Victims assistance coordinator aims at healing

Theresa Rodrigues was surprised when she got the job of victims/survivors assistance coordinator for victims of clergy sexual abuse in the Albany Diocese.

A psychiatric social worker, she had paid close attention to news reports on the abuse crisis. She'd also felt compelled to write what she termed a "quite critical" opinion piece for the Schenectady Gazette about the Church's handling of the situation.

In the column, Mrs. Rodrigues chastised Church officials who moved abusive priests from parish to parish. Since she came to the U.S. from India in 1972, she also noted that she saw the abuse problem as an issue for the Church worldwide, not just in this country.

Having made that critique, she said, she was "pleasantly surprised" to learn she'd been chosen as assistance coordinator. She called it a sign that diocesan officials "wanted real change" in how they dealt with sexual abuse.

Since December, Mrs. Rodrigues has been spending two days a week at the Diocesan Pastoral Center in Albany, in addition to her other jobs as an elementary-school social worker in Scotia and a therapist in private practice.

"My husband says, `Now you're a true immigrant -- working long hours at three jobs,'" she joked, but added that her new position challenges her to "be part of the solution" to clergy abuse.

"This is a chance to make a difference," she stated.

Process

The coordinator's main responsibility is to receive complaints from people who claim to have been abused. She sets up meetings with alleged victims wherever they're comfortable, whether it's in her office or at a local coffee shop, and listens to their stories.

"I say, `What do you need to begin the healing process?'" she continued.

Counseling is always offered, though Mrs. Rodrigues noted that she refers people to outside therapists, not diocesan ones. She also tells victims about a support group for adult survivors of sexual abuse that's held in Rensselaer.

"People are in different places," she said. "Some people just want somebody to hear their story; they say, `I just feel somebody should know that this happened.'"

Go-between

Other victims, she said, want counseling or financial compensation. She brings victims' complaints to the diocesan advisory review board, which addresses such cases.

Mrs. Rodrigues also serves as a go-between for victims, letting them know where their complaint is in the review process -- even if the victim doesn't live in this area.

Any complaints about priests who are not diocesan are forwarded to their dioceses or religious orders by Mrs. Rodrigues, as well. She said that if someone came in with a claim that was within the statute of limitations for prosecution, that would be reported to civil authorities; however, no one has done so.

Revisions

Another piece of the coordinator's job is working on revising the Diocese's sexual-abuse policy to bring it into accordance with norms set by the U.S. bishops last year. In this, she said, the Diocese is working with the bishops' Office for the Protection of Children in Washington, D.C.

She is also working to address the prevention aspect of the abuse crisis:

* implementing the Virtus program to train Church employees and volunteers to recognize signs of abuse and keep it from happening;

* creating a "code of conduct;"

* listing requirements for reporting sexual abuse; and

* inaugurating a prevention program for children, where they're taught to protect themselves from sexual abuse.

Mrs. Rodrigues said the latter program, still in development, is "the most critical piece" in stopping sexual abuse. She hopes to see children in Catholic schools, religious education programs and other outlets taught about abuse prevention.

Bishop's commitment

Mrs. Rodrigues applauded Bishop Howard J. Hubbard for his efforts to change diocesan policies and help victims of abuse.

"We are really fortunate we have a bishop who is deeply committed to helping victims and has done more to reach out in a very personal way to victims [than other bishops]," she stated. "He's made himself vulnerable out of caring for the victims, and I don't believe any other bishop in the country has done so in such a personal way. I don't think people understand that he has tried to walk with people as best he could."

She said the Diocese is making "a sincere effort" to correct past mistakes and make sure clergy abuse never happens again.

"It's a challenge, because this is a very difficult time when people may mistrust this whole effort," she added.

Credibility

She believes that reaching out to victims, ensuring complaints are treated fairly and openly, and creating the new prevention program bring credibility to the Church and help those who come forward to report abuse.

"I hope there will come a time when you don't need somebody like me," she concluded. "I hope it's a position that will prove unnecessary."

(Contact Theresa Rodrigues at 453-6646.)

(3/20/2003) [[In-content Ad]]