My
Takes and “Thank you, VOTF!” – Jim Post
I
attended an event in Wellesley, MA where five extraordinary
leaders – Fr. Tom Doyle, authors Richard Sipe and Jason
Berry, and survivor leaders Sue Archibald (The LinkUp)
and David Clohessy (SNAP) – spoke to an audience of
more than 400 people about the current state of the
sexual abuse tragedy. The panelists provided an overview,
then answered a variety of questions from audience members.
A
few key points:
-
"Crisis" may be an inappropriate word to use because
it signifies a beginning and an end. To victim/survivors,
there is no end – just the reality of living a life
that has forever been affected by sexual abuse. We
must understand this as an era of history that will
only pass when another era – of honesty and sexual
maturity – begins.
-
The scope of abuse that flows from the clerical culture
is much broader than the abuse of children or adolescents
alone. It extends to abuse of women, as well as men;
teens and adults as well as children. At the root
of the abuse equation is power and its misuse by those
in positions of authority.
-
The cover up of information about these evils continues.
Lawyers for the Catholic Church continue to suppress
information, conceal records, and subvert the process
of full disclosure. Projects such as the document
disclosure project at www.bishopsaccountability.org
are bringing much needed sunlight to these issues.
-
The need for public awareness continues to be great.
There is so much that needs to be done – outreach
to survivors, assistance to those coming forward,
therapeutic assistance, and reform of the conditions
within the Catholic Church that made such evil possible.
-
The panelists agreed that the twin goals of justice
for survivors and prevention of future harms require
all of us, as individuals and in our various organizations,
to continue to take action. One small thing each day
(a phone call to another person, a letter to a bishop
demanding change, refusal to continue being a "pay,
pray, and obey" Catholic) can build enormous grassroots
pressure for change.
What happened to thousands of victims/survivors changed
their lives. The knowledge that all of us have gained
in two years has changed our lives. Together – survivors
and committed Catholics – we can make an ever-stronger
case for change.
My personal thanks to the hundreds of VOTF members and
supporters who turned out for this event in Wellesley,
MA. And my special thanks goes to the many VOTF members
who volunteered their precious time, energy, and great
baking talents to the reception.
I want it to be said loud and clear – THANK YOU VOTF!!!!
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