THE TABLET
July 19, 2008

The Effects of Sexual Abuse

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

One of the most difficult things I must do as Bishop is to meet with the victims of sexual abuse perpetrated by members of the clergy.  During my now almost five years as Bishop of Brooklyn, I have had encounters with almost forty victims of sexual abuse.  The meetings always take place with the assistance of Sister Ellen Patricia Finn, O.P., M.ed., LMSW, Associate Director of Catholic Charities, who is the Diocesan Outreach Coordinator for victims of abuse.  Sister Ellen and I find these meetings always challenging, but at the same time fulfilling so that we can, in the name of the Church, bring some healing and peace to those who had been victimized by members of the Church. 

The powerful example of Pope Benedict XVI in meeting with victims of sexual abuse gives encouragement to the Bishops to do the same.  Many Bishops have been meeting with victims and giving what spiritual assistance they can and apologizing in the name of the Church for the horrible situation they experienced.  I am thankful for my social work training because it enables me to empathize and guide conversations so they can be helpful.  These are difficult situations because sexual abuse in childhood very often has devastating spiritual effects.  The abuse affects the world-ordering psychological structures that govern our relationship with God and the meaning of Life.  Sexual abuse by clergy can be even more devastating because clergy are so closely connected with God through their roles in the churches.

Unfortunately, more than clinical training is needed to truly enter into the spiritual relationship with those who are abused.  Prayer is always important before and after these special encounters.  It is the healing ministry of Jesus Himself that the Church must carry on in our own day, especially for those who have in any way been abused by those representing the Church. While forgiveness is a goal to strive for, it may not necessarily be the first step on the healing journey.  Healing is a process that for many victims can be very long.

Victims come from all backgrounds and no two are alike.  Circumstances are varied and different, but the commonality is that these persons need to feel that someone understands their pain, acknowledges the wrongdoing and offers a sincere apology in the name of the Church.  Many victims have led tortured lives, and the challenge facing them is to journey beyond victimization to embrace the richer possibility of a life as a survivor.  While one never forgets sexual abuse, I have met many survivors who have been able to move on, pick up their lives and begin again.  These are truly blessed individuals.  It is only the persons themselves who were victimized that can throw off the yoke of suffering.  They do need the help of others, especially those who represent the Church.

As Bishop, I welcome not only the support of Sister Ellen Patricia in this work but want to acknowledge the wonderful assistance offered to the Church in Brooklyn and Queens by our Diocesan Review Board.  The expertise, insight and recommendations of this outstanding board continue to be a source of support and encouragement to me.  The expertise and thoroughness they demonstrate investigating and presenting cases is an invaluable resource to me and the Diocese as we work toward achieving just resolutions to the allegations presented to the Diocese.

Victims of sexual abuse perpetrated by a member of the clergy or those employed by the Diocese are offered counseling. Each victim/survivor is free to select their own therapist. However, we encourage them to select an individual who has some experience with sexual abuse. In addition, Sister Ellen Patricia is always available to assist not only the victim/survivor but family members as well.  The Diocese stands behind its program of assistance, which was in effect even before the Dallas Charter that mandated diocesan involvement in such programs.

Perhaps the nagging question we all feel is, “Why has this happened within the bosom of the Church, how can it be that priests, deacons and others may have abused minors?”  The answer to this question is very complex.  The Church in the United States has endeavored since 2002, after the Dallas Charter, to systematically and scientifically answer the question.  The John Jay College of Criminal Justice, located here in New York City, had been contracted to first produce a study which analyzed the depth and volume of abuse.  Now that same research team is working on several projects to understand how abuse can be prevented in the future. 

Besides our own prevention programs, which I will speak about in another article, the precautions that the Church must take in the selection and training of seminarians is one of the hoped-for outcomes of the John Jay studies.  Also, it is hoped that insight into the causes of this phenomenon will assist us in making amends and preparing for the future.  Given my background in social research, I serve as a consultant to this research team.  The meetings of this team are truly rewarding, since their dedication and expertise will serve the Church well when these reports are completed in the next several years.

One report which the Bishops, and those involved, is awaiting is the Causes and Context Study which will endeavor to describe the causes and the context in which sexual abuse took place in the Church.  Going back more than a half century, the study will look at the historical situation, as well as the training given to seminarians, and study also the rehabilitation given to perpetrators in an effort to find out why this occurred.  Unfortunately, there are many theories regarding this complex social and moral issue, but unless some research of these theories is completed, they will remain just assumptions with little credibility unless we can bring some evidence to back up what popular wisdom feels the causative elements are.

Every meeting with the victims of sexual abuse is certainly an exercise of “putting out into the deep” on my part and that of Sister Ellen Patricia.  I ask you to pray for the victims as they continue the long journey toward healing.  Also, please remember in your prayers the priest perpetrators, that they may be open to rehabilitation and repentance.

Healing those who are sinners and those who have been sinned against is certainly the work of the Church of Jesus Himself.   We must continue to be open to what this work teaches us, build on our current efforts and remain united in our compassion for and solidarity with those who have suffered.