As abuse victims, what is our offense? Apparently, standing up to try to finally get justice and being “stubborn” about it. Read the letter.
As a victim of a sexual predator Catholic priest, I am troubled by your characterization of abuse victims as I’ve read in the press. It would seem that rather than blame the Catholic Church for being a predatory criminal organization, you’re blaming victims and their lawyers for their “stubbornness.”
Victims and their attorneys approved a court approved reorganization plan that took nearly 5 years for your court to provide. The church and its insurance companies have done everything in their power to obscure their actions and delay judgment.
There should be only one group in this court action that is shamed. It should be the predatory Catholic Church. And yet, as far as I can tell, you have tried to shame insurance companies, lawyers, and victims. And as abuse victims, what is our offense? Apparently, standing up to try to finally get justice and being “stubborn” about it.
Meanwhile, Bishop Matano, and the Diocese of Rochester has failed to show any shame or accountability for their actions. They have managed to use your court to obfuscate the facts of their guilt, delay justice, and still refuse to make a full accounting of their sins.
I hope you will reconsider your choice of words in future court actions. We, as victims, have struggled to gain our voices on this subject. Most of us have carried shame our whole lives, that we shouldn’t feel, because of the actions of the church. I should think the court would not wish to pile on.
Sincerely,
Thaddeus Sendall
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It seems to me the ultimate gaslighting to equate a desire for justice and accountability with being “bitter.” And how fortunate for the Catholic Church that our suffering can be so “blithely” disposed of by the promise of some great reward in the hereafter. The entire argument in support of an untenable position is laughable, but still very harmful. I’ll thank you too keep your scripture to yourself.
Just as there are a few “bad-apple” cops (along with many more good ones) … some unscrupulous doctors, accountants … or ‘fill-in-the-blank’ profession … there were a small minority of sinful priests. While the Church hierarchy might’ve handled various situations much, much better, I don’t think you should malign the entire Catholic Church as a “predatory criminal organization” (for describing the intent with such words is not only itself unscrupulous, but, also, quite possibly sinful).
Of the 5 priests I knew growing up, at least 2 are known pedophile rapists. And they were known to the church hierarchy as being so. They were hidden and shuffled. The church behaved as a criminal sex trafficking organization and continues to suppress what they knew. They are a criminal organization. I have long stopped worrying about what the Catholic Church considers sinful. They do not take accountability for their own sins, but expect their flock to do so.
I’ll acknowledge, upfront, that I come from a very different perspective than you (and some other readers of your letter). Specifically, when I was a kid attending local Catholic elementary schools we had a wonderful parish priest — who had been an Aquinas classmate of my dad, and whose nieces/nephews were classmates of mine and my siblings. It was, for eight years, an overall excellent experience (I believe my two siblings would agree — but, I concede, we were fortunate, particularly in light of the experience of some others).
That said, I still find the broad label “predatory criminal organization”— to describe a few “bad apples” — to be misleading (the clichés “painting with a broad brush” and “fighting fire with fire” come to mind; sayings become clichés in the first place, of course, due to the truthfulness behind them). But beyond such useful maxims, I’d like to posit an infinitely more important notion (potentially of benefit to you and others):
Even though, as you wrote, you “have long stopped worrying about what the Catholic Church considers,” for your own sake (and that of others), don’t dismiss the possibly enormous value of redemptive suffering. One of this past Sunday’s (Oct. 20) readings seems pertinent — and timely to this discussion: “Because of his affliction he shall see the light in fullness of days; Through his suffering, my servant shall justify many, and their guilt he shall bear” (Isaiah 53:11). Or, also consider this well-known verse: “We know that God makes all things work together for the good of those who love him …” (Romans 8:28). (As I write this, a discussion about the idea of “victim souls” came on a radio talk show.)
Additionally, increasingly, it seems, I hear various people (many of them secular) suggest that much of today’s cultural/social unrest is due to spiritual warfare. Some people might blithely dismiss such a notion; but others, recognizing that if there actually is such a thing, would say the first to be tempted in such a battle would be: priests.
So, while not in any way to minimize (in fact, just the opposite) your and others’ suffering at the hands of a few rogue priests, your intensely personal experience could be an outcome of a much bigger spiritual battle (still underway). If so, your suffering, the Church teaches, will one day be redemptive for your and others’ souls. (This is deep stuff to contemplate, for sure; but just imagine how remarkable such an outcome!)
It’s understandable you want to hold the Church responsible for individual priests’ misdeeds (and hierarchical mistakes afterwards). But consider that bitterness is a worldly emotion (harmful, largely, to the one holding onto it); conversely, forgiveness — in combination with redemptive suffering — is divine.
I truly wish you and other victims all the best.
Just as with the “bad apple” argument with regard to community policing, the “small minority of sinful priests” disregards and minimizes the organizational responsibilities of the catholic church.
All of our community organizations are vulnerable to including individuals who exploit or abuse those in their charge. The real integrity test of those organizations is how they choose to handle the offenders. Is there a blue wall? Are the offenders secretly shuffled to other parishes to victimize more innocents? The catholic church did the latter,
worldwide,
for decades,
because it served their hierarchy.
Please, no more religious weasel-words about a self-serving men’s organization that knowingly and repeatedly victimized children and women.
I don’t believe in sin, but your hand-wringing apologist’s view of the church’s systematic exploitation of children should qualify as a sin.
Obviously not he’s freaking lawyers and judges are ridiculous.
Since reliving all the trauma being raped by a fat priest in high school my seizures came back and I’m tired of eating cement
Very well written. These Judges are influenced by the Catholic Church and there Lawyers. We victims have had our voices taken away and any kind of protest with the court, insurance companies, lawyers and the Catholic Church! We are suffering more emotional abuse from the parties above. Does anyone care?
If any good has come of this so far, it is that some of us are finding our voices and realizing that the burden of shame is not ours to bear. I have been ashamed to admit this to myself and others for decades. The Beacon could not print the name of my abuser, but I am glad they were able to print my opinion. And I am grateful that you responded.