Sex Abuse Settlement a Relief to Many Catholic Worshippers, by Maureen Magee, Union-Tribune, September 10, 2007

Sex-Abuse Settlement a Relief to Many Catholic Worshippers

By Maureen Magee
Union-Tribune
September 10, 2007

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20070910-9999-1m10church.html

They knelt in prayer, took Holy Communion and put cash in the offering baskets.

Just as they always do.

But two days after the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego settled sexual abuse claims for $198.1 million, parishioners who attended Mass yesterday expressed a mix of reactions – confusion, anger and perhaps most predominantly, relief.

"I'm thankful it's over," said attorney Chris Hulburt, a La Jolla resident and longtime member of St. Brigid Parish in Pacific Beach.

While many priests did not address the settlement during services yesterday, the Rev. John P. Dolan, pastor of St. Rose of Lima Church in Chula Vista, devoted his 15-minute homily to it at the 5 p.m. Mass.

Catholic parishioners, including those at Mass at Blessed Sacrament Church in El Cerrito yesterday, expressed a mix of reactions to Friday's settlement.
Photo by Howard Lipin

"This is an opportunity for the church to turn the page and see a light, however faint, and things can only become better through this," Dolan said. "We might not understand why, but this is a cross we are all called to carry."

Friday's settlement put an end to a four-year legal battle waged on behalf of 144 victims who said they were sexually abused by clergy and church employees. The church had come under fire for the way it handled the cases and its Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in February on the eve of the first trial. San Diego was the nation's fifth Catholic diocese to seek bankruptcy protection in response to sex abuse claims.

Dolan told several hundred worshippers at Mass at St. Rose that since 1985, a policy has been in place "for a battery of psychological tests for every seminarian." He talked about how Catholic schools and religious education classes have addressed the issue of sexual abuse. He expressed anger that the entire priesthood is being attacked for the sins of a few.

"Pray for the priests of this diocese," Dolan told the congregation. "They are good men."

He asked for prayers for the victims and asked people to pray for themselves, to stay strong in their faith despite the turmoil.

A pastoral statement and apology issued Friday "to the pastors and people of the diocese of San Diego" from Bishop Robert Brom was included in church bulletins distributed at some churches yesterday.

"Some have accused the diocese of engaging in delay tactics in order to avoid our responsibility to victims," the statement read. "I want to assure you, on the contrary, that we have done our best all along the way to bring this matter to conclusion with justice for all involved. . . . "

Many churchgoers were reluctant to discuss the case yesterday. Others were eager to vent. Some read Brom's memo in the pews.

"The whole thing should have been taken care of a long time ago," said Ryan McGorisk, who attended services with his wife, Teresa, at Blessed Sacrament Church in El Cerrito. "But I think people should support their local churches. They have suffered."

The McGorisks' two children attend Blessed Sacrament's school. Like other church members, they are concerned about the diocese's finances and its ability to pay the settlement and meet other obligations.

But they said they will stand by their church, school and diocese.

"The church is made up of people. You cannot stop people from doing bad things," Teresa McGorisk said. "All organizations have scandals."

Ron Mullins was more critical in his assessment.

"I think the way the San Diego (diocese) handled this was among the worst in the country," said Mullins, an engineer and Boston transplant who bicycled to Mass at St. Brigid with his wife and 5-year-old son. "There's the bankruptcy. And I think they tried to hide assets."

After the settlements are paid, the church will change some of its ways, he said, and perhaps become a better organization. The San Diego diocese has created a board to monitor the behavior of priests and review parishioners' complaints of possible misconduct.

"This may make the church open and more honest," Mullins said. "It's good to see them pay their penance."

Hulburt said now the victims and the church can look forward to recovery.

"I hope there is a healing that comes to victims, and a healing that comes to the church," he said.