Information

Regarding Victims/Survivors

As non-victim Catholics, we realized that we have much to learn in how to support victims or survivors (they prefer the word survivor). Little to no research has been done on the psychological effects of sexual abuse against children by an adult who holds an esteemed religious position. Sexual abuse against children is a felony. These victims were innocent children. Survivors tell us that each healing journey is highly specific and personal, and that one of the most useful things survivors can do is to belong to survivor support groups, particularly survivor support groups organized around the same abuser. SNAP and TheLinkup are the two largest victim-helping-victim support groups. We plan to continue to find ways in which non-victim Catholics can help.

Click here for age-specific pictures of victims at time of abuse.

Regarding Priests

Perspective and balance is absolutely essential when trying to scope the size of this scandal. The vast majority of priests are of excellent moral character. The highest estimate of those who have engaged in the sexual abuse of minors is 6% (Richard Sipe is the researcher) and the lowest estimate (provided by the Archdiocese of Chicago) is a little over 1%. Approximately 46,000 Roman Catholic priests serve in the United States. The correct way to compare the entire number of priests, say, since 1960 is to compare against the number of known abusive priests in this same time period. Someone needs to calculate this number, but simple assumptions would look like this: Assume 50,000 priests in service in 1960 and 1000 new priests added per year, this would be a total priest population of 50,000 + 42,000 (42 years from 1960 to 2002) = 92,000 total priest. The number of abusive priests would need to be compared to this number. Clearly, the vast majority of priests are non-abusive and we offer them our strongest support and thanks for their priestly ministry. Even one abusive priest, however, is one too many and cover-up by bishops is unacceptable.

Regarding the Mainstream Catholic Laity

99% of Catholic laity have never met or heard a survivor speak. Perhaps like us at first, many may believe that this is "much ado about nothing" (e.g. a priest who had a bit too much to drink and made an innocent pass at a girl) or sensualistic and anti-Catholic media reporting. Unfortunately, this is clearly not the case. A small percentage of priests conducted truly evil behavior against innocent children and it is becoming increasingly obviously that church leaders have been aware of this for years. Sexual abuse is not a religious issue. We are discussing a criminal offense - a felony committed against innocent children by Americans who carry the title of priest. Education and truth on this scandal is desperately needed. We encourage the laity to become educated about this issue and to consider if it is a third sin to say quiet in the pews (the first sin was committed by the priest, and the second by bishops/Vatican who many have covered it up). The apparent practice of justifying the ends (no scandal in the church) with the means (hush money paid to victims and keeping known abusers in ministry) is troubling. This climate of avoiding scandal and blind obedience to the Vatican and Bishops over dedication to truth, justice and courage is disconcerting as it suggests an entirely flawed "barrel", and not just numerous "bad apples."