IOWA
The Quad-City Times
By Todd Ruger
Three men who met with the Catholic Diocese of Davenport on behalf of victims of sexual abuse by its priests called the response from church leaders "a slap in the face."
The men said they presented to the diocese at the first of several regular meetings required as part of a $9 million settlement with 37 claimants a list of things that they and other victims would like to see the diocese do to promote healing and prevent future abuse.
"When I went into this meeting, I was very optimistic," said Mike Hitch of Oklahoma, whose lawsuit against the diocese was part of the settlement, as was the case with the other victim representatives at the meeting. "The letter we got back is: That's not going to happen.' "
The diocese said in a written statement that it "seriously considered the conversation with the victims," but "the new demands by the victims go far beyond any of the terms in the contract (settlement)."
A copy of the response from the diocese provided to the Quad-City Times details reasons why it nixed other suggestions. For example, it will not actively seek out and contact possible victims because health-care professionals have advised the diocese it runs the risk of revictimizing them.
But Hitch along with Greg Schildgen of Texas and Terry Webb of New York said the main message they received in the written response after the meeting was: "We're welcome to come talk to them ... but nothing will come of it."