NEW MEXICO
Gallup Independent
Editorial with Letter to the Editor response
Published in the Gallup Independent, Gallup, N.M., Sept. 28, 2016
Bishop James S. Wall passed up a perfect opportunity Saturday. He was given the chance to show the community and members of the Diocese of Gallup that he is committed to being transparent about clergy sexual abuse that took place, diocesan policies to protect children and efforts to support abuse survivors.
A panel discussion, centered on the subject of protecting children from sex abuse, was held at El Morro Theatre in conjunction with screenings of “Spotlight,” the film that won the 2016 Academy Award for Best Picture and told the story of the Boston Globe’s Pulitzer-prize winning investigation into clergy sex abuse and cover-up in the Archdiocese of Boston.
One might think that, because the Gallup Diocese is concluding its Chapter 11 reorganization case in U.S. Bankruptcy Court, the bishop would be ready to begin talking with local Catholics and the general public about this fresh start. But if you thought that, you would be wrong.
Wall was invited to be a panel member Saturday to share his perspective as bishop of the diocese. In the event he could not attend, Wall was invited to send a representative or at least provide a statement. He chose to do neither. Wall cited the diocese’s priest retreat, held earlier that week in Tucson, as the reason no one from the diocese would attend. So even though the Redemptorist Renewal Center’s website indicated the retreat ended Friday, no one from the diocese could return to Gallup by Saturday?
Whether the Gallup bishop is ready or not, the non-monetary provisions the Diocese of Gallup negotiated as part of its reorganization plan commit Wall to a number of actions whereby he will have to begin interacting with abuse survivors, Catholics in the pews and the general public.
Wall is supposed to start visiting every Catholic school and parish where abuse occurred or where an abuser served, with the bishop’s schedule being publicized at least 30 days in advance on the diocese’s website and its Voice of the Southwest publication. During those visits, according to the non-monetary provisions, the bishop “shall provide a forum/discussion during his visit to address questions and comments.”
Based on the diocese’s own list of credibly accused abusers, which continues to be an incomplete and inaccurate list, it is a very long itinerary of schools and parishes.
In Arizona, it includes Cibecue, Chinle, Concho, Fort Defiance, Holbrook, Lukachukai, McNary, Overgaard, Pinetop, Show Low, Snowflake, Springerville, St. Johns, St. Michaels, Tuba City and Winslow. In New Mexico, it includes Aragon, Blanco, Bloomfield, Bluewater, Cebolleta, Chichitah, Crownpoint, Cuba, Cubero, Farmington, Flora Vista, Gallup, Grants, Lumberton, Pinehaven, San Fidel, San Rafael, Shiprock and Thoreau.
When is the Gallup bishop going to begin these visits?
There is no indication on the diocesan website or Voice of the Southwest that even the first visit has been scheduled.
What is the bishop waiting for? Saturday’s panel discussion would have been an ideal forum for the bishop to kick off those public visits.
In addition, the panel discussion was a public relations opportunity for the Diocese of Gallup. A number of abuse survivors attended the event, some accompanied by family members, along with local Catholics and the general public. If Wall or one of his representatives had attended, they would have had the opportunity to present the diocese’s perspective with humility, compassion and grace.
But by skipping the invitation, Gallup’s bishop missed a perfect opportunity. He missed the opportunity to show the public he truly is a courageous spiritual leader, worthy of the position he holds.
In this space only does the opinion of the Gallup Independent Editorial Board appear
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Response of Diocese of Gallup’s Director of Communication, Published Oct. 1, 2016:
Letters to the editor
Diocese of Gallup has strong commitment to safety of children
To the editor,
I’m writing in response to the recent editorial, “The Bishop’s missed opportunity,” in hopes of clearing up some of the misinformation contained therein.
Mrs. Hardin-Burrola states she wanted to bring the showing of “Spotlight” to Gallup to help foster a discussion on preventing abuse in our community. If this truly was her intention, it must be applauded. We appreciated the invitation to participate, but as was made clear to her, the showing fell during the same week as our priests’ retreat in Tucson. Further administrative duties required our Bishop to stay through the next day, and the priests who returned had a week’s worth of work waiting for them. The needs of our parishioners take priority, and while we recognize the importance of public discussion, we are not at the beck and call of the Independent.
The article describing the event and the follow-up editorial both presume that adequate changes have not been made by the Diocese in taking steps to curtail abuse. This is untrue, but I will assume these statements were made in ignorance, and not from any willful distortion of the facts.
If Mrs. Hardin-Burrola truly wishes to promote healing, then this is a laudable goal. But her contribution has, thus far, been through words. This is not to disparage journalism – the events portrayed in “Spotlight” show just how vital truthful journalism is to our society. But a journalist does not get to determine how an organization is run. True and lasting change instead comes from heeding the guidance of professionals, which is just what the Diocese of Gallup does. We continually work with various entities including law enforcement, court systems, and licensed counselors. Our commitment to the safety of children is strong enough that many of the major non-monetary terms of the settlement had already been standard practice for the Diocese for years. This includes reporting abuse. Whenever an allegation is brought to the Bishop, Diocesan officials or employees, it is reported to proper authorities, and the Diocese willingly cooperates with all investigations. This includes a series of healing services, which will be announced publicly when the schedule is finalized. If Mrs. Hardin-Burrola had contacted us about this, instead of speculating in the editorial, we would have happily provided her with information.
To Mrs. Hardin-Burrola and to the public: We are on the same side. None of us has escaped the impact of the abuse scandal. All of us want to work to keep our churches and communities safe for children and other vulnerable people. When the Diocese does not take advantage of a public opportunity to state our commitment, it does not mean that we are not working, each and every day, to rectify the sins of the past. And just because we do not undertake this work in exactly the way a reporter demands does not mean we are deaf to the voices of our brothers and sisters, especially those who have survived abuse.
Suzanne Hammons, Director of communications
Diocese of Gallup
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