It’s not over: Your thoughts on our open letter to bishops

KANSAS CITY (MO)
National Catholic Reporter

November 30, 2018

We received dozens upon dozens of responses from you, our dear readers, to our editorial published Nov. 9: “Open letter to the US Catholic bishops: It’s over.” Below is a sampling of those letters. They have been edited for length and clarity.

Thank you for speaking for me in so many ways in your letter telling the U.S. bishops’ conference: “it’s over.” As a spiritual director and Catholic psychotherapist, I received my first referral of a clergy abuse victim/survivor in 1988 from a large midwestern diocese.

After treating dozens more survivors, serving on review and advisory boards, giving talks and trainings, arguing, begging and praying with bishops, collaborating with beautiful and faithful survivors, parents, caring priests and Catholic and non-Catholic professionals, I have seen weariness, disappointment and, finally, full belief in the reports of victim/survivors over decades.

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