Pastor hears from Catholics on clergy sex abuse scandal

Rev. David Noone, pastor, scheduled the meeting after being inundated with media coverage of the abuse issue while on a recent retreat in the Boston area.

"There wasn't a day that went by when there wasn't some new, startling revelation and crisis," he told The Evangelist. "I said to myself, `I'm sure our people [in the parish] have feelings about this, but I can't take any pastoral response and action until I find out what those feelings are.'"

Listening

Before the session, Father Noone said that parishioners weren't confiding to him how they felt about clergy sexual abuse. He believed people were embarrassed to talk about it. During the listening session, however, people poured out their emotions.

"There was sadness, frustration, some hurt, [feelings of] betrayal by Church leaders [and] inadequate leadership, and feeling left out of the process of consultation," said the pastor.

At issue

When he spoke to The Evangelist, the pastor was debating how to best approach the problem; he wanted to at least put an announcement in the parish bulletin that counseling was available and how to access it.

One major concern parishioners brought up at the meeting was that Church leaders are disconnected from the laity. Father Noone said parishioners described the hierarchy as "not speaking our language" and "off in their own little world."

On a more positive note, he said, people expressed confidence and hope for the Church, particularly after the meeting was over and all their concerns had been voiced.

Next steps

He plans to take all the information gathered at the meeting and get Mr. Smith's professional opinion on what steps to take next. Suggestions from parishioners, he said, included a prayer or healing service and making counseling available.

Father Noone said that some parishioners at the meeting also wanted information on pedophilia: what it is, its causes, why pedophiles aren't easily recognized, the laws about such abuse and where the Church gets the money it has given to victims.

The pastor left the listening session feeling "reassured that people felt comfortable being honest about their feelings and their needs -- which, I'm sure, was difficult, because some people spoke with some emotion."

(St. Francis de Sales parish will host prayer services on the Tuesdays of May at 7 p.m. in its Exchange St. Church. Parishioners and others in the community are invited to attend for hymns, the Rosary and a litany. The May 7 service will be offered for victims of abuse; May 14, for priests; May 21, for the laity; and May 28, for the future of the Church. Call 489-8386 for additional information.)

(05-02-02) [[In-content Ad]]