August 12, 2005

Take abuse claims seriously

COLORADO
Denver Post

It's taken more than 20 years for the dozen or so men allegedly molested by a former Catholic priest in Colorado to come forward and make their horrific stories public. It took courage, and our hearts go out to them.

Notable as the stories have unfolded in recent days is the apparent shift in the church's response. The archdiocese of Denver was first told about some of the alleged abuses by Harold Robert White more than 30 years ago but inexcusably did nothing about it, allowing him to continue serving and moving him from parish to parish.

A past complainant told The Denver Post that White received a terse response from the church. But one victim who reported his abuse to the church in 2003, many years after it occurred, said he received an apology from Archbishop Charles Chaput along with a welcome offer of counseling.

It is absolutely critical that current church leaders take these allegations seriously and follow current church guidelines in reporting the incidents to authorities.

Posted by kshaw at August 12, 2005 07:26 AM