BishopAccountability.org
	Church Needs to Protect Kids at Risk By David Clohessy and Jim Biteman Post-Intelligencer [Seattle WA] January 13, 2005 The letter last month from a majority of the members of the Seattle Archdiocese's Case Review Board on sex abuse should have served as a vigorous wake-up call to Archbishop Alex Brunett and his staff. We share their concerns. Specifically, we urged Brunett against disbanding this hard-working, well-intentioned and experienced panel of abuse experts. We also urged the archbishop to immediately name and discipline the suspended priest who violated church policy by participating in a public service and quickly release the names of the other known and suspected pedophile priests who have been suspended due to credible abuse allegations. For a group of largely devout Catholics and other caring professionals, the language the review board members used in the letter and subsequent media interviews was clear and direct and Brunett fought the board at every turn. More specific, we maintain that making known the names of all admitted and suspected abusive clerics is common sense. It's the least that can be done to protect children still at risk. As the review board pointed out, bishops in Milwaukee, Los Angeles, Tucson, Toledo, Spokane and other dioceses have taken this long-overdue step to safeguard kids. Trying to keep the identities of potentially dangerous men hidden by blaming arcane and irrelevant church policies is simply reckless. It's time that the archbishop put the real safety of innocent kids first -- not the alleged privacy of likely child molesters -- by making known the names of the likely abusers. It's also time the archbishop prioritized the healing of the entire church community instead of his own well-orchestrated public relations campaign. These potentially dangerous men might be sodomizing or raping kids today because trusting parents don't know about their histories. Second, we are especially concerned about the accused priest who, according to the archbishop's review board, is guilty of egregious misbehavior, yet actively participated in a liturgy, which is against church policy. The archbishop has a simple choice. He can publicly and sternly discipline him, which sends the message that he's serious about sexual abuse. Or he can do nothing or act quietly, which sends the message that his much-touted policies and procedures are only for show. We strongly urge Brunett to take prompt action against this wrongdoer, irrespective of what happens with the abuse allegation against him. Finally, we implore the archbishop to keep the highly qualified board that exists, if he genuinely wants to help victims heal, prevent future abuse and restore trust in the church's hierarchy. Replacing it with another body, especially at this juncture, only undermines the archbishop's credibility and may hamper the willingness and effectiveness of other lay volunteers. So far, the archbishop has offered no logical reason why the review board members should not continue their valuable work. In a sensitive field like this one, having an experienced functioning team is important. Having an apparently truly independent group in an archdiocese is rare and encouraging. It should be preserved. David Clohessy is national director of Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests in St. Louis. Jim Biteman is SNAP Seattle area director.
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