UNITED STATES
Catholic Whistle Blowers
December 10, 2013
Catholic Whistle Blowers release letter to Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley regarding Vatican commission on sexual abuse of children, teenagers, and vulnerable adults
LETTER
Catholic Whistle Blowers
P.O. Box 279
Livingston, NJ 07039
862-368-2800
December 9, 2013
His Eminence Sean P. O’Malley, O.F.M. Cap.
Archbishop of Boston
66 Brooks Drive
Braintree, MA 02184-3839
Your Eminence:
It is with a sense of Advent hope and joy that we write to respond to the announcement from the Vatican that the establishment of a commission to deal with clergy sexual abuse has been approved by His Holiness, Pope Francis. As men and women who have been deeply affected by the clergy sexual abuse crisis of the Catholic Church for decades, including some who are survivors of sexual abuse by clergy and religious, we express our cautious optimism that such a commission might signal the beginning of the end of sexual abuse of children, teenagers, and vulnerable adults within the Roman Catholic Church.
Since many aspects of the Vatican commission on sexual abuse have not been determined, including its membership, mission, and goals, we would like to make the following recommendations to you as the titular head of the commission, at least at this time:
1) While the Catholic Church’s work emanates from a pastoral nature, we recommend that the Vatican commission not ignore the juridical (canon and civil law), psychological, and sociological factors that impact cases of sexual abuse in the Church. Justice for the victims and their families must be the paramount aim of the commission.
2) While we welcome the news that the commission will be composed of an array of persons from different vocations and backgrounds, we urge the selection of a broad-based group of experts, including highly qualified and independent criminal, civil and canonical attorneys; psychiatrists and psychotherapists; advocates and supporters; victim/survivors and their families. To this end, we recommend the consideration of three highly qualified Americans for appointment to the commission:
Sister Maureen Paul Turlish, SNDdeN – Advocate, Supporter, and Writer
Rev. Thomas P. Doyle, O.P., J.D.C. – Canon lawyer and Victims’ Advocate
Dr. Robert M. Hoatson – Co-founder and President, Road to Recovery, Inc., a non-profit charity that assists victims of sexual abuse and their families
These three individuals have committed themselves for decades to the pursuit of healing for victim/survivors and the promotion of justice for all involved in the crisis of clergy sexual abuse.
Sr. Maureen Paul Turlish, through her extensive writing, support of lay efforts to advocate for victim/survivors, and participation in changing and reforming laws that will protect children and teenagers, has committed herself to the mission of ending sexual abuse by clergy and other religious persons.
Rev. Thomas Doyle, O.P, was instrumental in developing in the 1980s for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops a “handbook” for treating allegations of clergy sexual abuse. In addition, he has been a recognized international expert on clergy sexual abuse, acting as a canonical and pastoral consultant and expert for numerous organizations and institutions.
Dr. Robert Hoatson, a victim/survivor of multiple Catholic Church abusers, began reporting cases of sexual abuse in the 1970s when he was a teacher in a Catholic high school. In 2003, he co-founded a charity that has helped over 2,000 victim/survivors internationally with advocacy, financial assistance, psychological services, and a host of other ministries.
3) While we understand Pope Francis’ desire to move forward and “from here on” determine that no child, teenager, or vulnerable adult will be harmed by ministers of the Catholic Church, we recommend that past cases, which will continue to surface in large numbers sporadically based on the nature of sexual abuse and the inability of victims to predict when is the “right time” to come forward and begin the healing process, be dealt with compassionately and justly. In addition, we urge the commission to discipline members of the hierarchy of the Church who have displayed reckless negligence in their handling of cases of clergy sexual abuse.
Finally, Your Eminence, all of us, Catholic Whistle Blowers and signers of this letter, have attempted in many ways and often to assist the Church we love in the resolution of the worst scandal to afflict the Roman Catholic Church. It appears that Pope Francis has embarked on a mission to end the scandal. We offer him, and you, the talents and abilities with which we have been blessed to make this happen.
Yours in Christ,
The Catholic Whistle Blowers:
Rev. John P. Bambrick, Jackson, NJ
Sr. Sally Butler, O.P., Brooklyn, NY
Rev. Patrick W. Collins, Douglas, MI
Rev. James E. Connell, Milwaukee, WI
Rev. Thomas P. Doyle, O.P., Vienna, VA
Robert M. Hoatson, West Orange, NJ
Rev. Ronald Lemmert, Peekskill, NY
Rev. Bruce N. Teague, Sheffield, MA
Sr. Maureen Paul Turlish, SNDdeN, New Castle, DE
Patrick J. Wall, Stillwater, MN
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