Bishop: Victims must come forward

In a statement issued to mark Victims/Survivors Lobbying Day in Albany on May 20, Bishop Howard J. Hubbard said, "I hope the rally will bring healing, reconciliation and peace for any person who has been sexually abused by a priest.

"I hope, too, that events such as these will encourage victims of clergy sexual abuse to come forward to identify their abuser, and receive the counseling and other assistance they may need."

The Bishop noted that "the sexual abuse crisis in the Church will not end until every victim has come forward for help and every abuser has been removed from ministry. We are committed to protecting children and adults from abuse of every kind, and will comply fully with changes in law that the Legislature and Governor deem necessary to achieve that goal."

Calling sexual abuse by clergy "sinful and reprehensible misconduct" that "violates human dignity, ministerial commitment to celibacy and the mission of the Catholic Church," Bishop Hubbard said: "I apologize again, as I have in the past, to all victims of clergy sexual abuse for the pain and anxiety they and their families have suffered."

The Bishop encouraged victims/survivors to contact Theresa F. Rodrigues, the Albany Diocese's victims/survivors assistance coordinator, at 453-6646 or by e-mail at [email protected].

(For more information on what the Albany Diocese is doing to protect children and adults, see pages 4-5, or visit www.rcda.org and www.evangelist.org.)

(5/22/03) [[In-content Ad]]