Bishop: IMAP is 'thorough, fair'

The future will judge the Catholic Church's response to the scourge of clergy sexual abuse on how compassionately we treated victims, how honestly we faced our own failures and mistakes, and how effectively we prevented the abuse from recurring.

Until we as a Church are fully reconciled with anyone who, as a child or young adult, was sexually abused by one of our priests or deacons, our work will not be done.

To this end, last fall, I asked for Judge Howard A. Levine's assistance in developing an independent program to help victims. He has responded with the kind of thorough, fair and practical approach that distinguished his years in public service and in the courts.

I thank Judge Levine for accepting the challenging task of developing and administering this innovative program whose work is vital to abuse victims and to the Church.

Judge Levine's Independent Mediation Assistance Program (IMAP) for individuals who, as minors, were sexually abused by clergy of the Albany Diocese will ensure that individuals who choose to participate in this voluntary program will have their allegations thoroughly investigated, and will receive the care and assistance that they need and deserve to bring healing, comfort and peace to their lives.

The Independent Mediation Assistance Program is an excellent option for those individuals who require additional assistance and prefer to work with an independent program rather than the Diocese directly.

For the purposes of pastoral care, I again invite and encourage any victim with whom I have not already met to contact me so that I can apologize in person on behalf of the Diocese and our Church for the abuse he or she suffered, and provide spiritual assistance and support.

I continue to encourage anyone who, as a minor, was sexually abused by a diocesan priest or deacon to contact the Independent Mediation Assistance Program, the Albany Diocese and/or law enforcement authorities to report the abuse and seek assistance.

Judge Levine's Independent Mediation Assistance Program has the full support of the Albany Diocese. Our diocesan Sexual Misconduct Review Board, the panel of mainly lay people that advises our diocesan leadership team on sexual abuse issues, has reviewed and endorsed Judge Levine's program. Our diocesan Finance Council, the primarily lay panel that oversees diocesan financial affairs, has approved the establishment of the $5 million fund for victims' assistance.

(9/23/04)