RIVERSIDE (IA)
Quad-City Times
By Dustin Lemmon
RIVERSIDE, Iowa — While about 80 priests gathered Tuesday inside St. Mary’s Church to hear presentations regarding sexual abuse of minors, victims and their advocates lined up outside to voice their frustration with the Catholic Diocese of Davenport and ask that they be involved.
The victims and their supporters, eight in all, were at the church, hoping to hand-deliver letters to each of the priests, who were attending the presentations that included discussions with several mental health experts. The diocese called the event “A pastoral response to sexual abuse in our community.”
Members of the group carrying the letters also said they want the diocese to release the names of all those who have committed abuse and to let victims help in the decision-making process for dealing with abuse cases.
Shortly after noon, three representatives of the diocese, including Alicia Owens, victims assistance coordinator, came outside and accepted the letters on behalf of the priests.
Posted by kshaw at December 14, 2005 04:42 PM