CLERGY
ABUSE UPDATE The Catholic Church faces new steps in dealing with scandal
The U.S. Conference
of Catholic Bishops will gather June 16-18, 2005, in Chicago to consider important
steps in the hierarchy's ongoing reaction to the clergy sexual abuse crisis.
The chief task is to revise and finalize the "Charter for the Protection
of Children and Young People" that the bishops first passed three years
ago in Dallas. The bishops are expected to retain the "zero-tolerance"
provision.
The bishops also
will decide whether to spend up to $1 million on an in-depth study of causes
and context behind the sexual abuse of minors by clergy.
But several other
recent developments also could influence the crisis and the Catholic priesthood.
Most prominent is Pope Benedict XVI's election and the selection of an American
archbishop to succeed him at the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
Other elements that will make for timely stories include an expected Vatican
review of American seminaries, a possible Vatican document on homosexuals in
the priesthood, the oversight of local diocesan abuse policies and the continuing
legal and financial troubles in many U.S. dioceses.
Why it Matters
The clergy sexual abuse scandal is considered the biggest crisis in the history
of the Catholic Church in America. Catholics remain the largest single U.S.
denomination by far, with about 65 million baptized members, nearly one-quarter
of the population. The scandal also has implications for other denominations
and faiths and has affected how pastors are trained and how they conduct their
ministry. Moreover, the scandal has led to an unprecedented review of sexual
abuse laws and prevention policies across the country - impacting a range of
professions and institutions where adults oversee children.
Questions for
reporters
• Where
does your local diocese compare nationally in terms of abuse cases, financial
payouts and policies? How about what the national standards mandate? Will any
changes to the charter and norms affect the diocese?
• Does your diocese have a seminary? What steps have officials there taken
to cope with issues raised by the sexual abuse crisis? How are seminarians coping?
• Are priests in your diocese organized? Is there a priest senate or a
presbyteral council? Are they affiliated with the National Federation of Priests'
Councils? Do they feel they have a voice?
• The charter's section on clerics in religious orders has been rewritten
to clarify the orders' internal autonomy while respecting a bishop's authority
within his diocese. How many order priests work in your diocese? How well are
they covered by diocesan policies?
• How effective is your diocesan review board? How does it compare with
others around the country? Who is on the board? Are members' names made public?
What are their views on the charter changes? On the process?
• Are lay groups like Voice of the Faithful active in your diocese? Are
they allowed on church property or barred, as in some dioceses?
Several key developments
in the Catholic clergy sexual abuse crisis have recently occurred.
First was the Feb.
27, 2004, release of a survey on the cumulative toll of sexual abuse inflicted
on children by priests during the past 50 years. The lay-led Office of Child
and Youth Protection of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops commissioned
experts from the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York to research
most of the 194 U.S. dioceses.
The survey found
that about 4 percent of U.S. priests ministering from 1950-2002 were accused
of sex abuse with a minor - a total of nearly 4,400 clergy, almost all priests,
accused of abusing more than 10,000 minors. Three-quarters of the incidents
took place from 1960-1984. The report pegged related costs at $573 million,
though that figure - along with the number of accusations and victims - has
gone up significantly in the past year. (Catholic News Service maintains an
archive
of stories on the report.)
Also, the National
Review Board, a lay panel set up by the bishops in 2002 to monitor church progress
in the scandal, released its own report on underlying "causes and context."
In February 2005,
the Office of Child and Youth Protection released its second annual audit detailing
bishops' compliance with child protection policies they implemented in 2002.
The office provided an update on abuse report numbers.
At their June 2005
meeting, the bishops are expected to vote to revise and finalize the charter
and norms. Of equal importance, observers say, will be whether the bishops move
ahead with a long-term independent study of causes and context, at a cost of
up to $4 million. Experts say there is no other comparable study by any organization
about how - and whether - the sexual abuse of children is related to celibacy,
homosexuality and other sensitive issues being debated.
Several other recent
developments also could influence the issue and the future of the Catholic priesthood.
