Years having passed, priests weigh state of abuse scandal

In June 2003, The Evangelist marked the one-year anniversary of the implementation of "The Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People" in the Albany Diocese with a special issue. The document was passed by the U.S. bishops as part of their effort to battle clergy abuse of children.

An article in that special issue interviewed priests on their experiences during the previous 12 months of the abuse crisis in the Church. Were they being mistreated or held in suspicion? Had they changed how they acted around children?

Recently, The Evangelist asked the same priests about their experiences and morale since then, and heard a variety of responses:

* Rev. David Mickiewicz, pastor, St. Stanislaus Church, Amsterdam: "The situation is very sad, but I have sacraments to celebrate and preaching to do -- and people are going to think what they want about me. Only two percent of priests [were abusive], so 98 percent of us are doing what we're supposed to be doing, despite what the newspapers have been saying and the silence we've gotten from some people.

"A lot has calmed down; we're not in the papers every day any more. You pray for victims on both sides, but does it affect how I deal with young people? No. I don't do foolish things, but I'm going to be me.

"If there is a morale problem, [it's because] we're being stretched and stretched. That bothers me more than the scandal: How many parishes is one guy expected to take? We're split between two or three communities. I hear more about that [from other priests]."

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* Rev. James Mackey, pastor, St. Mary's Church, Glens Falls: "I think it's getting better. Things have quieted down in the media; there's certainly a better rapport with parishioners. It's much improved. [At the height of the crisis,] a lot of them wouldn't have been too open to having you around their children. All priests would be suspect.

"I don't think we [priests] talk about it much -- just in passing, the way you might discuss anything that comes up.

"I've noticed Mass attendance [at St. Mary's] has been up this year; that, to me, was encouraging. It's the first time in four years it's been up. I think it's people coming back -- or maybe people grocery-shopping, picking their church."

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* Rev. Carl Urban, pastor, St. Adalbert's Church, Schenectady: "We're struggling -- and we continue on in our ministry. Some [priests] I know thought they would continue to 70, 75; now, retirement looks good. The Church has really abandoned us. "[When priests get together,] we don't talk about it. It's too depressing. Many people have stopped coming to church; I get more glares and stares now than I ever did before. I feel bad that you can't really be nice to children in a human way."

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* Rev. Robert Longobucco, campus minister at The University at Albany: "Right now, it feels less personal, because it's less in the papers and there hasn't been a dismissal in a while. I think there's a great desire among the priests to move on, but that needs to be tempered with not forgetting what's happened.

"The context [of discussions among priests], a lot of times, is concern about the priests who have been dismissed. There's a real need to be pastoral to the men who've been dismissed. If the rest of our ministry is pastoral and forgiving, we need to show that among our own brothers -- to let them know they're being prayed for and are, in a way, still one of us.

"I wish, as a society, we could do a better job of being reconcilers. We don't say we're sorry -- as if to say 'we're sorry' means to say nothing bad has happened. It's easy to dismiss [abusers] and say they're monsters.

"[My few negative] experiences were overwhelmed by the number of people who have been very supportive of my priesthood. [Abuse] doesn't come up any more, which is a double-edged sword, because the affirmation isn't there."

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* Rev. Edward Deimeke, pastor, Immaculate Heart of Mary, Watervliet (and former Administrative Advocate for Priests for the Albany Diocese): "All things considered, we're doing pretty well. [But] we're living under the shadow of this scandal, and that shadow is not going to go away for a while. But I'm not going to let that hinder my ministry.

"[In discussion among priests], it still comes up, but not with the frequency or intensity it did a couple of years ago.

"Most people are beyond [treating priests with suspicion]. I'm new here in Watervliet, and not a single person has mentioned that to me. [Newspapers] will run stories, but they aren't necessarily front page above the fold."

(To read the original article, search www.evangelist.org for "priests describe months.")

(1/12/06) [[In-content Ad]]