Responses from expert panelists at abuse symposium

On March 29, several hundred people attended a day-long symposium at Siena College in Loudonville titled "Trusting the Clergy? The Church and Communities Come to Grips with Sexual Misconduct."

The symposium was co-sponsored by Siena's Department of Religious Studies, Department of Social Work and Office of the Chaplain; the Diocese of Albany; the Capital Area Council of Churches; and the Capital Region Ecumenical Organization.

Three major addresses were given. Responding to the talks were several panelists, representing different faiths and denominations as well as expertise:

* Dr. Michael Bland, a survivor of clergy sexual abuse who is coordinator of the Office of Victim Assistance Ministry for the Archdiocese of Chicago;

* Rev. Dr. Marie Fortune, a United Church of Christ minister who founded the Center for the Prevention of Sexual and Domestic Violence in Seattle, Wash.;

* Dr. Carolyn Newberger, assistant clinical professor of psychology in the Department of Psychiatry at the Harvard Medical School;

* Ladan Alomar, executive director of Centro Civico of Amsterdam;

* Dr. Robert Miller, assistant professor of Social Welfare at the University at Albany; and

* Anne Pope, president of the Albany branch of the NAACP and director of the New York African American Research Foundation.

Here is some of what they said:

* "I have high regard and great respect for Bishop Hubbard. He has always been a champion of the little guy. He speaks out against discrimination, poverty, war. He's always there." -- Anne Pope

* "Children and parents had trust and high esteem for clergy, who are considered next to God in my [Baptist] community. We have unflagging respect for and blind loyalty to preachers and priests. It is sad that has been eroded by a violation of human rights and a criminal act." -- Anne Pope

* "This issue stretches beyond sex; power and vulnerability are issues that must be dealt with....The Gospel, not lawyers, should be guiding this process; then the Church can be the Church." -- Marie Fortune

* "This historic event can help [our churches] find our way through this [crisis] to some real growth." -- Marie Fortune

* "Pedophiles can be treated, but not cured. The problem is that the Church followed [the advice of] professionals who said [pedophiles] could be cured." -- Carolyn Newberger

* "It's important to look through the eyes of abusers. If you don't know what you're dealing with, you're not going to know how to protect yourself or protect children." -- Carolyn Newberger

* "I am a victim who has found healing. I was abused by an individual, not by the institution of the Church or by clergy in general." -- Michael Bland

* "I know healing is possible. Perhaps, with sexual abuse becoming a household word,...no one needs to be paralyzed by fear. I hope it's easier for sexual abuse victims to come forward and tell their story." -- Michael Bland

* "If my faith is taken away from me, who am I? Faith is fundamental to me....Abuse has had a profound impact. Trust is shattered when the most vulnerable are not protected and when moral authority is betrayed. The solution starts with demolishing the culture of secrecy and cover-up." -- Ladan Alomar

* "This [symposium] is a powerful event with multiple feelings that are palpable. This is about accountability, reconciliation and healing....There is an opportunity [amid this tragedy] for increased responsibility for our relationship with God. We can assume our rightful place as God's workers to build His kingdom and live out our humanity." -- Robert Miller

(4/3/2003) [[In-content Ad]]