Years of assisting survivors gives woman unique perspective

BY KATE BLAIN

ASSISTANT EDITOR

"When you ask me questions, I see faces in front of me," Theresa Rodrigues explained, blinking back tears.

The Albany diocesan coordinator of the Office of Victims/Survivors Assistance was recalling the victims of clergy sexual abuse she's met in the five years since the U.S. bishops enacted their "Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People."

During that time, there have been great changes in the Diocese, including the establishment of her office, which offers assistance to victims.

Time of change

Ms. Rodrigues listed many other changes she has seen in the Diocese:

* Although diocesan policies for addressing sexual misconduct by clergy were introduced in 1993, the past five years have brought more efforts to reach out to victims "in a more consistent manner.

"Because of the scandal, the publicity, people were more aware that this [abuse] wasn't something that just happened to them," Ms. Rodrigues explained. "The shame turned to outrage -- and gave them the courage to come forward."

When they do so, the Diocese offers counseling through agencies chosen by the victims and not affiliated with the Diocese; counseling for their families; and spiritual counseling if requested. Other aid has included financial compensation, addressing health issues and job training.

* Swift removal of priests from ministry is mandatory when there is a finding of "reasonable grounds to believe something [abusive] happened."

* Such complaints, if the accused priest is alive, are immediately reported to law enforcement.

* Priests from other areas visiting the Diocese who wish to function as clergy, even just to celebrate a wedding or funeral, are required to provide documentation from their local bishops that they do not have allegations against them.

* The Diocese's procedures for dealing with abuse cases are posted at www.rcda.org. "Prior to that, people didn't know what to expect when they came forward," said Ms. Rodrigues.

* Victims who approach the Diocese for help are given a signed notice of their rights (see separate story).

* Victims of abuse by clergy are no longer asked to sign confidentiality agreements unless they request to do so.

"These are all steps to restore our integrity in the eyes of everyone," Ms. Rodrigues stated.

Tsunami

She compared clergy sexual misconduct to a tsunami that devastates not just victims, but also their families, friends, faith communities and innocent priests.

"We forget the ripple effect of this," she stated. "I get very emotional [talking about it], because these are real people."

When children are young, Mrs. Rodrigues said, they tend to equate priests with God. Shattering that trust through abuse "creates a chasm that affects a person's ability to trust and, in turn, affects all the other relationships this person has -- and often extends to the divine."

Closure

The coordinator has met abuse victims who want to regain their lost faith but find that "every step back into the Church brings back a flood of memories" of the abuse.

"Some have been able to reclaim their spirituality, and they're very fortunate," she added. "The process of coming forward, being heard respectfully, having the Bishop and his representatives in mediation apologize for what has happened help them move toward closure."

In her position, Ms. Rodrigues has seen many victims achieve some healing from abuse. She wept as she recalled one man who asked, at the conclusion of his case, that the Diocese send word to the abuser that he was forgiven.

"That is not an easy thing to do when you see the devastation [the abuse] had caused," she noted. "People always amaze me with their strength and resilience."

Long process

However, Ms. Rodrigues cautioned that healing is a journey -- and a lengthy one -- for both individual victims and the Church.

"This situation took decades to develop. To expect overnight recovery is unrealistic," she said. "It takes time. We have to sustain our efforts. The opportunity is for the Church to become a leader in maintaining a safe environment for children."

The Church may have been the first entity to suffer the scandal, she added, but "the Catholic Church is one segment of society. There are similar situations in other religious denominations, in schools. I hope they will take similar steps to maintain safe environments, because then we'll be better off as a society."

Impressions

Ms. Rodrigues has been pleased to see Bishop Hubbard's and the Diocese's continued commitment to the processes and programs begun five years ago.

Personally, she said she has been "very humbled" by serving as victims/survivors assistance coordinator. She has discovered that "it's not just been about the Church reaching out through my office, but victims reaching back and honoring me with their trust, with their stories -- permitting me to share that piece of themselves and allowing me to help them.

"I'm amazed at people's resilience in the face of what seems like an insurmountable difficulty. Even people who have been hurt have a lot to give."

Getting word out

One area that still needs work, said Ms. Rodrigues, is getting the word out about the Church's efforts to prevent sexual abuse and protect children.

A recent survey by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) revealed that only a third of U.S. Catholics had heard of the bishops' policies and only a sixth knew about programs in their own dioceses.

"Obviously, we haven't done a very good job" of publicity, said Ms. Rodrigues, "if people don't know what we've done."

(Another initiative of the Diocese will be undertaken shortly: Clergy, lay employees and volunteers will be required to sign a "code of conduct," indicating that they understand and agree with the Diocese's policies on conduct with children.)

____________________________________________________________

RIGHTS OF COMPLAINANTS

The Albany Diocese's "Notice of Rights and Obligations of the Complainant" for those making abuse allegations against clergy includes the right:

* to be heard,

* to be treated with respect and consideration,

* to report allegations to appropriate civil authorities,

* to seek and retain legal counsel,

* to discretion in the conduct of the investigation,

* to reply to any response from the accused,

* to provide evidence in support of the complaint,

* to know the results of the investigation, and

* to be free of intimidation by the Church, the accused or the faith community.

Complainants' obligations are to provide complete and accurate information about the allegations, to provide additional witnesses' names, and not to interfere with the investigative process.

(6/28/07) [[In-content Ad]]