Special to the Herald
(From the issue of 2/26/04)

In 2002, the U.S. Catholic bishops called for an unprecedented national study (to be released Feb. 27) on the nature and scope of child sexual abuse by clergy between 1950 and 2002. The report will include the number of incidents, offenders and victims of sexual abuse of minors by Catholic clergy. The Diocese of Arlington participated in this national study and presented its statistics in "A Report on the History of Sexual Abuse of Minors by Clergy in the Diocese of Arlington" in the Feb. 19 Arlington Catholic Herald (available at www.arlingtondiocese.org). In his Feb. 18 letter to Catholics of the diocese, Bishop Loverde wrote, "I am hopeful that with this account of our past [both the local Arlington "Report" and the national study], together with a rigorous framework to heighten the safety of children under our care, we will emerge more deeply and steadfastly committed to the call to holiness."

The National Review Board is responsible for commissioning the study. The study is being conducted by the John Jay College of Criminal Justice of the City University of New York.

Until the bishops undertook this effort, no systematic study had been done using dioceses’ own records on a nationwide basis. The results were likely to be higher than previous estimates based on the partial information available.

The nearly unanimous participation by dioceses and the reporting of numbers beyond what was expected is clear evidence that the bishops wanted as thorough and accurate a review of their records as possible. It is a sad moment, but this is never going to happen again. This study marks a new beginning.

The bishops acted together to have this study done and they remain united in their commitment to ensure that:

Clearly it demonstrates that during the past 50 years, child sexual abuse was dealt with in many ways that were ineffective in both Church and society until relatively recently. The situation today is that

The bishops have learned much about the insidious nature of abuse and it reinforces the need for the comprehensive, transparent reporting and prevention policies made mandatory by them in the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People and Essential Norms.

Like many other organizations and individuals, dioceses reached settlements with victims. As often happens when intimate matters are involved or matters about which the parties cannot agree on liability, the settlements were accompanied by non-disclosure agreements covering all parties. Even though this is common in civil litigation, it has been criticized as a "cover-up" when the Church asks for such agreements. It had the unintended effect, under certain circumstances, of enabling abusers to abuse again. Under the 2002 Charter and the Diocese of Arlington’s policy, confidentiality agreements are not to be part of any settlement, unless requested by the victim.

Tragically child abusers can be found in all states of life, including within families. The priesthood doesn’t make a man an abuser, nor do other vocations or professions. What makes it particularly appalling in this case is that offenders not only abused their position of trust, but destroyed children’s innocence and often their ability to have any trust in the Church. The Church has committed itself to comprehensive prevention programs in dioceses, parishes, and seminary training to prevent such behavior in the future.

No. If that were true, then what is the explanation for the vast majority of abusers who do not live, or even try to live, a celibate life? In fact, a significant percentage of abusers turn out to have been married people abusing family members. Literally tens of thousands of priests here and around the world have committed their lives to Christ and to the people they serve. Celibacy is a gift and one to be cherished, since priestly celibacy has been an inspiration to millions of Catholics. It requires prayer and a supportive environment. Perhaps 50 years ago, the environment was more supportive of the celibate commitment as it seems to have been more supportive of marriage. But even a less friendly environment does not take away celibacy’s value. We need to nurture this gift more intensively and consciously now that it is no longer as supported by the general culture as it once was.

In virtue of the Charter and Norms, if a priest who has been removed from ministry and not dismissed from the clerical state or "laicized’ goes elsewhere to reside, the bishop of that place is to be notified of "any and all information concerning any act of sexual abuse of a minor and any other information indicating that he has been or may be a danger to children or young people" and that he is no longer permitted to minister. The protection the Church can give is that no priest who is a confirmed or admitted abuser will be permitted in ministry.

The bishops sincerely hope that is not the case. Ninety percent of the money parishioners put into their collection baskets in church stays with their parish for its own work of service. Most of the money provided to victims has come from insurance, sale of property and designated funds for the care of priests. Also, the costs that covered treatment for victims and perpetrators were contributions to healing and prevention. In the Diocese of Arlington, funds for victim settlements and counseling came from insurance and general operating revenues of the diocese. The annual diocesan fundraising appeal (the Bishop’s Lenten Appeal) and the capital campaign (Rooted in Faith – Forward in Hope) funds are received as restricted gifts and used only for the areas stated in campaign materials. The bishops are committed to greater transparency on fiscal matters to restore trust in this very matter.

Bishops had available to them in the 1990s, state-of-the-art, in-patient evaluation and treatment systems. They were advised by top experts -- Catholic and non-Catholic, clergy and lay -- in the field of treating persons with these sexual maladies. Getting proper treatment for offenders which could help them not offend again contributed both to their possible rehabilitation and to the safety of the general public. Helping those who committed crimes to become once again responsible members of society is a ministry that the Church has long practiced.

Not every bishop thought reassignment was a good idea. Also, the bishops had to take into account that ministry is ministry for people. If a priest cannot minister to a group as important as young people because of concerns about his behavior, that is a significant limitation on his ministry and may involve chances that ought not to be taken.

In the Charter, the bishops asked the National Review Board to commission a study on the "nature and scope" of this problem. The Board selected John Jay College which designed the research project. It was always intended to provide the "national picture" about this misconduct over a significant period of time. In this case it goes back to 1950. Its purpose is to help bishops "understand the problem more fully and enhance the effectiveness" of our response into the future. Many dioceses – including the Diocese of Arlington – have gone beyond the Charter by putting out their own reports to the people of their dioceses.

As far as it is humanly possible to know such things, the bishops can assure the Catholic people that offenders are not in ministry. They can say with assurance that they now have in place the means of responding immediately to allegations, assisting victims, and removing offenders from ministry.

The vast majority of priests are faithful and upright men whose lives of devoted service are very much valued and appreciated. They will undoubtedly be saddened at the history they read in these reports. But the reports are essential to letting the Catholic people know that this chapter in our history is over and that dioceses now have in place a comprehensive response to the sexual abuse of minors by clergy that includes: