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Currents News for Monday, February 18, 2019

On the newscast: Reaction from priests and parishioners after the Brooklyn Diocese releases the names of clergy credibly accused of sexual abuse against minors; Making the list public, just the latest step the Diocese has taken on its path to reconciliation with survivors – we’ll take a closer look at all of the measures enacted over the years to prevent abuse; fallout after Theodore McCarrick is defrocked from the priesthood for sexual wrongdoing; and the Holy Father is asking Catholics worldwide to pray for this week’s global summit on abuse at the Vatican.

Today’s top news from the Catholic perspective anchored by Liz Faublas. Currents News airs Monday through Friday at 7:00 p.m. EST on NET-TV (netny.tv)

What the Brooklyn Diocese Does to Prevent Abuse & Help Survivors

By Tim Harfmann

The clergy list is the latest step the Diocese of Brooklyn is taking to protect children and help survivors. But for years, the Church in Brooklyn and Queens — and Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio — have been very active in combating the scourge of abuse. The bishop held regional meetings with lay faithful in both boroughs last year – where he pledged to release the names of clergy credibly accused of abuse. In each of the four sessions, he answered every question that anyone asked. As part of his ‘zero tolerance’ policy, the bishop established an independent reporting telephone number that’s linked directly to the district attorney’s office for investigation.

The diocese also has the Safe Environment Office, run by Maryellen Quinn. She is in charge of training programs that prevent abuse. “The diocese is required to train and screen all adults who have access to children, and we are also required to instruct our children,” said Quinn.

According to Quinn, so far 60,000 children are instructed each year on how to identify and report abuse. In addition, 82,000 adults, including clergy and lay people, have been taught to be on the lookout for signs of abuse.

jasmine Salazar is the diocese’s vice chancellor and victim assistance coordinator. “The diocese is heavily involved in outreach to victims and providing assistance to victims who were abused as minors by members of the clergy,” said Salazar. That includes therapy and the annual Mass of Hope and Healing, organized by abuse survivors. The Independent Reconciliation and Compensation Program, started in 2017, compensates survivors as a means of healing and closure.

When the list of clerics was released Friday, January 15th, Bishop DiMarzio also put out a video to communicate with the faithful. “In the past 17 years, there have been two credible cases involving active, diocesan clergy in the Diocese of Brooklyn. While even one is too many, this shows that we are on the right path to ensuring these horrendous acts of abuse are never repeated,” said Bishop DiMarzio.

Anthony Hughes is a survivor and said he was ignored when he first reported being abused to the Church. But there’s been a big change under Bishop DiMarzio. “They always return your call. They’re always there for you when times are really tough. They’ve never turned their back on me in the last few years,” said Hughes.

As the Independent Reconciliation and Compensation Program wraps up, Bishop DiMarzio said the diocese is committed to continuing to assist victims and will conduct a private compensation program for those who wish to participate.

Brooklyn Diocese Releases List of Credibly Accused

By Emily Drooby

Priests and parishioners across the Brooklyn Diocese also speaking out, after the list of clergy credibly accused of sexual abuse against minors was released.

Parishioner Alayne Cox said, “I think it’s important that the diocese has done this.”

Parishioner Michael said, “I’m happy that the Church and the diocese is doing the best they can to be as open and sincere about responding to the people in their hurt and doing the best they can.”

Father Thomas Doyle, the pastor for Good Shepherd Church, said, “It has a little bit of an impact here because seven of the priests that are on the list were assigned here at one point so it has taken a little bit of breath out of the parish.”

While Father Alonzo Cox, the pastor at St. Martin De Porres Parish reacted with, “It’s tough, you know it’s tough to see something like this but I pray for my brothers and we pray that the Lord will continue to strengthen us.”

The full list can be found on the Diocese of Brooklyn’s website by clicking on a special page made for the clergy sex abuse crisis response. There’s also a video statement by Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, in which he said, “I have met with many victims who have told me that more than anything, they want an acknowledgement of what was done to them.”

The list covers the 166-year history of the diocese. There are 108 names, one auxiliary bishop, two deacons and 105 priests, less than 5 percent of clergy throughout the history of the Diocese of Brooklyn.

The list was a shock for many, like Father Doyle, “These are priests that I have lived with, priests I have ministered with, these are priests who are friends so it is kind of disheartening, we will be stronger because of it and I think that’s what we can come forth with.”

Almost two-thirds of the accused clergy on the list are dead.

Numbers show that incidents of abuse peaked in the 1960’s and 1970’s. However, most reports came in after both 2002, when the Dallas Charter for the protection of children and young people was enacted, and 2017, after the Brooklyn Diocese started the Independent Reconciliation and Compensation Program, which works to provide healing and closure for survivors of clergy sexual abuse.

Abuse Survivor: Priest Was “Like Jesus Christ Entering Our Home”

Currents News Staff

Anthony Hughes is a sexual abuse survivor and now a member of the Diocese of Brooklyn’s Survivors Advisory Committee.

With the recent release of names of diocesan priests with credible allegations against them, he joins Currents News to share his own experience.

The Shameful Downfall Of Cardinal McCarrick

Currents News Staff

He was once a prince of the Church and a friend of Presidents. Former Washington D.C. Cardinal Theodore McCarrick enjoyed a spectacular career at the heart of power, in Washington and in Rome.

When the U.S. Cardinals were summoned to the Vatican by John Paul II in 2002 at the beginning of the sex abuse scandal, Cardinal McCarrick was the reassuring face of that crisis, advocating zero-tolerance for abusers even as there were unrevealed allegations against him.

Theodore McCarrick was created a Cardinal in 2001, by John Paul II.

Around that time, an American priest wrote to the Vatican to warn them of rumors that the cardinal was sexually abusing seminarians.

But no action was taken for years until, according to the Vatican. Under Pope Benedict XVI, McCarrick was quietly advised not to travel or be seen in public and live a discreet life of prayer and penance, to avoid further rumors of his sexual misconduct with seminarians.

A recommendation which the Cardinal seemed to ignore, as he continued travelling and appearing in public, even at the 2013 conclave that elected Pope Francis.

But then in June last year, accusations that McCarrick had abused a minor were found credible by an internal church investigation in New York.

Although McCarrick maintained his innocence, he resigned as Cardinal, something that has rarely happened in the history of the Catholic Church.

Finally, he was brought to trial at the Vatican, though by now 88 years old and infirm, he did not attend in person.

Vatican Launches New Website On The Summit On Sexual Abuse

Currents News Staff

Organizers for the Summit on Sexual Abuse today launched a website with resources for the meeting and also results of a survey from bishops from around the world with safeguarding guidelines they use in their diocese.

This website with background, resources and official Holy See documents was presented at a Vatican press conference, just days before the Summit on Sexual Abuse begins.

“The media’s commitment to this story has been extremely important and we would like to be your partners this week,” said organizer SR Bernadette Reis FSP.

Thus, the website provides a press kit with nine elements to help clarify any questions. There is also a timeline from 1984 until the present, and safeguarding guidelines and practices for the questionnaire, gathered from conferences around the world.

“A survey, a questionnaire was initiated among the conference participants, which is currently being evaluated by the Center for Child Protection at the Pontifical Gregorian University,” said FR. Hans Zollner of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors.

 This questionnaire is only the first phase, they say, of a longer process they hope to continue, even after the Summit. It is the beginning of the Vatican’s evaluation and implementation of responsibility, accountability and transparency, the three themes for the meeting.

 In order to find out more information about the Summit on Sexual Abuse, be sure to check out the website with bios of all the speakers who’ll be speaking and also a full program of these three and a half days in Rome.

Fr. John Gribowich

Pennsylvania born and educated, Father John Gribowich took a circuitous route to the priesthood. He taught high school for 10 years prior to coming to New York City where he worked in a bookstore and museum before entering the seminary and embarking on his new life.

Currents News for Friday, February 15, 2019

On this special edition of Currents News: Young people pack the pews of St. Patrick’s Cathedral…they’re using prayer to cope with New York’s new abortion law; President Trump takes on that law during his State of the Union address; A furor erupts over the renaming of a Brooklyn street; Anchor Liz Faublas reports on the annual Archdiocesan Black History Month Mass, where Catholics celebrate with a sign of faith.

Today’s top news from the Catholic perspective anchored by Liz Faublas. Currents News airs Monday through Friday at 7:00 p.m. EST on NET-TV (netny.tv)