Letter about Abuse Cases

By Bishop Roger J. Foys, D.D.
Diocese of Covington
June 2005

http://www.covingtondiocese.org/index.cfm/NewsItem?id=151500

[Note from BishopAccountability.org: This letter is posted on the diocesan website as a single long paragraph. We have broken it into smaller paragraphs for easier reading, using the copy on the Internet Archive as a guide.]

"Your light must shine before all so that they may see goodness in your acts and give praise to your heavenly Father." — Mt 5:16

My dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

Three years ago on July 15, 2002, I was consecrated and installed as the 10th Bishop of the Diocese of Covington. At that time I had no idea how widespread and deep in this Diocese was the problem of sexual abuse of children by priests. Unfortunately, however, it became shockingly apparent to me that our problem was of major proportions.

Once I became aware of the extent of the abuse of children by priests in our Diocese, I made a promise that I would do all I could to reach out, as a pastor, to these victims. I offered to meet with anyone who had been sexually abused as a minor by a priest in our Diocese. To date, I have met with over 70 victims. I was profoundly affected as I listened, week after week, to the stories of human beings robbed of innocence and who, in some cases, lost their faith in God and the Church.

A bishop is called to be, above all, a pastor of souls. As a pastor devastated by victims’ accounts of child sexual abuse by priests, I did not want to re-victimize the victims by subjecting them and their loved ones to lengthy and adversarial legal battles. Great wrongs have been done. I committed myself and the Diocese to see to it that some kind of healing could begin.

A class-action lawsuit, filed against the Diocese of Covington in 2003, sought redress for victims of sexual abuse by priests over the course of the last 50 years. I and diocesan representatives have worked carefully, pastorally and diligently to provide a settlement for these victims. Never making a major decision without substantial and important counsel from my advisors, I worked closely with the advisory bodies provided to a bishop in Canon Law: the Presbyteral Council, the Diocesan Consultors and the Diocesan Finance Council. The Presbyteral Council is composed of priests, some of whom are elected by their peers and some who are appointed by the bishop or serve ex officio. The Consultors are a group of priests chosen from among the Presbyteral Council members consulted in matters of greater moment. The Diocesan Finance Council is composed of lay experts in finances and banking and a few priests. They serve to advise the bishop in all financial matters of the Diocese.

After months of intense discussion and lengthy negotiations, both sides — the Diocese and Counsel for the class — have reached a settlement. I sincerely hope the proposal will address, as much as humanly possible, the needs of the victims and will help toward their healing. The agreement enables the Church in our diocese to move forward with its essential ministries and to preserve the soundness of our parishes and schools. At the same time the agreement spares the victims a difficult, protracted legal process.

(Details of this settlement were contained in a press release which was printed in the June 3 edition of our Diocesan newspaper, the Messenger.)

Neither you nor I were the cause of this problem, but we are now responsible, a responsibility we must not ignore. We cannot pretend these abominable deeds did not happen; we must not minimize them. Those harmed by these shameful, despicable deeds now need the institutional Church and, more importantly, the pastoral Church to provide as much comfort and peace as possible. Our hearts must remain open, like Christ’s.

I know that some people are concerned that diocesan monies used for this settlement will come from parish collections or the Diocesan/Parish Annual Appeal. I assure you this is not the case. The settlement monies will come from sale of diocesan property and cash reserves. The monies you contribute to your parish, diocesan agencies and the DPAA will be used for the purposes for which they are collected.

Once again I offer a profound and sincere apology to all those who have been abused as children by priests, religious or employees of this Diocese. I assure you that we have been doing, and will continue to do, everything humanly possible to be sure this reprehensible behavior is not repeated.

This appears to be a dark moment in the history of our Diocese. It is now, more than ever, that we as committed Catholics must let our light shine, so that others, seeing our good deeds, may give glory to God.

Let us look together, to our Risen Lord, the Light of Life, with eyes of faith and hope. I have great faith in you, my beloved people of our Diocese of Covington. Be assured of my prayers. Please pray for me.

Yours devotedly in the Lord,
Most Reverend Roger J. Foys, D. D. Bishop of Covington