BishopAccountability.org
	Activist Takes Bishop to Task Advocate for Priest Victims Comes to Boise Idaho Statesman [Boise ID] June 1, 2005 Idaho Catholic Bishop Michael Driscoll hasn't done enough to ensure that children and families are protected from sexual misconduct in the state's Catholic churches, a support group for victims said Tuesday. SNAP, the Support Network for those Abused by Priests, hand-delivered a letter to Driscoll's office Tuesday. "Time and again, bishop, first in California, later in Idaho, you have opted for secrecy over openness and for protecting accused offenders over vulnerable families," said the letter from David Clohessy of St, Louis, SNAP national director. Driscoll has apologized for permitting abusive priests to remain in the clergy, while he was a diocesan official in California in the 1970s and '80s. He also apologized for not telling parishioners at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Boise sooner about a deacon who was accused and later convicted of viewing child pornography. Clohessy said Driscoll should: • Encourage anyone who suspects or has witnessed or experienced sex crimes in the diocese to contact law enforcement, not church officials. • Use the diocesan Web site, newspaper and church bulletins to tell parishioners about the deacon case at St. Mary's and use the same resources to reach out to anyone hurt by other Idaho Catholic church employees. Driscoll already has done much of what Clohessy requested, said the Rev. Ron Wekerle, diocesan vicar general. "I think the bishop will appreciate the concerns that were raised in the letter and the good news we are doing many of the things outlined in the letter," he said. He said Driscoll has visited parishes when he's heard credible allegations of sexual misconduct. The bishop also has met with victims of sexual misconduct. He's given them pastoral care and offered counseling, Wekerle said. Driscoll was out of the state when Clohessy delivered the letter to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Boise office on Federal Way after conducting a press conference on the office's front lawn. Driscoll has declined to comment on the criticism against him in recent weeks, other than to issue written apologies. But Wekerle said he expects Driscoll will talk, perhaps in the near future. "I haven't spoken to the bishop specifically about that," he said. "But this is a significant issue and I think we will be hearing from him directly." Clohessy, flanked by three Idahoans who allege they were victims of priest abuse as far back as the 1960s, said he came to Idaho to bring two other messages. • Victims of priest abuse should come forward. "While every victim recovers from this in different ways, the one path that doesn't work is continued secrecy," Clohessy said. "If victims stay silent, nothing happens." • Idaho Catholics deserve a safe church environment for themselves and their children. "They will get that when they insist on it. Idaho Catholics (should) prod Bishop Driscoll for real reform, not soothing words. Soothing words never protected a single child." Tom Vitrano, a member of St. Mary's parish in Boise, said he appreciated SNAP coming to Boise to "remind the bishop to do what he can" to protect families. Vitrano supports Driscoll but thinks the diocese policies failed in the case of parish deacon Rap Howell, who was eventually sent to prison for viewing child pornography. "The bishop is open to possibilities," Vitrano said. "He has done a lot."