Diocese of Scranton launches Independent Survivors Compensation Program

By Bill O’boyle
Times Leader
January 22, 2019

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The Diocese of Scranton on Tuesday launched its Independent Survivors Compensation Program designed to compensate survivors of childhood sexual abuse.

Participation by survivors is voluntary and the program is run independently of the diocese.

“Our first priorities are to provide support for survivors of child sexual abuse and to take every step necessary to eradicate abuse from the Church altogether,” said Scranton Bishop Joseph C. Bambera. “This program helps. While no financial compensation can change the past, it is my hope that this program will help survivors in their healing and recovery process.”

The program includes all victims, whether the abuser was a priest from the Diocese of Scranton, from a religious order, or was a lay employee.

The diocese announced Nov. 8 the program would be administered by Kenneth Feinberg and Camille Biros, two leading experts in mediation and alternative dispute resolution who have overseen similar programs started by five Catholic dioceses in New York. Feinberg and Biros will have absolute autonomy in determining compensation for survivors, and the Diocese of Scranton has agreed to abide by all of their decisions.

“Ken and I know how important it is to assist victims who have endured a personal tragedy,” Biros said. “We have worked with survivors of sexual abuse and other tragedies and we have developed a system that operates with one person in mind – the victim.”

On Aug. 14, Attorney General Josh Shapiro released an 884-page grand jury report filled with revelations of sexual abuse and cover-ups in Pennsylvania Catholic churches going back decades.

Bambera, who became bishop of Scranton in 2010, has had a “zero-tolerance” policy in all cases. He said 93 percent of the cases in the report occurred before the year 2000 and many of the guilty parties are deceased. He said none of those named in the report are practicing in the diocese. In fact, Bambera said he has removed four or five priests from the ministry since he became bishop.

Program administrators will reach out directly to those who have previously reported a claim of abuse to the Diocese of Scranton. Survivors who have not yet reported past abuse are also eligible to participate and can request a claim form online after reporting the abuse in writing to the District Attorney’s Office. New claims must be registered with the program by July 22, 2019, while existing claims can be submitted until Sept. 30, 2019. Administrators will process claims in the order in which they are received, and payments will be made on a rolling basis as claims are processed.

Oversight

An Independent Oversight Committee, comprised of three individuals with relevant experience across health care, law enforcement and social work, will supervise the program. The committee members:

• Robert Gillespie Jr., former Luzerne County district attorney

• Ralph H. Meyer, president and CEO Emeritus with Guthrie Healthcare System, who has spent his entire career in health care administration

• Robin Engels, a licensed clinical social worker who for years provided counseling and therapy for veterans and their families

Parish and school assets, as well as contributions and bequests from parishioners and donations to the Diocesan Annual Appeal, will not be used to fund the program. It will be funded by existing diocesan assets and available reserves. If necessary, the diocese will sell assets and borrow money.