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“SILENCE: LESS IS MORE”
Long-time survivor advocate Fr. Robert M. Hoatson of the diocese of Newark,
NJ filed a civil action against the New York Archdiocese, Cardinal Edward Egan,
the Newark Archdiocese, Archbishop John J. Myers, the Congregation of Christian
Brothers, Fr. John O’Brien, Br. Laurence Boschetto, Br. Paul Kevin Hennessy,
the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany, and Bishop Howard J. Hubbard. Subsequent
to the December filing, Fr. Hoatson was placed on administrative leave by the
Newark Archdiocese.
The nature of Fr. Hoatson’s allegations prompted a VOTF affiliate to
postpone a previously scheduled talk the priest was to give at the affiliate’s
meeting. In the ensuing exchange of feelings among survivors, affiliate representatives,
and survivor supporters about the cancelled talk, Carolyn Disco of VOTF NH
added her own voice (below – “Silence: Less Is More”) in
a careful consideration of the place of survivors and their voices in an organization
where their support is a primary goal.
It is important to note that the VOTF affiliate is a longstanding and outspoken
supporter of survivors and continues to reach out to Fr. Hoatson. However,
their concern with the allegations made in the lawsuit overrode their willingness
to risk a seeming endorsement of Fr. Hoatson’s views.
[Carolyn Disco has led VOTF NH survivor support since that affiliate’s
inception. What follows are excerpts of Carolyn’s thoughts, as well as
the thoughts of another survivor. These comments were made in an email exchange
among survivors, survivor supporters and affiliate representatives following
the postponement of Fr. Hoatson’s talk. ]
I have been watching this correspondence with alarm, praying for some resolution.
My first reaction was horror that a survivor would be disinvited simply on
the basis of filing a lawsuit. I have watched Bob Hoatson’s activities
over the years with great admiration for his courage, both as a survivor and
an advocate who listens and listens and then acts to provide material and spiritual
assistance to fellow survivors. Priests like him, and Tom Doyle, Gary Hayes,
John Bambrick, Ken Lasch and Bruce Teague are to be cherished and listened
to. Hoatson and Doyle are collaborators on the Millstone Project.
My second reaction was to do some research and see what prompted the VOTF
affiliate’s reaction, since survivor lawsuits have never to my knowledge
prevented VOTF from listening to survivors. This particular affiliate has
been a beacon of activity with a long record of seeking bishop accountability
and in survivor support. I have admired them from afar, and defended them
against charges by Bill Donohue of the Catholic League.
In the lawsuit, Hoatson makes strong claims, names names, and his lawyer
is confrontational (a necessary quality sometimes in his line of work; many
other lawyers have failed with RICO suits).
But I firmly believe that the best response to speech that is problematic
is more speech, not silence. I decided to research further and have inserted
some of those results in red in the attached file. Are bishops, certain bishops
active homosexuals? Let’s lay out the evidence and see what it shows.
If it holds up, or even prompts those who may have been silent out of fear
of coming forward to do so, then an important service has been rendered.
If it does not hold up, then Hoatson bears the burden. The bishops would
be quickly hailed by their many supporters. Hoatson is taking an enormous
risk, and merits a hearing at least, as does the other side.
I note statements by spokespersons for two of the bishops charged. I am frankly
disgusted by the vicious tone used to respond to Hoatson. Such responses
are well beneath the dignity of episcopal office, and make me want to hear
the rebuttals. Experience has shown me time and time again that half-truths
and distortions are endemic in press releases from chanceries, but this hits
a new low. I understand the strategy of putting the plaintiff on trial, but
not with ridicule.
Waiting until a lawsuit is over, as the VOTF affiliate proposes, is not workable.
That can take years. I invoke the Benedictine injunction to listen, and listen
now. What is the harm in that? No doubt the hard feelings are difficult on
all sides, but let’s not have a dialogue of the deaf. Can we come together,
put aside charges, and simply be open to each other? I pray so.
Susan Renehan, an early and outspoken survivor attendee at VOTF gatherings
shares her own views:
I always try to balance any criticism with praise for so many who have never
wavered in their support of survivors, VOTF included. I remember we pulled
back from sending out speakers in the early days of VOTF because there was
some really rude behavior going on and the last thing I wanted to do was
put survivors in harm’s way.
On the other hand there was some really rude behavior on the survivors’ side
and I know that put many people off. I had to make some apologies for my outspoken
behavior from time to time. It was very sobering for me. I was talking about
this to someone recently: one of the big problems was that survivors who had
been rejected for so long by the Church and in many cases their own families,
and who were struggling to keep their lives together, were suddenly put on
this pedestal by VOTF. This is a bad place to put anyone, much less a traumatized
person. There was a lot of acting out as a result. A lot of this is merely
human nature but putting it in the context of the abuse crisis, everything
was exacerbated.
In terms of VOTF, I think they were under the false illusion that if they
stuck to the middle of the road and did not insult anyone in the hierarchy
they would be able to negotiate with the Church for change. Almost unanimously,
survivors knew this was never going to work and that it was counter to the
needs of survivors. From the first we have wanted the truth to be told by this
Church; we are still waiting. We want justice; we are still waiting. Above
all, we want children to be protected; we are still waiting.
An honest dialogue is the best we can hope for.
Please know I have enormous respect for all those in VOTF who have stuck around
and who have stood for and with survivors.
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