We must be ceaselessly on
guard
Bishop Wilton D. Gregory of Belleville, Ill., president of the
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, released the following statement on sexual
abuse of minors by priests Feb. 19:
In recent weeks our attention has again been turned to the issue
of sexual abuse of minors by priests. Though the renewed focus on this issue is
due largely to cases of priest abusers that were not dealt with appropriately
in the past, it gives me the occasion as a pastor and a teacher of faith and
morals to express, on behalf of all of the bishops, our profound sorrow that
some of our priests were responsible for this abuse under our watch. We
understand that your children are your most precious gift. They are our
children as well, and we continue to apologize to the victims and to their
parents and their loved ones for this failure in our pastoral
responsibilities.
The attention to this issue also gives me the opportunity to renew
the promise of our bishops that we will continue to take all the steps
necessary to protect our youth from this kind of abuse in society and in the
church. While we still have much for which we need to be forgiven and much to
learn I am very heartened by the professionals who work with both victims and
abusers who encourage us in this work because, they tell us, there is not
another institution in the United States that is doing more to understand and
address the horror of sexual abuse of minors.
As a church, we have met with those who are victims of sexual
abuse by priests. We have heard their sorrow, confusion, anger and fear. We
have tried to reach out pastorally and sensitively not only to victims of this
outrageous behavior, but to their families and the communities devastated by
this crime. We have confronted priests accused of abuse and removed them from
public ministry.
Over the past two decades, the bishops of the United States have
worked diligently to learn all we can about sexual abuse. Our conference has
encouraged the development of policies in every diocese to address this issue.
Bishops have developed procedures whereby priests moving from one diocese to
another must have certification of their good standing. Bishops have also
revised seminary screening and have mandated in-service programs for priests,
teachers, parish ministers and volunteers to emphasize their responsibility to
protect the innocent and vulnerable from such abuse. Dioceses have implemented
programs to ensure safe environments in parishes and schools. While we have
made some tragic mistakes, we have attempted to be as honest and open about
these cases as we can, especially in following the law on these matters and
cooperating with civil authorities. We remain committed to seeing these
initiatives implemented fully, because the church must be a place of refuge and
security, not a place of denial and distress. Sadly, we are faced with the fact
that evil does harm the innocent, something which human life has faced since
the beginning of time. This is a reality against which we must be ceaselessly
on guard.
I want to say a word about the more than 40,000 wonderful priests
in our country who get up every morning to give their lives in full service to
the church as witnesses to Jesus Christ in our midst. I am very saddened that
the crimes of a few have cast a shadow over the grace-filled and necessary work
that they do day in and day out for society and for the church. The priesthood
is a unique treasure of our church, and I give you my assurance that we are
doing everything to ensure that we have worthy and healthy candidates for the
priesthood and to strengthen the many priests who faithfully fulfill their
ministry on behalf of all of us.
While we deplore the sexual abuse of young people, especially that
committed by a cleric, we are confident that the numbers of priests involved in
such criminal activity are few. The damage, however, has been immeasurable. The
toll this phenomenon has taken on our people and our ministry is tremendous.
This is a time for Catholic people, bishops, clergy, religious and laity, to
resolve anew to work together to assure the safety of our children. These
events serve to remind us all that the cost of preventing these terrible
misdeeds in the future is a careful watch that cannot and will not be relaxed.
We bishops intend to maintain that watch together with and on behalf of our
people.
As we pursue this common work for the safety of our children and
for the good of society and the church we love, let us continue to remember one
another before the Lord in prayer and in charity.
National Catholic Reporter, March 1,
2002
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