September 9, 2003

Voice of the Faithful welcomes the news that a settlement has been reached between many alleged victim/survivors of clergy sexual abuse and the Archdiocese of Boston. We are particularly gratified for survivors, for whom this necessary step of justice will help in their journey
of healing.

The settlement that was announced today is a welcome development in a story that has featured too much pain and too much suffering. It is the product of a lengthy negotiation process involving many parties, including:

• Survivors and their attorneys, who are to be commended for their endurance and persistence
  
• Mediators, who are to be commended for their skill and persistence
  
• Archbishop O'Malley and the new archdiocesan attorneys, who are to be commended for acknowledging the essential need for a fair and just settlement, and who addressed this matter head-on

This settlement has important implications for all Catholics. The ultimate cost of these commitments will be borne by the people of the Archdiocese. We, the people, must insist that real reforms now take place and that the culture that allowed such abuse to occur and to be concealed be transformed into one
that operates openly and honestly. The underlying problems that allowed the crisis to continue for half a century still remain and must be acknowledged by the Church before we can hope to restore the trust and begin to truly heal as a Church.

It would be an enormous mistake for anyone to celebrate or believe that things can return to old ways -- to business as usual. The Catholic Church must never -- never -- return to business as usual.

The damage done by the sexual abuse crisis is extensive, reaching far beyond today's settlement. The settlement, while an important substantive and symbolic step forward, is but one step on a road that stretches before us.

The challenge ahead now focuses on (a) settling remaining cases, of which there are many; (b) developing a healing process that brings together -- at one table -- survivors, clergy, the Catholic laity, and the Archbishop. Until all sides of this "four-sided table" can freely, openly, and honestly talk with one another, the Church cannot truly heal.

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