As cardinal, Benedict
headed the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the powerful Vatican
office that is final arbiter on matters related to clergy sexual abuse. Many
victim advocates saw him as sympathetic to their position. His selection in
May of San Francisco Archbishop William Levada as his successor at the CDF not
only put an American in one of the church's most powerful posts, but also was
seen as recognition that the Vatican needed an American's expertise. The CDF
is dealing with a number of requests for canonical trials and laicizations of
abusive priests. Yet many victim advocates who disapproved of Levada's approach
and policies while in San Francisco criticized his appointment. There was also
consternation among victims groups over the May
20, 2005, announcement that the Vatican had ended a probe into allegations
against the founder of the Legionaries of Christ, the Rev. Marcial Maciel Degollado,
accused of abusing several teenagers in one of the most high-profile cases in
recent years.
A Vatican review
of some 50 U.S. seminaries is expected to begin later in 2005. It likely will
focus on admissions criteria and on issues of preparing candidates for a life
of chastity. A Vatican document on homosexuals' suitability for priesthood reportedly
has been in drafting stages for some time. But an April
13, 2005, CNS story says that document and others relating to psychological
testing of priest candidates are "on hold."
Priest morale remains
fragile. Vocations have not rebounded. Internal divisions in the priesthood
often fall along generational lines. Priests also are concerned about their
relationship with the hierarchy.
Anger among lay
people at the bishops continues. Lay Catholics want more transparency and accountability.
The financial fallout
continues, too. Latest tallies show U.S. dioceses and religious orders have
paid out nearly $800 million in claims and judgments.
• In December 2004, the Spokane, Wash., diocese became the third in the
United States - after Portland, Ore., and Tucson, Ariz. - to file for bankruptcy
due to mounting sexual abuse claims. In March 2005, the Diocese of St. George's
became Canada's first to go bankrupt.
• In January 2005, California's Diocese of Orange agreed to pay $100 million
to 90 claimants in the largest sexual abuse settlement in history. The diocese
also agreed to release personnel files of those accused of abuse.
• In May 2005, the Archdiocese of Boston announced it was considering reducing
retirement benefits for priests to help it cope financially.
NOTE:
While the bishops are meeting in Chicago, the Church
in the 21st Century Initiative, sponsored by Boston College, will present
a three-day conference, "The Roman Catholic Priesthood in the 21st Century."
On June 21, 2005, the program will sponsor "The Second Annual Conference
on Understanding the Clergy Sexual Abuse Crisis."
ORGANIZATIONS
• The Chicago-based National
Federation of Priests' Councils is the leading voice for the nation's Catholic
priests, representing some 26,000 of the nation's 43,000 priests. Contact the
president, the Rev. Robert Silva, 312-226-3334 ext. 205, silva@nfpc.org.
• The Conference of Major
Superiors of Men represents religious orders in the United States. Unlike
diocesan priests, the 20,000 priests and brothers in religious orders - Franciscans,
Jesuits, Dominicans, etc. - generally live in communities and by their orders'
rules. They are subject to local diocese mandates, but concerns have been raised
about how to integrate the bishops' charter with the orders' historic autonomy.
The conference is based in Silver Spring, Md. Contact the Rev. Bob Bozek, 301-588-4030,
bbozek@cmsm.org.
• The Leadership
Conference of Women Religious is an association of leaders of Catholic women
religious in the United States and represents about 95 percent of the 75,000
U.S. nuns and sisters. While male clergy commit the vast majority of abuse cases,
victims advocates say abuse by women religious is an overlooked problem. The
LCWR is also based in Silver Spring, Md. Contact director of communications,
Sister Annmarie Sanders, IHM, at 301-588-4955, asanders@lcwr.org.
• SNAP, or the Survivors
Network of those Abused by Priests, is the foremost advocacy group for clergy
abuse victims. SNAP has regional
directors and local
support groups. Or you can contact Executive Director David Clohessy in
St. Louis at 314-566-9790, SNAPClohessy@aol.com, or President Barbara Blaine
in Chicago at 312-409-2720, SNAPBlaine@hotmail.com.
• The Linkup, based
in Louisville, Ky., is another leading victims advocacy group. It also has information
on abuse cases from other denominations. Contact President Sue Archibald, 502-290-4055,
LinkupOffice@aol.com.
• Voice of the Faithful
is the leading grass-roots lay organization to emerge in the wake of the sexual
abuse scandal. Based in Boston, the organization pushes for church governance
reform and holding bishops accountable, and promotes victims rights. Contact
Suzanne Morse, 617-680-2131, smorse@votf.org.
• BishopAccountability.org
is a clearinghouse for information on sexual abuse by priests and on the hierarchy's
reactions. Contact the group's co-founder, Paul Baier, 781-910-5467, staff@BishopAccountability.org.
