Kathy Coveyou Remarks
February 27, 2004
Press Conference Comments
My name is Kathy Coveyou. I am a wife and a Mother of three small boys. My
sons are what have brought me here today.
When I look at the results of this report I see astounding numbers. But on
this day I am also thinking of Patrick McSorley. How ironic that he was laid
to rest this morning. For me, his is the human face behind a report on a sheet
of paper, loaded with numbers. Behind each one of those numbers is a person
who, as a child, was abused in a most horrific way. Attached to each number
is an entire network of people…parents, brothers, sisters, husbands,
wives, friends…all who have suffered as a result of sexual abuse and
a massive cover up. Those numbers are impossible to sum up on a sheet of paper.
My thoughts are with all of those people today, who have been affected by this
abuse on a personal level and especially those close to Patrick McSorley.
Two years ago when the story of this scandal broke in the Boston Globe my
range of emotions went from disbelief, to shock, to outrage and anger to a
long period of numbness. For the longest time I wanted to believe that it was
not as bad as it appeared. I found it so hard to face that the church that
I loved could cause such pain to so many. But, as time went by I started to
wake up and I saw how it was possible. The decisions that were made regarding
the well being of children and their abuse were made behind closed doors among
members of the Clergy and the files were buried deep and people were told to
be quiet.
As I sit in Church every weekend I sit in the pews among other Mothers, Fathers
and Grand parents. I sit among pediatricians, teachers, police officers, social
workers and psychologists as well as people with untold other skills, talents
and knowledge. I am sure that I also sit among people who have survived abuse
themselves. Had any one or combination of these people been asked over the
years by members of the clergy, “What do we do about this horrific abuse
of children?” and had the clergy been open to hearing and seeking the
truth we would not be here today staring at these numbers. These people who
I attend Mass with every week could have shed light on this and could have
helped to prevent so much pain and loss had they been asked.
It is our responsibility as the people of the church to recognize our talent
and knowledge given to us by the grace of God. I believe that it is our responsibility
to take an active role in our church at all levels to help rebuild the church
as God would have it. It is the responsibility our church leaders to invite
us to use our talents. With leaders committed to seeking truth on all issues
and an active and educated laity working together there is hope for a church
of limitless potential for good. That is the church my husband and I want to
raise our children in.
We must never let this or any other scandal happen in the church again.
