In wake of Pennsylvania report, Springfield Diocese bishop notes 'past failures' of Catholic church

By Haven Orecchio-Egresitz
Berkshire Eagle
August 18, 2018

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A strongly worded letter from Bishop Mitchell T. Rozanski, which was issued from his office Friday, outlined counseling and other services available through the Springfield Diocese for victims of child sexual abuse.

In response to this week's allegations of the sexual abuse of more than 1,000 children by clergy in Pennsylvania, the bishop of the Springfield Diocese has condemned "past failures" of the Catholic church and urged local victims to continue to reach out to his Office of Child and Youth Protection.

The strongly worded letter from Bishop Mitchell T. Rozanski, which was issued from his office Friday, outlined counseling and other services available through the diocese for victims of child sexual abuse.

"Since arriving as your bishop four years ago, I have had the somber task of meeting with victims of abuse and their family members," Rozanski said. "While I cannot undo the great harm done to them, I can promise victims, their loved ones and the entire community that I remain firmly committed to rooting out this evil in our midst. The failure by any member of the clergy, religious or laity to strictly implement, as well as adhere to, our policies and guidelines will result in removal from ministry."

A nearly 900-page Pennsylvania grand jury report released this week said that more than 300 predator priests had abused more than 1,000 children in six dioceses in the state. Forty-five of the priests named served in the Harrisburg Diocese.

The first paragraph of the nearly 900-page report said the grand jury knows the truth: that child sex abuse within the Catholic church happened everywhere.

In nearly all the cases, the statute of limitations has run out, meaning that criminal charges cannot be filed. More than 100 of the priests are dead, and many others are retired or have been dismissed from the priesthood or put on leave.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro said the investigation confirmed a "systematic cover-up by senior church officials in Pennsylvania and at the Vatican."

The Springfield Diocese has had to confront it's own dark history of sexual assault allegations.

Former Springfield Bishop Thomas Dupre was the  first Roman Catholic bishop in the United States to be indicted on a sexual abuse claim.

Dupre, who had been third in command of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield in the early 1980s, was defrocked by the Vatican amid a Williamstown man's claim that he was abused by a local priest who had been named in numerous clergy sex abuse cases.

The cost to the diocese, which covers Western Massachusetts and has more than 200,000 members, was more than $12 million to sex abuse victims since 2004.

The diocese said in 2008 that it had paid $4.5 million to 59 victims in a settlement that included a personal donation from Dupre. In October 2011, a Boston judge awarded a total of $3 million to two sex abuse victims. In 2003, the Archdiocese of Boston settled cases brought forth by 552 victims for a total of $85 million.

"While the recounting of these tragic actions can be disheartening and painful, it is important that we listen carefully and realize the ongoing consequences resulting from these past failures," Rozanski said in his letter. "We cannot move on without first recognizing the pain and suffering of so many of our brothers and sisters, caused not just by their abusers but by past church leadership which failed to recognize and take actions to protect our young people."

The Springfield Diocese now has a review board that operates as a confidential consultative body that advises the bishop in the assessment of complaints related to clergy sexual abuse of minors and in his determination of the suitability of an accused cleric for ministry.

It also completes "comprehensive background checks" on all employees and entities associated with the diocese and volunteers who have contact with children. It offers educational awareness programs as well.

"I also recognize that for this to be truly effective, it must be a commitment undertaken at every level of our church's leadership," the bishop wrote. "As such, I add my voice to that of many other bishops, clergy, religious and laity — encouraging greater reforms and transparency on the part of the global church."

Rozanski encouraged victims of child sexual abuse by any employee of the Roman Catholic Church to come forward by contacting Patricia Finn McManamy, director of the diocese Office of Child and Youth Protection, at 413-452-0624, 800-842-9055 or by email at p.mcmanamy@diospringfield.org.