To Settle Over Church Sex Abuse or Not, by Steve Trainor, Central Illinois Proud, July 16, 2007

To Settle Over Church Sex Abuse or Not

By Steve Trainor
Central Illinois Proud
July 16, 2007

http://centralillinoisproud.com/content/fulltext/?cid=3121

Peoria - Hours before going to trial, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles agreed to pay 660-million dollars to alleged victims of sexual abuse. The settlement puts the touchy issue back in the headlines and begs the question...What about similar cases in the Peoria Diocese ?

St. Joe's is where Joe Jones still attends mass. But he hasn't forgotten the priest here years ago who allegedly abused him & his brother. He says it's ironic that yesterday's Gospel, was about the Good Samaritan:

Joe Jones, an alleged victim saus "I would think Bishop Jenky, being a passerby, would stop and help but apparently not."

He claims the Bishop has been "rigid" about not settling, and has never made contact with them, much less offer an apology. A Monsignor came once to take written statements and the Diocese paid for some counseling. The victims believes the Bishop is hiding behind the statute of limitations, hoping they run out before a potential trial could force a settlement:

"He's never called and said 'What can I do for ya? "

California lawmakers offered an extended opportunity for the victims, now adults, to speak up, so it was either 'reveal what you've known — or pay up.' A similar law extension is stalled in the Illinois statehouse:

Barbara Blaine, who is President of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (S.N.A.P .) notes "The Catholic officials have been fighting against it because it would open them up to have to expose what they have known, how much they knew, and how little they did with that information.".

Jones believes if the law isn't changed then the Church wins — yet loses, lamenting "The kids of today will lose, of course, because it's the principle of the matter. How you treat people in the past is gonna determine how you treat people in the future."

Jones says he wants more justice and an apology than money.

The diocese responded today with a written statement from its attorney, saying Bishop Jenky has swiftly removed priests in question.

But she says the Bishop believes today's assets take priority over allegations of twenty-five years ago, "Which can't be clearly investigated, especially when exorbitant demands are being made." The diocese has also set up several initiatives to further prevent such abuse and ensure the safety of everyone, particularly children.