SYRACUSE (NY)
syracuse.com
February 15, 2018
By Editorial Board
The Catholic Diocese of Syracuse took a big step Wednesday to make amends for the sexual abuse perpetrated against children by its priests. Bishop Robert Cunningham announced that the diocese would create a program to compensate survivors, “to seek forgiveness for the irreparable acts of the past and perhaps, bring a sense of healing to some.”
It is a stunning turnaround. In the not too distant past, the diocese was so reluctant to admit any fault that at least one survivor of clergy sexual abuse was forced to sue the church for counseling money.
It was during the deposition phase of that lawsuit that Cunningham said the children were “culpable” in their own abuse – a statement that sent shockwaves through the community and angered many survivors, who demanded his removal. At the time, the bishop apologized for his poor choice of words. On Wednesday, Cunningham stated flatly that “no child is responsible for his or her abuse ever.” Amen to that.
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