivors of clergy abuse and their supporters who stood and listened.

The drum continued to beat to accompany the footfalls of approximately 150 marchers who proceeded from the cathedral, through the streets of downtown Boston to the State House. Many of the marchers carried posters with the names and pictures of the abusers and their superiors who abetted them. Four larges Crosses of Shame (approximately 15 feet high and two feet across) were carried by volunteers. These represented the four dioceses of Boston, Springfield, Worcester and Fall River. The crosses bore the names of priests, bishops and public officials who caused the abuse or failed to take appropriate action to bring it to a halt and bring the perpetrators to justice.

The drum beat again as the names of the bishops were read. These bishops, while assigned to dioceses in Massachusetts, allowed the abuse to continue for over four decades and protected the guilty parties until, in almost all cases, the statutes of limitations had expired. By their action or inaction, they placed the prevention of scandal and the church's code of secrecy ahead of the pleas of victims and their families.

In a press conference held in front of the State House at noontime, the marchers demanded that Governor Romney designate a task force to investigate the dioceses of Massachusetts and make public the names and locations of accused priests who have been removed from ministry. The Catholic Church is sitting on the largest list of sex offenders in the state and the public has a right and the need to know who they are and where they are in order to protect future generations of children from the same level of abuse.

The drum will continue to beat in the hearts and souls of the survivors and their advocates. And it will beat in memory for the deceased victims of sexual abuse by clergy until the truth, the whole truth is revealed.

Farewell to Patrick McSorley
Eternal rest grant him, O Lord,
and let the perpetual light shine upon him.

Survivors and advocates everywhere joined the family of Patrick McSorley in saying farewell to this young, brave survivor of John Geoghan.

Patrick, by coming forward and pressing his case against Geoghan, set a wonderful example for all survivors and prompted many others to come forward who otherwise might have remained in silent suffering. Patrick's courage and determination, in the face of his own tragic life, was a constant beacon in the darkness.

Patrick was buried on Friday, February 27, at Saint Francis Cemetery in Taunton, Massachusetts.

Some 50 vehicles formed a funeral cortege from St. Pius X Church in Milton to the cemetery in Taunton where mourners said their last farewells. All were devastated by the tragedy of Patrick's life as well as his death. Our hearts are overflowing with sympathy for Patrick, his family and friends and, especially, for his children.

The following prayer was offered for Patrick in the funeral program. It is a fitting tribute to the life and passing of this fine young man.

I'm Free

Don't grieve for me, for now I'm free;
I'm following the path God laid for me.
I took His hand when I heard Him call;
I turned my back and left it all.
I could not stay another day,
To laugh, to love, to work or play.
Tasks left undone must stay that way;
I found that place at the close of day.

If my parting has left a void,
Then fill it with remembered joy.
A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss;
Ah yes, these things, I too, will miss.

Be not burdened with times of sorrow;
I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.
My life's been full, I savored much;
Good friends, good times, a loved one's touch.

Perhaps my time seemed all too brief;
Don't lengthen it now with undue grief.
Lift up your heart and share with me;
God wanted me now, He set me free.

Author unknown

Spirit Be Free

Spirit Be Free…
Now that your capture in this container has ended
May you gently soar among and All that is Life…

Spirit Be Free…
Go and mingle with All that is Life
Return from whence you came
Bring with you the lessons imprisonment has taught…

Spirit Be Free
Mourn the tortures of capture; rejoice the freedom of release
Share the lessons learned and the wisdom gained
With those others opened to learn…

Spirit Be Free
Rest well; allow strength to return
Home is near
The cycle of birth and death has been completed
Warm, comforting and nurturing embraces await your arrival…

Spirit Be Free…
Take time…
Enjoy the sacredness of home, the gentleness of spirit…
Fuse all lessons into your being…
That should you ever have to return, both home and knowledge
Will be your conscious guide…

Spirit Be Free…
The longing has ended
The aching is over
You are Home now

Spirit Is Free!

survivor Kathleen M. Dwyer

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