Archbishop's  Column  by  Archbishop John G. Vlazny

The Church will be better; God, as always, does provide
6/21/02

On the final day of our bishops’ meeting in Dallas last week, the
spiritual director of our morning of prayer together, Archbishop Philip
Wilson of Adelaide, Australia, asked the rhetorical question, “Who would
want to be a bishop these days?” He said he was willing to raise his hand
quickly and eagerly, in spite of the present crisis stemming from the many
revelations of sexual abuse by the clergy and the failure of church
leaders to stem the tide. I must confess, however, that I was not so sure
my own response would have been quite so quick. What had happened to me on
the road to Dallas?

The events of the past five months have been intense, emotional and
draining. The same can be said of the gathering in Dallas. There we
bishops were reminded that the crisis occurred because of several factors,
not the least of which are our own lack of accountability, our arrogance
and the closed clerical culture of the Catholic Church. At stake, we were
told, are the viability of the church’s mission, the reputation of all
ordained ministers and the church’s moral authority in the world. When all
is said and done, the real problem in the church is the bishop.

Many claim that the bishops’ lack of candor, honesty and integrity has
severely impeded the Church’s mission. Bishops will be true shepherds only
when they begin to manifest the humble acceptance of true Catholic
solidarity in all aspects of our life together, including decision-making
and responsibility.

For more than 18 years, I have served as a bishop. I must confess that I
cannot blame my predecessors or other contemporary bishops for such an
analysis. I have been a member of the college of bishops for too long to
pass the buck. I need to assure you, the good people of this local church,
that I apologize for whatever mistakes I have made in my service to you
and the people of two other dioceses. Wherever my mismanagement,
inadequacy or frailty have overshadowed your goodness and generous care of
others, I pray that a good and gracious God will be merciful on judgment
day.

Victims of child abuse by clerics also shared the podium at our Dallas
gathering. They reminded us that litigation is a very painful experience
for them, and the church should try to avoid it at all costs. They see the
church as hiding behind lawyers in such circumstances. They also told us
that, as abused children, they often saw what had happened to them as
something for which they were responsible. It was their “fault.”

Inevitably, depression and deep pain followed. The only supportive message
we could send to victims that might make a difference in their lives would
be “zero tolerance” of such abuse, past, present and future. Perpetrators
could never again be returned to public ministry. When these victims spoke
to us, as had happened to me in the past during personal meetings with
other victims or their parents, my heart was touched by the severity of
their victimization and the longevity and depth of their sufferings.
By the end of the second day in Dallas, we bishops had agreed upon a
charter that outlined our serious purpose to do all we could to protect
children and young people from the recurrence of such abuse in the future.
Perpetrators would never be allowed to minister publicly in the church
again. All allegations for child abuse will be reported to the civil
authorities. This is already the law of our own state, but it will be the
practice of all bishops across the land, no matter what the civil statutes
may require. Bishops too will be held accountable by a National Review
Board to be headed by Governor Frank Keating of Oklahoma. Here in the
Archdiocese of Portland we shall have our own review board, which will
assure compliance with our own sexual abuse policy and the eventual
modifications in keeping with the directives of the charter.

Some continue to wonder why we had not insisted upon laicization of all
priests guilty of child abuse. There are two reasons. First of all, that
is not within our competence, but the Pope’s. We are looking for ways to
facilitate such a process for many perpetrators. In our judgment, such a
decision should be made on a case-by-case basis. This is church law. One
size simply does not fit all. Furthermore, laicization does not bring our
children one iota more of protection from abuse. In fact, it probably
brings less. These fallen priests are members of our family, and we have
some responsibility for them. But none of them will ever again be allowed
to engage in priestly ministry. That is a far heavier punishment for a
priest than some observers seem to appreciate.

There was one issue that remained unsettled. Some critics were still
disconcerted that no punishment had been directed at the bishops. When all
is said and done, it was not our corporate task to single out any one
bishop as particularly culpable with respect to the failure to protect
children in the past. Individual bishops are answerable to the Pope. The
failing was a collegial one, and we all are responsible. Even though I may
have tried my best in the local churches where I have served, I have not
been effective in assuring that the whole church that I love and serve was
doing its best in this regard. But I must say that in many ways the
punishment has already begun. Let me explain.

Even though I love the work that I do as your bishop, primarily because I
value our mission and my privilege to collaborate with and serve so many
good sisters and brothers, nevertheless there is a heaviness in my heart.
A recent letter that came to my office reminded me that, as a bishop, I am
far too removed from reality because of my episcopal garb, the reverence
and respect I receive from so many of you, and the exalted titles often
directed my way. Well, it’s not always that way any longer. You have to
know that the Lord has found ways in recent years to make me more humble
than I ever wanted to be. Humiliation has done the trick! Yes, a
purification of the church has begun. This is good. A special blessing is
that no longer do we ordain priests who enter the ministry for the wrong
reason. In the future, I am quite confident that we will no longer be led
by bishops who accept their office for the wrong reason. Yes, the church
will be better. God, as always, does provide.

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