Archbishop's  Column  by  Archbishop John G. Vlazny

Bishops’ first priority is protection of children, young people
5/31/02

In mid-June the American bishops will be gathering for their annual
mid-year assembly in Dallas. I have been told that the registrations from
the bishops are much higher than usual for a June meeting. As many as 500
members of the media are expected to attend. All this attention, of
course, results from the decision of the bishops’ Administrative Committee
to place the issue of sexual abuse by the clergy on the agenda.

Victims’ groups and other groups will be present. There will be time for
extended prayer together, as well as a public outreach to victims, during
which the bishops will ask for forgiveness and reconciliation. On Friday
evening, June 14, the bishops will go to the cathedral in Dallas for the
celebration of the Eucharist. Victims’ groups and the church in Dallas
will be invited. There will also be an opportunity for prayer for
remembrance of victims before the Blessed Sacrament throughout the night.
Finally, on Saturday morning, the bishops will begin their day with a Mass
for the forgiveness of sins. Archbishop Philip Wilson of Adelaide,
Australia, will direct a morning of spiritual reflection. Bishop Wilson
has done extensive work in the area of sexual abuse in the service of the
Australian Episcopal Conference.

My brother bishops and I are deeply concerned about protecting children
and eliminating sexual abuse of children and young people by clergy. In
preparation for the meeting, bishops across the land have been reviewing
and discussing diocesan policies in an effort to determine whether or not
they need to be revised and strengthened. We are hopeful that the
discussions in June will bring further clarity to that pressing matter.

Many of you have been disappointed with the leadership we bishops have
given in the past and even now as we work with our people in an effort to
protect children and eliminate sexual abuse of minors by clergy and other
church personnel. Again and again I have been told, “You still don’t get
it.” Well, if I don’t, I am committed to trying my best to get it once and
for all. The misdeeds and mistakes of the past sicken me. With you I pray
for the grace of conversion and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Three main areas of concern, all at the heart of this current crisis, will
guide the bishops’ discussion in Dallas. They are 1) reassignment to
ministry, 2) reporting of cases to authorities, and 3) accountability to
each other and to the people. In preliminary fashion, I would like to
share a few thoughts with you about each one of these matters.

Presently here in the Archdiocese of Portland no priest would ever be
reassigned to parochial ministry after a confirmed or proved allegation of
sexual misconduct with a minor. Any other work in the service of the
church would be allowed only provided that reasonable disclosure is given
to key leaders at the place of the assignment and with the full
concurrence of a diocesan fitness review board. Such a board would
necessarily include laypersons and experts not in the employ of the
diocese.

Our Oregon law requires that all allegations involving sexual misconduct
with a person still a minor must be reported to the civil authorities. The
archdiocese fully complies with that regulation and endorses it
wholeheartedly. The revised Archdiocesan Child Abuse Policy speaks to this
issue directly and offers guidance to mandatory reporters.

The inconsistency of church personnel policies in the past has contributed
to our current crisis. Unfortunately, many people are unaware of the fact
that church governance is localized under the leadership of the diocesan
bishop. A matter of policy in one diocese may very well not be a matter of
policy in another. Many of our fellow citizens are demanding a more
uniform approach in dealing with child abuse by clergy and other church
personnel. The bishops will attempt to commit themselves publicly to be
accountable to each other and to you, the people whom we have been called
to serve.

Here in the Archdiocese of Portland we have publicized far and wide our
revised Child Abuse Policy, promulgated earlier this year, but still many
people are unfamiliar with its directives. We are working to improve our
communications network, and we are also committed to establishing a
ministry of the church that would promote healing and reconciliation as
well as the implementation of safe-environment programs for children and
youth.

Zero-tolerance is an issue that continues to be debated and will
undoubtedly fuel many of the discussions in Dallas. There may well be
debate over some specifics in this matter, but there is no debate among
the bishops that the priority is the protection of children and young
people. There is a similar and related determination about not having
anyone in ministry who is a danger to the people being served. We also
have a consensus that the laity, including parents, have to be included in
the decision-making process concerning any possible reassignment.

There have been some conversations about cases that are “notorious” and
those that are not. As your bishop, I assure you that here in the
Archdiocese of Portland, we want to make sure that we can act decisively
in all cases, even those that are not notorious. We are also concerned
about the removal from ministry of priests who do not ask voluntarily for
laicization. Many of my brother bishops and I want to make the removal
from ministry permanent through a procedure more expeditious than is
presently available, respecting at the same time legitimate due process.

In closing my comments, I want to offer a word of support for the
wonderful priests who continue to serve you with fidelity and integrity
even in these challenging times. Many of them will be answering the call
to new pastoral service, effective July 1. I encourage you to offer your
words of farewell and welcome with affection, appreciation and respect.
The priestly office was established to draw God’s people closer to Jesus
Christ, not to the one who is graced with that office. When people are
drawn closer to the church because of a priest, I worry. He is only human
and can let them down. When they are drawn closer to the church because of
Jesus, I am glad. He will never let them down. God bless.

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