Editor's Desk: Full Disclosure

By Michael F. Flach
Herald Editor
(From the issue of 2/26/04)

The release last week by Bishop Paul S. Loverde of statistics on child sexual abuse in the Arlington Diocese revealed that nine of the 891 diocesan and religious priests who have served in the diocese since 1974 were accused of sexual abuse of minors. Of the nine priests, one was exonerated, two are deceased, one is retired without faculties and the remaining five are no longer in ministry. All of the alleged incidents occurred before 1994 and no cases are currently pending against the diocese. The full report, which appeared in last week’s HERALD, is available at www.arlingtondiocese.org.

"We must pray for forgiveness and reconciliation, for healing and new hope, especially for the victims of this terrible abuse and for their families," said Bishop Loverde.

"In union with my brother bishops, I ask forgiveness and pledge my every effort to do what is right and good. I am hopeful that with this account of the past, 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 local report precedes the Feb. 27 release of two national reports on the same subject from the John Jay College of Criminal Justice. "These reports will be a very sobering and important milestone," said Belleville Bishop Wilton D. Gregory, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).

"I want to reaffirm that the bishops requested these studies so that we could understand as fully as possible what caused this terrible occurrence in the life of our community to make sure that it never happens again," he said.

"My heart goes out to all who have suffered, and I assure them especially that the bishops are committed to fully implementing the Dallas Charter and will continue to work with the Office of Child and Youth Protection and the National Review Board to reach out to victims and prevent such abuse from occurring in the future."

The Richmond Diocese, from which Arlington was split in 1974, also released its records dating back to 1950. Research from that period discovered abuse allegations that involved 15 diocesan priests, four religious order priests and a total of 24 victims. Officials from Arlington and Richmond reportedly worked together to ensure that the number of abusers and victims was accurate and did not overlap.

The two dioceses compared notes to eliminate double reporting of allegations which could be on file in both places, said Father Pat Apuzzo, spokesperson for the Richmond Diocese. "Over a period of 50 years, where a number of dioceses throughout the country were created from others, the possibility of reporting the same allegation more than once is significant.

"The enormous labor to examine and catalog massive volumes of material was unparalleled," said Father Apuzzo. "Such a unified effort by dioceses nationwide is testimony to the solidarity of our resolve against sexual abuse of minors."

The human pain that all this data represents can’t be compressed into figures or shown on charts, he added. "The heartbreak is always there. It entreats us now to stay the course our leaders have set out for themselves and for all of us. It compels us, with a sobering and gripping plea, not to let the horrors we’ve uncovered repeat themselves ever again."

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