Archdiocese Announces Program for Victims of Sexual Abuse
By Susan Lunny Keag
The Archdiocese of New York announced on Thursday plans to establish a voluntary Independent Reconciliation and Compensation Program (IRCP) that will seek to promote healing and closure to victims-survivors of abuse by priests or deacons of the Archdiocese. The program, another step in the Archdiocese's continual effort to respond to the past sexual abuse of minors by clergy, is being implemented by Timothy Cardinal Dolan, the archbishop of New York, and will provide compensation to victims and survivors of abuse. "While the Church in general, and particularly here in this Archdiocese, has made great strides in dealing vigorously with clergy accused of abuse, and in preventing acts of abuse through out Safe Environment programs, we continue to hear from victim-survivors that more needs to be done to reach out to those who have been harmed in the past," said Cardinal Dolan, in a statement. Rev. Monsignor Peter Finn, vicar of Staten Island, supported Cardinal Dolan's efforts to reach out to all victims. "I think he's indicating that he's trying to do all that he possibly can to try to address the concerns of everyone—past, present and future," said Finn. Mediator Kenneth Feinberg will administer the program and will be joined by his colleague, Camille Biros. Feinberg and Biros will have complete autonomy in deciding compensation for victim-survivors. The Archdiocese has agreed it will abide by their decisions, according to Cardinal Dolan. Mary Caplan, former director of the New York chapter of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP), said she was skeptical of Cardinal Dolan's proposal. "I'd encourage victims to think long and hard before approaching church officials or their representatives. I'd urge victims to talk with their own attorneys first," Caplan said. Biros noted that IRCP is "an independent program" and that victims and survivors can deal with the program directly. "We're going to make the decision on who's eligible and (determine) the amount of compensation. It's totally our call and totally our decision," Biros said. Biros is glad to be part of the program, which she feels reflects the Archdiocese's message to victims and survivors that "the Archdiocese has not forgotten them." Former Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly, U.S. District Judge Loretta A. Preska and Dr. Jeanette Cueva, associate clinical professor of psychiatry at Columbia University, have reviewed and approved the protocols of the program and will continue to oversee its implementation and administration. "I'm honored to support the IRCP as it seeks to provide justice and restitution to victims of abuse," said Kelly, who is serving as chair of the Independent Oversight Committee. The Archdiocese has already begun reaching out to those victim-survivors who have previously notified the Archdiocese that they had suffered abuse by a member of the clergy of the Archdiocese to invite them to participate in Phase I of the program. Phase II will allow the program to review new allegations brought against known offenders as well as new allegations brought against clergy who have not previously been alleged to have engaged in misbehavior. Finn said that the church will continue to pray that the program's efforts "will be effective in alleviating the pain of the past and eliminating the possibility of any repetition in the future." The Archdiocese will take a long-term loan to cover the cost of compensating victim-survivors and will not use money given by the people of the Archdiocese to support parishes, schools and charitable works or funds from other church programs. skeag@siadvance.com
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