BishopAccountability.org
	Abuse Victims Dubious Pope's Apology Called 'Empty' By Thomas Caywood Worcester Telegram & Gazette April 20, 2008 http://www.telegram.com/article/20080420/NEWS/804200436/1116 WORCESTER— Some local clergy abuse victims and Catholic activists yesterday dismissed Pope Benedict XVI's historic apology for the priest abuse scandal, and his private meeting Thursday with a group of victims from Boston, as empty gestures. "This is just, as far as I'm concerned, a dog and pony show," said clergy abuse victim David Lewcon of Uxbridge. "It's all deceptive. Too little too late. Staged." Mr. Lewcon successfully sued the Diocese of Worcester over abuse he suffered at the hands of convicted child molester Thomas H. Teczar, who has been stripped of his priestly duties and jailed in Texas. "This has brought some of us together. I've heard from more victims in the last week or so than I have for years. You get those e-mails that say, 'How are you handling this?' " Mr. Lewcon said. "I'll be very happy when the pope goes home and starts cleaning his own house." Another Uxbridge victim of Mr. Teczar, George "Skip" Shea, said he was encouraged to hear the pope expressing regret over clergy abuse of children, but that he's holding out for deeds to back up the words. "Will they settle lawsuits for a decent rate? Will they stop fighting efforts to eliminate the statute of limitations on the sexual abuse of children? Will they support those efforts? Those are the types of steps I want to see," Mr. Shea said. "My hope is that I'll see that action," he added, "but my fear is that he'll get on the plane, and people will say, 'OK, it's over now.' " The pope met with five victims for about 25 minutes Thursday afternoon in Washington, D.C. The meeting was kept secret until it was over. Local victims and clergy abuse victim advocates said the participants in the secret meeting were picked by Boston Cardinal Sean P. O'Malley, and that no victims from Central Massachusetts were asked to participate. "We're always hopeful that every time there's additional recognition of the harm that's been done that, hopefully, it will help move people toward healing," said Raymond L. Delisle, a spokesman for the Diocese of Worcester. Representatives of local Catholic lay groups critical of the church's handling of pedophile priests said they don't share the diocese's sense of hope. "The model for dealing with the abuse crisis will not really change," said Daniel Dick, a spokesman for Worcester Voice of the Faithful. "Bishops will continue to do as they please. The laity — the victims, in particular — have no way of being confident the system will change as to how victims are treated." Worcester Voice founder Mary Jean was equally skeptical that the pope's apology would be a catalyst for change and healing among local victims — and those estranged from the Roman Catholic Church by the scandal. "His words continue to ring empty when looked at from the perspective of the Worcester Diocese's actions against those who were victims," said Ms. Jean, a Leominster resident. Mr. Lewcon, who now works with fellow clergy abuse victims, said that while people are expressing sorrow for the abuse and the way it was handled by the Vatican, church lawyers are aggressively fighting victims in court and depositions. "When a clergy abuse victim comes forward, they don't even know what they're in for. They have what I call 'pit bull, hired-gun attorneys,' and they just victimize you again," he said. Mr. Dick of the local chapter of the Voice of the Faithful said some victims he has spoken to welcomed the pope's apology. "That's a great step forward," he said. "But people here are saying that nothing is going to change." Mr. Delisle, the diocesan spokesman, said the diocese understands the pain it has caused victims, and that some simply aren't ready, and may never be ready, to return to the church. "Not everyone is in the same place. There are some people moving forward with healing, and others who are not. Some people want to work with the church. Others do not," he said. "There are others for whom the hurt is so great, they can't work with us now. The best we can do is work with those who are willing and be ready to work with the others when they're ready." Contact Thomas Caywood by e-mail at tcaywood@telegram.com.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.