Name clergy accused of sexual abuse, therapists say

By Brandie Kessler
York Daily Record
August 21, 2016

http://www.ydr.com/story/news/2016/08/21/name-clergy-accused-sexual-abuse-therapists-say/88943816/

Kristen Pfautz Woolley, founder of Turning Point Women's Counseling and Advocacy Center in York, attended a rally at the state Capitol March 14, to demonstrate public support of efforts to get a child sex abuse statute of limitations bills moved to the full House for a vote. Photo by Paul Kuehnel

Fifteen priests accused of sexually abusing children were identified recently by a York Daily Record investigation.

The Diocese of Harrisburg has been reluctant to publicly name all clergy accused of sexually abusing children, but therapists who work with trauma survivors say the Catholic Church should be completely transparent.

Fifteen priests accused of sexually abusing children were identified recently by a York Daily Record investigation. The list of names was compiled using court documents, news articles and other sources. In July, the Harrisburg diocese provided information about those 15 priests. The diocese did not provide the names or other information about all priests with ties to the diocese who were accused at some time of sexual abuse of children, despite numerous requests from the York Daily Record.

In 2007, the diocese said publicly that it had received allegations against 24 priests since 1950, but it did not name those priests.

Naming alleged abusers has some risk, primarily to the institutions or organizations and the accused, "but I don't think it's as painful as having this practice be concealed," said Dr. Frank Ochberg, a trauma psychiatrist and a post-traumatic stress disorder specialist.

"You have to be darn sure that your facts are clear" because you can ruin reputations, said Ochberg, who founded The Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma, based at the Graduate School of Journalism at Columbia University. Publishing the names of alleged abusers in the media or on church or diocese websites might also be painful for some survivors, he said, since, for some, just reading their abuser's name can cause discomfort.

When the sexual abuser is a priest, they're abusing their power, Ochberg said. "They weren't just pedophiles; they were pedophile priests, which is like being a sexual abuser who's a doctor or a boss or a teacher."

The diocese's response team, which handles allegations of sexual abuse, decided against posting the names of accused clerics online when the issue came up about two years ago, said Mark Totaro, the victim assistance coordinator and the CEO of Catholic Charities for the diocese, during an interview in June.

The team "saw no purpose in doing that, since it was in the papers, it's in our parishes, it's in the church bulletins, it’s in ‘The Catholic Witness,’ our local bi-weekly newspaper," Totaro said.

Sometimes, media reports can draw attention to a perpetrator in a way that is insulting or hurtful to a victim, Ochberg said. But he doesn't see that risk in naming priests accused of sexually abusing children.

Naming abusers can be validating for the survivors, said Linda Crockett, director of Samaritan SafeChurch/SafePlaces in Lancaster County, which has a goal of ending child sexual abuse.

"Most survivors feel they want to do whatever they can to protect children, if that person [who abused them] is still alive and has access to children," Crockett said. "By naming that person, it lets others know ... that this is someone who may not be safe to be around children."

Another reason naming abusers is validating, Crockett said, is that for survivors, "justice often looks like having that person identified, having this great violation and wound named. Whether the person [who abused them] is alive or dead, there's a sense of vindication."

The Harrisburg diocese hasn't had to remove anyone from active ministry since 2005, spokesman Joseph Aponick said Friday in an emailed statement. In that case, Aponick said, the diocese communicated with parishioners and in diocesan media. Secular media has also reported on these matters, case-by-case, Aponick said.

"We made every effort to inform people about the abuse, to assure parishioners about the safety of their children, and to encourage survivors to seek support," Aponick said. "The Diocese of Harrisburg has reported all allegations to law enforcement no matter when the abuse allegedly occurred or even if the cleric was already deceased when the allegation is made."

Kristen Pfautz Woolley, founder and clinical director of Turning Point Women’s Counseling and Advocacy Center in York, said that if the diocese were to list the names of all priests accused of sexually abusing children, it might give some survivors the courage to come forward and start healing.

The Harrisburg diocese "should list the names, make a public apology and then say, 'How can we help you heal?'" Woolley said.

Woolley is a survivor of child sexual abuse. Her abuser was not a priest. But, she said, lobbying by the Catholic Conference on behalf of the Catholic Church to stop statute of limitations reform in Pennsylvania and elsewhere hurts all victims of child sexual abuse. "They're blocking all of us from coming forward," Woolley said.

The Catholic Conference is taking steps to help survivors heal, said Amy Hill, the conference's director of communications.

"No matter the final resolution with the legislation, the Catholic Church will continue to keep its sincere commitment to the emotional well-being of individuals who have been impacted by the crime of childhood sexual abuse, no matter how long ago the crime was committed," Hill said in an emailed statement.

Crockett called the diocese's displays of compassion for sexual abuse survivors "disingenuous."

"The Roman Catholic Church - in not only Pennsylvania but in other states - has been a well-funded and persistent voice of opposition to retro activity in the statute of limitations," Crockett said. "I think if the Catholic Church were really serious about wanting to support survivors, they would not be in opposition to statute of limitations reform."

Regardless of what happens with legislation and statute of limitations reform, the Catholic Conference is taking steps to help survivors heal, said Amy Hill, the conference's director of communications.

"No matter the final resolution with the legislation, the Catholic Church will continue to keep its sincere commitment to the emotional well-being of individuals who have been impacted by the crime of childhood sexual abuse, no matter how long ago the crime was committed," Hill said in an emailed statement.

As far as naming accused clergy, Kathy Jansen, a psychologist with Wellspan and leader of the South Central Pennsylvania Critical Incident Stress Management team, said false accusations are always a risk.

"We have a civil justice system," Jansen said. "I would much rather trust that that system will work than continue to leave this in the dark."

Jansen said she couldn't think of any risks for survivors if the Catholic Church were to publicly name accused priests.

"The right thing is absolute transparency," Jansen said.

Resources for survivors of abuse

If you were abused by clergy or know someone who was, you can report the abuse to law enforcement, to the ChildLine by calling 1-800-932-0313, and by calling the Harrisburg diocese's victim assistance line at 1-800-626-1608.

All survivors of all sexual abuse may contact the York County's Victim Assistance Center, which provides free, confidential counseling, at 1-800-422-3204.