CLERGY SEXUAL ABUSE VICTIM/SURVIVORS NEED TO TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES DURING THE VISIT OF POPE FRANCIS

By Robert M. Hoatson
Road to Recovery
September 22, 2015

http://www.road-to-recovery.org

Many Catholics and ordinary citizens for that matter may not fully be aware of the difficulties faced by victim/survivors of clergy sexual abuse and their families during the visit of Pope Francis to the United States. Simply stated, clergy sexual abuse victim/survivors and their families may be “triggered,” a term referring to the sudden return of many of the same feelings and memories of having been sexually abused by clergy members, not just because the Pope represents the Catholic Church and therefore reminds victim/survivors of the clergy or religious persons who abused them. The triggering actually brings them back to the horrific events of sexual abuse that they endured and survived until now.

Victim/survivors need to take care of themselves this week because the popularity of Pope Francis among the Catholic faithful and the general public and the unprecedented media coverage of Pope Francis could lead many to believe that the sexual abuse scandal has been resolved when victim/survivors know full well there is much to be done by the Catholic Church and the Pope himself to bring healing and justice to the victim/survivors. Road to Recovery, Inc. is one such outlet for victim/survivors during this week, and all victim/survivors who are finding the Papal visit difficult to deal with are urged to reach out to Road to Recovery and other advocacy and support agencies for help and a listening ear.

Road to Recovery was founded by two Catholic priests (at the time) in 2003, Kenneth E. Lasch, a retired priest of the Diocese of Paterson, New Jersey, who was pastor of a parish where many of his parishioners were sexually abused by a previous pastor. I was the other priest at that time, and I am a sexual abuse victim/survivor of several persons from the approximate ages of three to twenty-nine. I was forced to get out of the priesthood in 2011 after the Archbishop of Newark, New Jersey, fired me from ministry and suspended me from performing priestly duties, virtually strangling me financially and pastorally.

Road to Recovery has helped over three thousand victim/survivors of sexual abuse since 2003, and we offer victim/survivors assistance and a listening ear throughout the visit of Pope Francis to the United States. Our phone number is public (862-368-2800), and we offer anyone who is finding it hard to cope with Pope Francis’ visit confidential help and assistance at any time of the day and night. We are here to help.

If any of the Catholic faithful or general public is aware of any victim/survivor who is need of help, give us a call and we will reach out to your family member, neighbor, or friend. Let us take care of each other during these joyful days for many and trying times for others.