|
Bishops preach accountability, say victim compensation funds 'help them now'
By Melissa Klaric
The Erie Diocese, and the Catholic Church, are taking the priest sex abuse scandal seriously – and are addressing the damage done to victims through openness as well as the compensation fund, Erie's bishop said. The Most Rev. Lawrence T. Persico said he does not know how many victims have applied for compensation through the fund set up by the diocese, although he estimated that as many as 100 people could receive payments. Setting up the fund was the right thing to do, Persico said in an interview with The Herald of Sharon. "People are grateful that we were doing something to compensate them," he said. "And just the general public thought that at least we were stepping up to try to help people who had been victims. We don't know when or what they would be able to receive. So, by creating this fund, we're trying to help them now." The diocese does not administer the fund. The claims are handled by a law firm hired by the diocese, K&L Gates of Pittsburgh. The fund is scheduled to close in August. Erie and most of the Catholic dioceses in Pennsylvania set up compensation funds for victims after the General Assembly ended its legislative session in 2018 without acting on changes that would allow adult survivors of child sex crimes to sue institutions such as the church. 'Present and future' The Harrisburg Diocese closed its application period for victims seeking compensation from its fund on May 13. Like Erie, the Harrisburg church officials didn’t immediately disclose how many victims sought compensation from the fund. “Once the settlement period has concluded, the diocese will release a final report on how many survivors we were able to support,” Harrisburg Bishop Ronald Gainer said in a statement. “Our diocese will continue to offer counseling to survivors of clergy child sexual abuse, regardless of whether that survivor has received a settlement or is participating in the Survivor Compensation Program. "The protection of our children is my top priority. In my name and on behalf of the Church, we extend our prayers, heartfelt sorrow and apologies to all survivors of clergy sexual abuse.” As part of the response to the crisis, Gainer held nine listening sessions throughout the diocese from January to March. In all, about 2,240 people attended those sessions, according to church estimates. CNHI requested an interview with Gainer for this report. That interview was not granted. Gainer did sit down with CNHI in February. "We know that no amount of money, no matter what that settlement will be, is going to erase the harm, the tragic hurt that survivors have experienced," Gainer said during that interview. “I can’t defend this horrific past," Gainer said in February. "I can say we’re doing everything we reasonably can to make the present and future." 'Have to move forward' Persico said that although the church is reacting to the scandal and has put measures in place to both compensate and protect victims, he worries that the report and its fallout have taken their toll. And that could mean that some of his Erie Diocese flock might not be back in the pews. Persico said he wants Catholics to ask themselves a question, "Why do we belong to the church?" The answer is not because of the priest in a specific church or even the bishop, he said. "It's Jesus Christ. So it has to be about that," he said. But Persico also believes that the Catholic church has to stay focused on earning back trust. "I think what we need to do is continue to be vigilant, to act expeditiously," he said. "Not to try to hide anything and be candid with the people we serve." The church, he added, has to remain accountable as well. "And sharing that with the public," he said. "So I think that's how we have to move forward."
|
.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.