BishopAccountability.org
	Priests Ask Massgoers How Best to Compensate Victims of Clerical Abuse One in Four [Northern Ireland] August 29, 2005 MASSGOERS were yesterday asked to participate in a survey to assess views on how their parish should contribute to the compensation fund for victims of clerical sex abuse. The request was made by the Administrator of St Eugene's Cathedral in Derry, Fr Michael Canny, who said that the survey would be conducted by a team of researchers from the University of Ulster. Earlier this year the Bishop of Derry, Dr Seamus Hegarty, said the diocese was committed to paying £1m (€1.46m) over a five-year period to the Stewardship Trust Fund, which was set up by the Catholic Church in Ireland to pay compensation to people who were sexually abused by priests. Fr Canny said that his parish's commitment to the fund was £8,000 (€11,700) a year for five years. "This confidential survey is being conducted at my request by the University of Ulster and I invite those who worship in or financially support St Eugene's parish to take part in the survey. "Those who use their offertory envelope will receive the survey through their letterbox," he said. "The survey is completely anonymous and confidential with individual responses only being available to the University's research team . . . The result of the consultation will be completed by November 4 and it will be made public shortly thereafter," Fr Canny told parishioners at weekend Masses. "I believe that an extensive and independent consultation process is necessary due to the sensitivities surrounding the topic . . . I believe this to be a useful way to get an accurate and independent understanding of the views of those who worship in and financially support St Eugene's parish." In a sample survey issued yesterday, parishioners were asked to list in order of priority six fund-raising methods. They were also asked if they objected to raising money for the fund.
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