UNITED STATES
Road to Recovery
MEDIA RELEASE
MAY 27, 2014
Pope Francis:
1) Hasn’t Cardinal O’Malley filled you in on the fact that the vast majority of clergy sexual abuse victims want nothing to do with Church Masses, prayers, and rituals because they are triggering for them? At least one of the clergy sexual abuse victims who met with Pope Benedict in Washington, DC told me that he felt re-victimized after the encounter with Pope Benedict because he felt it was more of a staged show than an outreach.
2) Don’t you understand that clergy sexual abuse victims do not want to meet you on Church grounds surrounded by reminders of their abusers and abuse? Clergy sexual abuse victims are not able to immerse themselves in the facilities and rituals that were used to abuse them.
3) Don’t you realize that comparing sexual abuse of children by clergy to the celebration of a black Mass is triggering and re-victimizing to those children who were sexually abused at black Masses and other eerie and weird liturgical celebrations by pedophile bishops, priests, deacons, and seminarians?
4) Haven’t you concluded yet that the terms and conditions usually used to resolve most the Church’s problems do not apply to clergy sexual abuse victims? You are not in charge of this area of the Church. It would be best for you to take a step back and allow survivors to instruct you, lead you, and convert you. Survivors know what they need; let them tell you.
5) You will be a better shepherd and leader if you say to clergy sexual abuse victims, “Teach me, lead me, and tell me what we have to do to resolve this?”
6) You should realize that the planned meeting with clergy sexual abuse victims should not be cosmetic, and it should be seen as a very small step in educating the Church about the immoral acts it has committed. Further action needs to take place in order to stop clergy sexual abuse, help victims heal, and make the world a safer place for children. Superficial and cosmetic meetings will only serve to re-harm the victims.
Contacts: Robert M. Hoatson, Ph.D., Road to Recovery, Inc. – 862-368-2800
Attorney Mitchell Garabedian, Boston, MA – 617-523-6250
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