• Foundations
and Donors Interested in Catholic Activities is a Washington-based organization
that encourages Catholic giving. It pushes for greater transparency in church
governance and accountability in church finances. Contact President Francis
J. Butler, 202-223-3550, info@fadica.org.
• The Catholic
League for Religious and Civil Rights critiques media coverage of the Catholic
Church. The league produced its own report
on clergy abuse. Contact 212-371-3191.
• Prevent Child
Abuse America is a nonprofit advocacy group that has been operating nationally
for 30 years to stop abuse. Contact Melissa Wiles, manager, public relations
and advertising, 312-663-3520 ext. 846, mwiles@preventchildabuse.org.
• The Sexuality Information
and Education Council of the United States is a national, nonprofit organization
that "develops, collects and disseminates information, promotes comprehensive
education about sexuality and advocates the right of individuals to make responsible
sexual choices." The organization has a range of data on sexual abuse and
staff people who can interpret data. The council has offices in New York and
Washington, D.C. Contact Martha Kempner, director of public information in New
York, 212-819-9770 ext. 324, siecus@siecus.org.
• The National
Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect is part of the government's Department
of Health and Human Services. It has reports on the extent of child abuse in
the United States. Contact through your
regional office.
Click
the map for interview sources
in your state and region
National
sources
• Dean Hoge is a professor of sociology at Catholic University of America
in Washington, D.C., and one of the foremost researchers on Catholic issues. James
Davidson is a sociologist at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind., who specializes
in the study of American Catholicism. They co-authored a 2004 study of American
Catholic attitudes. Contact Hoge at 202-319-5999, Hoge@cua.edu.
Contact Davidson at 765-494-4688, davidsonj@cla.purdue.edu.
• Thomas Plante is a professor of psychology at Santa Clara University and
an expert on the causes and frequency of sexual abuse by clergy. His writings
include Sin against the Innocents: Sexual Abuse by Priests and the Role of
the Catholic Church (Greenwood Publishing, 2004). Contact 408-554-4471, tplante@scu.edu.
• Mary Gail Frawley-O'Dea, a clinical psychologist and psychoanalyst, co-directs
the Trauma Treatment Center at the Manhattan Institute for Psychoanalysis. She
made national headlines when she gave an address
on clergy abuse to the bishops at their 2002 meeting in Dallas. She is co-author
of Treating the Adult Survivor of Childhood Sexual Abuse (Basic Books,
1994) and is working on a book about clergy abusers. Contact 845-352-6289, mgfod@aol.com.
• John Money is an emeritus professor of psychiatry at The Johns Hopkins
Hospital in Baltimore and a leading authority on the sexual abuse of children.
Money has argued that people raised in conditions where sex is viewed as evil,
and where sexual curiosity is considered a punishable offense, are likely to end
up with warped sexual identities. He contends that those surroundings are often
produced by conservative religious teachings. Contact 410-955-3740, jmoney@mail.jhmi.edu.
• The Rev. Marie Fortune is a United Church of Christ minister and founder
of the Center for the Prevention
of Sexual and Domestic Violence in Seattle, now known as the FaithTrust Institute.
A graduate of Yale Divinity School, she is a nationally known expert and educator
on issues of clergy abuse, its causes and policies for prevention. She also edits
the Journal
of Religion and Abuse. Contact 206-634-1903, mfortune@cpsdv.org.
The FaithTrust Institute was founded in 1977 and has a staff of experts.
• Philip
Jenkins is a professor of history and religious studies at Penn State University
and author of a widely cited book, Pedophiles and Priests: Anatomy of a Contemporary
Crisis (Oxford University Press, 1996). Jenkins, an Episcopalian, argues that
the number of priests involved in abusing minors is not as great as popularly
believed and is less than many comparative populations. Contact 814-863-8946,
jpj1@psu.edu.
• Gary R. Schoener is a psychologist and executive director of the Walk-In
Counseling Center in Minneapolis. Schoener has studied treatment centers for
clergy and comments frequently on issues of sexual abuse by clerics. Contact 612-870-0565,
grschoener@aol.com.
• David Finkelhor is a sociology professor at the University of New Hampshire
in Durham, N.H., and a leading expert on the sexual abuse of children. He is the
author of several books on child sexual abuse and directs the Crimes
Against Children Research Center. Contact 603-862-2761, david.finkelhor@unh.edu.
