Diocese reaches out to victims via ads

The Diocese of Albany has expanded its public outreach program to encourage victims/survivors of clergy sexual abuse and their families to come forward for help.

"The Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People," adopted by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops last year, calls on each diocese "to develop an outreach to every person who has been the victim of sexual abuse as a minor by anyone acting in the name of the Church, whether the abuse was recent or occurred many years in the past."

Bishop Howard J. Hubbard announced last week that "we are reaching out to the community at large to encourage all persons who may have been victims of clergy sexual abuse to come forward for help. Our mission, consistent with the national Charter, is to promote healing and prevent future abuse."

Advertisements

To encourage victims/survivors to come forward for help, the Diocese will publish or has published advertisements in The Evangelist, The Times Union in Albany, The Daily Gazette in Schenectady, The Troy Record, The Post-Star in Glens Falls, Daily Star in Oneonta and Register Star in Hudson.

In addition, radio commercials with the same message will be broadcast on WYJB (95.5 FM), WRVE (99.5 FM), WROW (590 AM) and WGY (810 AM).

The advertising will cost approximately $35,000.

Resource for victims

Victims/survivors are encouraged to contact Theresa F. Rodrigues, the Diocese's coordinator for assistance to victims/survivors. She will work with victims to determine the types of assistance most helpful to them, including pastoral, spiritual and psychological counseling. She can be contacted at 453-6646 or by e-mail at [email protected].

Victims/survivors can contact the Diocese personally or ask their attorney to make the contact on their behalf.

For members of the public who are not victims/survivors of clergy sexual abuse, the Diocese has established a toll-free public information telephone line (1-800-931-6058) to provide information on the programs the Diocese has established to prevent clergy sexual abuse.

Next steps

Bishop Hubbard said that all allegations of abuse will be thoroughly investigated. Allegations about incidents that lie within the statute of limitations will be referred to the proper criminal authorities. Allegations beyond the statute of limitations will be investigated by a retired State Police investigator retained by the Diocese.

The Albany Diocese has a zero-tolerance policy for sexual abuse by clergy. This means that no priest can remain in public ministry, or can be transferred into, out of or within the Diocese if an allegation of sexual abuse against him at any time has been substantiated.

Since last June, when the U.S. bishops adopted a zero-tolerance policy nationwide, seven Albany diocesan priests have been permanently removed from public ministry for sexually abusing minors. Three other priests have been placed on administrative leave; three more were granted voluntary leaves while allegations against them are being investigated.

'Sin and crime'

"Sexual abuse of an adult or a child is a sin and a crime," Bishop Hubbard said. "When it is committed by a priest in violation of his sacred trust, this misconduct is even more reprehensible.

"To all victims and survivors of clergy sexual abuse, I again apologize for the pain and anxiety you and your family have suffered, and I pray that you will find peace, healing and reconciliation.

"We in the Albany Diocese are committed to making Catholic places the safest places for all children and adults."

(6/05/03) [[In-content Ad]]