By Michael F. Flach
Herald Staff Writer
(From the issue of 8/26/04)

The Arlington Diocese will initiate a series of Healing Masses for Victims of Sexual Abuse this fall, beginning Sept. 9 at St. Mary of Sorrows Church in Fairfax Station. Bishop Paul S. Loverde will celebrate the Mass beginning at 7:30 p.m.

Father Donald Greenhalgh, pastor of St. Mary of Sorrows Parish, invites all other parishes in Deanery VI to participate in the liturgy. Other Masses are being planned on a monthly basis to cover the other five diocesan Deaneries.

Other Masses will be offered Oct. 21 at 7:30 p.m. by Father Bob Cilinski at All Saints Church in Manassas and Nov. 8 at 7:30 p.m. by Bishop Loverde at St. Mary Church in Fredericksburg. A reception will follow each of the liturgies.

Patricia Mudd, Victim Assistance Coordinator for the diocese, is hopeful that these Masses will continue the healing process that started June 30 when Bishop Loverde celebrated the first Healing Mass at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More in Arlington.

"The wounds from sexual abuse are deep and devastating," said Mudd. "We must come together to pray for victims of abuse, their families and the entire Catholic community.

"We do invite victims to come forward and report to us," she said. "They might not be ready now, but the door is always open for them and their families. I want victims to know of my personal sorrow for the abuse they have suffered. Bishop Loverde has also asked me to express his sorrow and willingness to meet with victims to offer spiritual assistance toward their healing."

Mudd works closely with Father Terry Specht, director of the Office of Child Protection and Safety. She was appointed to her current position in June and also serves the diocese as associate director of social services at Catholic Charities. She has 31 years of service in the field, having started working for Catholic Charities before the Arlington Diocese was established.

Mudd has spent the bulk of her professional career with Children’s Services, first as a supervisor, then as program director. Her case work has included dealing with the victims of rape, incest and sexual abuse.

When a call comes in on the diocesan hotline from someone who has suffered sexual abuse, Mudd records the basic information (who, when, where) and determines the direction the case should take. If it involves the abuse of a child, she is required by law to report it to state authorities.

An accusation against a diocesan priest, employee or volunteer is turned over to Oblate Father Mark S. Mealey, moderator of the curia, to gather additional information to present to the Diocesan Review Board. The diocese will consider paying for counseling, Mudd said.

Mudd is finalizing a list of qualified therapists and pastoral counselors throughout the diocese to whom she can refer victims for counseling. "Bishop Loverde and Father Mealey also are willing to meet with victims and their families," Mudd said.

She stressed that counseling resources are available through Catholic Charities or outside the Church if a victim feels more comfortable meeting with someone in private practice.

Reaching the victims of sexual abuse is not easy, so Mudd is gradually working on ways to get the message out about her office’s services. She is working on revising the victim’s assistance portion of the diocesan Web site and will send hotline information to the parishes for inclusion in their bulletins. She also is working with Soren Johnson, diocesan communications director, to reach the secular media.

"I encourage family members and friends to communicate this information to those they know who are victims of sexual abuse," Mudd said.

Hotline Numbers

The diocesan Victim Assistance Coordinator can be reached at 703/841-2530 or go to www.arlingtondiocese.org/protect. The phone number for the Office of Child Protection is 703/841-2529.

The Code of Virginia requires that designated professionals who have contact with children immediately report their suspicions of abuse or neglect. The Child Abuse Hotline for the Virginia Department of Social Services is 800/552-7096.