May 03, 2006

Missouri center treats priests, brothers who sexually offend

DITTMER (MO)
Belleville News-Democrat

CHERYL WITTENAUER
Associated Press
DITTMER, Mo. - A Chicago priest, tall and quiet-spoken, said he came to a treatment center here for troubled Roman Catholic priests a broken man, depressed, and keeping "my secret of pedophilia."

"I knew in my heart I needed help," he told The Associated Press for a rare look inside the Vianney Renewal Center, 30 miles outside St. Louis.

In 14 months of "hardball" individual and group therapy, a 12-step addiction program, fraternal support, and spiritual direction, the priest said he's "become honest with myself," and been given the tools to face his problems.

Posted by kshaw at May 3, 2006 05:14 PM