My Takes and “Thank you, VOTF!” – Jim Post

I attended an event in Wellesley, MA where five extraordinary leaders – Fr. Tom Doyle, authors Richard Sipe and Jason Berry, and survivor leaders Sue Archibald (The LinkUp) and David Clohessy (SNAP) – spoke to an audience of more than 400 people about the current state of the sexual abuse tragedy. The panelists provided an overview, then answered a variety of questions from audience members.

A few key points:

1. "Crisis" may be an inappropriate word to use because it signifies a beginning and an end. To victim/survivors, there is no end – just the reality of living a life that has forever been affected by sexual abuse. We must understand this as an era of history that will only pass when another era – of honesty and sexual maturity – begins.
2. The scope of abuse that flows from the clerical culture is much broader than the abuse of children or adolescents alone. It extends to abuse of women, as well as men; teens and adults as well as children. At the root of the abuse equation is power and its misuse by those in positions of authority.
3. The cover up of information about these evils continues. Lawyers for the Catholic Church continue to suppress information, conceal records, and subvert the process of full disclosure. Projects such as the document disclosure project at www.bishopsaccountability.org are bringing much needed sunlight to these issues.
4. The need for public awareness continues to be great. There is so much that needs to be done – outreach to survivors, assistance to those coming forward, therapeutic assistance, and reform of the conditions within the Catholic Church that made such evil possible.
5. The panelists agreed that the twin goals of justice for survivors and prevention of future harms require all of us, as individuals and in our various organizations, to continue to take action. One small thing each day (a phone call to another person, a letter to a bishop demanding change, refusal to continue being a "pay, pray, and obey" Catholic) can build enormous grassroots pressure for change.

What happened to thousands of victims/survivors changed their lives. The knowledge that all of us have gained in two years has changed our lives. Together – survivors and committed Catholics – we can make an ever-stronger case for change.

My personal thanks to the hundreds of VOTF members and supporters who turned out for this event in Wellesley, MA. And my special thanks goes to the many VOTF members who volunteered their precious time, energy, and great baking talents to the reception.

I want it to be said loud and clear – THANK YOU VOTF!!!!

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