Part of the program was a presentation by the diocese's Victim Assistance Officer, Doris May. She spoke about what the diocese is doing to help victims of sexual abuse in Church-related activities. In my judgment, Ms. May is a compassionate and generous woman who disires to help survivors of child sexual abuse with all of her heart.
Several important points came up during the discussion wherein I learned some important things about responding to abuse in Church-related activities. The first is that when one reports abuse through Church channels, some people think that doing so means that he or she forfeits the right to pursue criminal or civil recourse. This misconception needs to be corrected. Informing Church authorities about abuse should not make one feel in any way bound not to inform law enforecement or seek legal counsel. The second point had to do with counseling. If requested, the diocese will try to accommadate requests for assistance with the expenses of counseling for victims of sexual abuse. Ms. May also indicated that whenever a victim of sexual abuse calls, she takes very seriously her obligation to be empathetic and let the survivor tell his/her story.
One question that I asked was how a pastor should deal with parishioners who remember priests who have sexually abused children. This question is a vexing one. What I took from the response was that survivors should always be allowed to tell their stories in the first person. Part of respecting those who have suffered from abuse in the Church involves recognizing that their stories are not our stories. For many of us, there is a strong temptation to talk about what one heard that "Father X" did - even if we are not exactly sure what he did. We need to be careful not to exploit the pain of some in order to gain the attention of others.
If you have been abused sexually in an activity sponsored by the Catholic Church, please inform the local police, no matter how long ago the incident took place. I would also recommend calling Ms. May at 765 464-4988.